Influence of parasite load on the diagnosis and occurrence of eosinophilia in alcoholic patients infected with Strongyloides stercoralis.

Alcoholic patients are more susceptible to Strongyloides stercoralis infection. The chronic use of alcohol raises the levels of endogenous corticosteroids, which regulates the development of larvae and stimulates the differentiation of rhabditiform into infective filariform larvae, thus inducing internal autoinfection. Therefore, early diagnosis is important to prevent severe strongyloidiasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of parasitological methods, according to the parasite load and the number of stool samples, for diagnosis of S. stercoralis infection, as well the peripheral blood eosinophil count in alcoholic patients. A total of 330 patients were included in this study. The diagnosis was established using three parasitological methods: agar plate culture, Baermann-Moraes method and spontaneous sedimentation. Peripheral eosinophilia was considered when the level was >600 eosinophils/mm3. The agar plate culture (APC) had the highest sensitivity (97.3%). However, the analysis of multiple samples increased the sensitivity of all parasitological methods. The sensitivities of the methods were influenced by the parasite load. When the larval number was above 10, the sensitivity of APC was 100%, while in spontaneous sedimentation the sensitivity reached 100% when the larval number was above 50. In the present study, 15.4% of alcoholic patients infected with S. stercoralis (12/78) had increased peripheral blood eosinophil count (above 600 eosinophils/mm3). For an efficient parasitological diagnosis of S. stercoralis infection in alcoholic patients, repeated examination by two parasitological methods must be recommended, including agar plate culture due to its higher sensitivity. Moreover, S. stercoralis infection was associated with eosinophilia, mostly in patients excreting up to 10 larvae/g faeces.

Panoramic and skull imaging may aid in the identification of multiple myeloma lesions.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of punched-out lesions in craniofacial bones using three different radiographic protocols in a large cohort of patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred fifty-five MM patients were evaluated using panoramic and skull (frontal and lateral) radiographs, which were performed in all patients at the time of MM diagnosis. The diagnostic potential for detecting punched-out lesions was compared among the radiographic techniques. RESULTS: MM punched-out lesions were identified in 135 (87%) panoramic radiographs, 141 (91%) frontal and 144 (93%) lateral skull radiographs. Punched out-lesions were synchronously present in skull and jawbones in 129 (83.23 %) cases. The lesions were detected exclusively in skull in 18 (11.61%) cases and exclusively in jawbones in 6 (3.87%) cases. Punched out-lesion mainly affected the skull and the jawbones in a synchronous way (p<0.001) rather than separately. CONCLUSIONS: All investigated radiographic techniques (panoramic, frontal and lateral skull approaches) demonstrated high detection rates for MM punched-out lesions in craniofacial bones. Panoramic radiography may aid to the radiographic protocols to identify multiple myeloma bone lesions.

Controlling the atomic distribution in PtPd nanoparticles: thermal stability and reactivity during NO abatement.

In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy and mass spectrometry measurements were employed to simultaneously probe the atom specific short range order and reactivity of Pd and PtPd nanoparticles towards NO decomposition at 300 °C. The nanoparticles were synthesized by a well controlled, eco-friendly wet chemical reduction of metal salts and later supported on activated carbon. Particularly for the bimetallic PtPd samples, distinct atomic arrangements were achieved using a seeding growth method, which allowed producing a random nanoalloy, or nanoparticles with Pt- or Pd-rich core. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction provided additional insights on their electronic, morphological and long range order structural properties. The results revealed that the higher the thermal induced atomic migration observed within the nanoparticles during thermal treatments, the least were their reactivity for NO abatement.

Conversion Coefficients for Proton Beams using Standing and Sitting Male Hybrid Computational Phantom Calculated in Idealized Irradiation Geometries.

The aim of this study was the calculation of conversion coefficients for absorbed doses per fluence (DT/Φ) using the sitting and standing male hybrid phantom (UFH/NCI) exposure to monoenergetic protons with energy ranging from 2 MeV to 10 GeV. Sex-averaged effective dose per fluence (E/Φ) using the results of DT/Φ for the male and female hybrid phantom in standing and sitting postures were also calculated. Results of E/Φ of UFH/NCI standing phantom were also compared with tabulated effective dose conversion coefficients provided in ICRP publication 116. To develop an exposure scenario implementing the male UFH/NCI phantom in sitting and standing postures was used the radiation transport code MCNPX. Whole-body irradiations were performed using the recommended irradiation geometries by ICRP publication 116 antero-posterior (AP), postero-anterior (PA), right and left lateral, rotational (ROT) and isotropic (ISO). In most organs, the conversion coefficients DT/Φ were similar for both postures. However, relative differences were significant for organs located in the lower abdominal region, such as prostate, testes and urinary bladder, especially in the AP geometry. Results of effective dose conversion coefficients were 18% higher in the standing posture of the UFH/NCI phantom, especially below 100 MeV in AP and PA. In lateral geometry, the conversion coefficients values below 20 MeV were 16% higher in the sitting posture. In ROT geometry, the differences were below 10%, for almost all energies. In ISO geometry, the differences in E/Φ were negligible. The results of E/Φ of UFH/NCI phantom were in general below the results of the conversion coefficients provided in ICRP publication 116.

Comparison of the effective dose rate to aircrew members using hybrid computational phantoms in standing and sitting postures.

Aircraft crew members are occupationally exposed to considerable levels of cosmic radiation at flight altitudes. Since aircrew (pilots and passengers) are in the sitting posture for most of the time during flight, and up to now there has been no data on the effective dose rate calculated for aircrew dosimetry in flight altitude using a sitting phantom, we therefore calculated the effective dose rate using a phantom in the sitting and standing postures in order to compare the influence of the posture on the radiation protection of aircrew members. We found that although the better description of the posture in which the aircrews are exposed, the results of the effective dose rate calculated with the phantom in the sitting posture were very similar to the results of the phantom in the standing posture. In fact we observed only a 1% difference. These findings indicate the adequacy of the use of dose conversion coefficients for the phantom in the standing posture in aircrew dosimetry. We also validated our results comparing the effective dose rate obtained using the standing phantom with values reported in the literature. It was observed that the results presented in this study are in good agreement with other authors (the differences are below 30%) who have measured and calculated effective dose rates using different phantoms.

Oral physiology, nutrition and quality of life in diabetic patients associated or not with hypertension and beta-blockers therapy.

The relationship between type 2 diabetes oral physiology, nutritional intake and quality of life has not been fully elucidated. We assessed the impact of type 2 diabetes - exclusive or associated with hypertension with beta-blockers treatment - on oral physiology, mastication, nutrition and quality of life. This cross-sectional study was performed with 78 complete dentate subjects (15 natural teeth and six masticatory units minimum; without removable or fixed prostheses), divided into three groups: diabetics (DM) (n = 20; 45·4 ± 9·5 years), diabetics with hypertension and receiving beta-blockers treatment (DMH) (n = 19; 41·1 ± 5·1 years) and controls (n = 39; 44·5 ± 11·7 years) matched for gender, age and socioeconomic status. Blood glucose, masticatory performance, swallowing threshold, taste, food intake, stimulated and unstimulated salivary flow, pH and buffering capacity of saliva were assessed. Glycemia was higher in DM than in controls (P < 0·01). No differences were observed between DM and controls for nutrition and quality of life. Both stimulated and unstimulated salivary flow rate were lower in DMH (P < 0·01), which also presented the lowest number of teeth and masticatory units (P < 0·0001), and reduction in the number of chewing cycles (P < 0·01). Controls showed lower Decayed Missing Filled Teeth index (DMFT) scores in comparison with DMH (P = 0·021). Masticatory performance and saliva buffering capacity were similar among groups. Exclusive type 2 diabetes did not alter oral physiology, nutrition or quality of life. However, when hypertension and beta-blockers treatment were associated with diabetes, the salivary flow rate, chewing cycles and number of teeth decreased.

Importance of differential diagnosis post-treatment of adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix: a case report of sarcoidosis.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of sarcoidosis post-treatment of adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix. CASE: A 38-year-old, GlPlAO was admitted to the present hospital for palliative treatment of Stage IB 1 adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix with hepatic recurrence post- hysterectomy. The patient initially received six cycles of cisplatin and taxol leading to complete remission. Six months after the palliative treatment, MRI revealed slight changes in the pelvis, suggestive of the involvement of the left iliac lymph node. Anatomo-pathological results after lymphadenectomy showed tumor recurrence. Following additional pelvic radiotherapy, the patient remained asymptomatic. However, oncologic control performed three months later exposed mediastinal lymphadenopathy and new biopsy revealed sarcoidosis. The patient remained asymptomatic in the subsequent follow-ups without evidences of tumor recurrence. This study shows the importance of differential diagnosis during the oncologic monitoring of cervical cancer patients to avoid unnecessary treatments at the expense of better therapeutic options.

Charge transfer effects on the chemical reactivity of Pd(x)Cu(1-x) nanoalloys.

This work reports on the synthesis and characterization of PdxCu1-x (x = 0.7, 0.5 and 0.3) nanoalloys obtained via an eco-friendly chemical reduction method based on ascorbic acid and trisodium citrate. The average size of the quasi-spherical nanoparticles (NPs) obtained by this method was about 4 nm, as observed by TEM. The colloids containing different NPs were then supported on carbon in order to produce powder samples (PdxCu1-x/C) whose electronic and structural properties were probed by different techniques. XRD analysis indicated the formation of crystalline PdCu alloys with a nanoscaled crystallite size. Core-level XPS results provided a fingerprint of a charge transfer process between Pd and Cu and its dependency on the nanoalloy composition. Additionally, it was verified that alloying was able to change the NP's reactivity towards oxidation and reduction. Indeed, the higher the amount of Pd in the nanoalloy, less oxidized are both the Pd and the Cu atoms in the as-prepared samples. Also, in situ XANES experiments during thermal treatment under a reducing atmosphere showed that the temperature required for a complete reduction of the nanoalloys depends on their composition. These results envisage the control at the atomic level of novel catalytic properties of such nanoalloys.

Organ and effective dose conversion coefficients for a sitting female hybrid computational phantom exposed to monoenergetic protons in idealized irradiation geometries.

The conversion coefficients (CCs) relate protection quantities, mean absorbed dose (DT) and effective dose (E), with physical radiation field quantities, such as fluence (Φ). The calculation of CCs through Monte Carlo simulations is useful for estimating the dose in individuals exposed to radiation. The aim of this work was the calculation of conversion coefficients for absorbed and effective doses per fluence (DT/ Φ and E/Φ) using a sitting and standing female hybrid phantom (UFH/NCI) exposure to monoenergetic protons with energy ranging from 2 MeV to 10 GeV. The radiation transport code MCNPX was used to develop exposure scenarios implementing the female UFH/NCI phantom in sitting and standing postures. Whole-body irradiations were performed using the recommended irradiation geometries by ICRP publication 116 (AP, PA, RLAT, LLAT, ROT and ISO). In most organs, the conversion coefficients DT/Φ were similar for both postures. However, relative differences were significant for organs located in the abdominal region, such as ovaries, uterus and urinary bladder, especially in the AP, RLAT and LLAT geometries. Anatomical differences caused by changing the posture of the female UFH/NCI phantom led an attenuation of incident protons with energies below 150 MeV by the thigh of the phantom in the sitting posture, for the front-to-back irradiation, and by the arms and hands of the phantom in the standing posture, for the lateral irradiation.

Allelopathic effect of essential oils of medicinal plants in Bidens pilosa L / Efeito Alelopático de oleos essencias de plantas medicinais em Bidens pilosa L

We determined the inhibitory allelopathic effects of the volatile extracts of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Ness, Lippia sidoides Cham. and Cymbopogum nardus L. on seed germination and root growth of seedlings of Bidens pilosa. The experiment was conducted at the Seed Analysis Laboratory of the Department of Plant Science, Federal University of Ceará. For this end, we used oils at the concentrations of 0.01, 0.02, 0.04 and 0.08% (v/v). Five treatments were used for each of the oils arranged in a completely randomized design with four replications of 25 seeds. The seeds were sown in Petri dishes lined with filter paper moistened with distilled water and, aiming at the indirect contact with each oil, two sheets of filter paper were placed on top of the lid, in which three (3) mL of each oil solution were added. Then, the dishes were incubated in a germination chamber at 25°C. The pH did not contribute to alter the results; the volatile extracts of essential oils of C. zeylanicum, L. sidoides and C. nardus inhibited seed germination and root growth of seedlings of B. pilosa, which shows allelopathic potential; and the concentration of 0.08% of oils caused the overall deterioration of the roots and death of seedlings of B. pilosa.

Determinou-se o efeito alelopático inibitório dos extratos voláteis de Cinnamomum zeylanicum Ness, Lippia sidoides Cham. e Cymbopogum nardus L., sobre a germinação de sementes e o crescimento de raiz de plântulas de Bidens pilosa. O experimento foi conduzido no Laboratório de Análises de Sementes do Departamento de Fitotecnia da Universidade Federal do Ceará. Para isso, utilizaram-se óleos essenciais nas concentrações 0,01, 0,02, 0,04 e 0,08%. (v/v). Foram utilizados cinco tratamentos para cada óleo dispostos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições de 25 sementes. As sementes foram semeadas em placas de Petri forradas com papel de filtro umedecido com água destilada e, visando o contato indireto com cada óleo, foram colocadas duas folhas de papel de filtro na parte superior interna da tampa, onde foi adicionado 3(três) mL da solução de cada óleo. Em seguida, as placas foram incubadas em câmara de germinação a 25ºC. O pH não contribuiu para alterar os resultados; os extratos voláteis de óleos essenciais de C. zeylanicum, L. sidoides and C. nardus inibiram a germinação de sementes e o crescimento da raiz de plântulas de B. pilosa, evidenciando potencial alelopático; a concentração de 0,08% dos óleos causaram a deterioração total das raízes e morte das plântulas de B. pilosa.

Genetic characterization of fig tree mutants with molecular markers.

The fig (Ficus carica L.) is a fruit tree of great world importance and, therefore, the genetic improvement becomes an important field of research for better crops, being necessary to gather information on this species, mainly regarding its genetic variability so that appropriate propagation projects and management are made. The improvement programs of fig trees using conventional procedures in order to obtain new cultivars are rare in many countries, such as Brazil, especially due to the little genetic variability and to the difficulties in obtaining plants from gamete fusion once the wasp Blastophaga psenes, responsible for the natural pollinating, is not found in Brazil. In this way, the mutagenic genetic improvement becomes a solution of it. For this reason, in an experiment conducted earlier, fig plants formed by cuttings treated with gamma ray were selected based on their agronomic characteristics of interest. We determined the genetic variability in these fig tree selections, using RAPD and AFLP molecular markers, comparing them to each other and to the Roxo-de-Valinhos, used as the standard. For the reactions of DNA amplification, 140 RAPD primers and 12 primer combinations for AFLP analysis were used. The selections did not differ genetically between themselves and between them and the Roxo-de-Valinhos cultivar. Techniques that can detect polymorphism between treatments, such as DNA sequencing, must be tested. The phenotypic variation of plants may be due to epigenetic variation, necessitating the use of techniques with methylation-sensitive restriction enzymes.

Effects of potassium oxalate on knoop hardness of etch-and-rinse adhesives.

The objective of this study was to determine whether the hardness of etch-and-rinse adhesives may be affected by the pretreatment of acid-etched dentin with potassium oxalate desensitizer. Unerupted human third molars were cut into crown segments by removing the occlusal enamel and roots. The pulp chamber of these crown segments was connected to a syringe barrel filled with phosphate-buffered saline so that the moisture of dentin was maintained during the bonding procedures. Three etch-and-rinse adhesives-two two-step systems (Adper Single Bond 2 [SB], One-Step [OS]) and one three-step system (Adper Scotchbond Multi-Purpose [MP])-were applied to acid-etched dentin that had been treated (experimental groups) or not (control groups) with potassium oxalate (BisBlock). The Knoop hardness (KHN) of adhesives was taken at different sites of the outer surface of the adhesive-bonded dentin. The KHN of the three tested adhesives applied to acid-etched dentin treated with potassium oxalate was significantly lower than that exhibited by the respective controls (not treated with oxalate; p<0.05). Regardless of the adhesive, the treatment with potassium oxalate reduced the adhesives' KHN (p<0.05), with the OS system exhibiting the lowest KHN compared with the MP and SB systems.

Effect of alternative photostimulable phosphor plates erasing times on subjective digital image quality.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of alternative erasing times of DenOptix(R) (Dentsply/Gendex, Chicargo, IL) digital plates on subjective image quality and the probability of double exposure image not occurring. METHODS: Human teeth were X-rayed with phosphor plates using ten different erasing times. Two observers evaluated the images for subjective image quality (sharpness, brightness, contrast, enamel definition, dentin definition and dentin-enamel junction definition) and for the presence or absence of double exposure image. Spearman's correlation analysis and ANOVA was performed to verify the existence of a linear association between the subjective image quality parameters and the alternative erasing times. A contingency table was constructed to evaluate the agreement among the observers, and a binominal logistic regression was performed to verify the correlation between the erasing time and the probability of double exposure image not occurring. RESULTS: All 6 parameters of image quality were rated high by the examiners for the erasing times between 25 s and 130 s. The same erasing time range, from 25 to 130 s, was considered a safe erasing time interval, with no probability of a double exposure image occurring. CONCLUSIONS: The alternative erasing times from 25 s to 130 s showed high image quality and no probability of double image occurrence. Thus, it is possible to reduce the operating time of the DenOptix(R) digital system without jeopardizing the diagnostic task.

Oral lesions in HIV-positive dental patients--one more argument for tobacco smoking cessation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of oral lesions associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in a population of dental patients and analyze its association with psycho-social variables and biological markers. STUDY DESIGN: The dental charts of 415 dental patients consecutively treated between May and July 2005 in a dedicated HIV dental clinic were reviewed. Oral soft tissue examinations, psycho-social and medical variables were extracted and recorded for each patient. Ethnicity, gender, HIV treatment, peripheral CD(4) counts and tobacco usage were analyzed in correlation with oral lesions associated with HIV. RESULTS: Fifty-five percent of all subjects had at least one oral lesion associated with HIV, with oral candidiasis, salivary gland enlargement and oral hairy leukoplakia being the most commonly observed conditions. Gender and ethnicity did not correlate with a higher prevalence in lesions. However, tobacco smoking correlated significantly with a higher prevalence of oral lesions, independent of CD(4) counts. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that oral lesions remain commonly observed morbidities among HIV-infected dental patients independent of gender and ethnicity and that tobacco usage is a major and often underestimated risk factor for those lesions.

Breeding system and floral morphometry of distylous Psychotria L. species in the Atlantic rain forest, SE Brazil.

General patterns of floral morphology and incompatibility mechanisms have been described for many distylous plants. The absence of these patterns in typically distylous groups, as observed especially in tropical environments, is interpreted as atypical distyly, or as a new reproductive strategy derived from it. Data are presented here on the morphological and compatibility relations between floral morphs of four Psychotria dimorphic species in the Atlantic rain forest in SE Brazil: Psychotria jasminoides, P. birotula, P. mapourioides, and P. pubigera. When significant differences were found, floral parts were larger in thrum flowers. Results of controlled crosses showed that most incompatible pollen tubes were arrested in the stigma, and only in a low proportion in the upper parts of the style. We conclude that, at the study site, the majority and most important morphological and mating features of typical distyly seem to be conserved in P. jasminoides and P. mapourioides, which presented reciprocal herkogamy, self and intramorph incompatibility, and a balanced morph ratio in the population. Typical distyly in P. birotula is supported by floral morphology, pollen tube data and morph ratio and, in P. pubigera, only by floral morphology and pollen tube data.

The frontal sinus morphology in radiographs of Brazilian subjects: its forensic importance

The determination of gender of unknown persons is of vital importance in forensic investigations, such as anthropologic,medical and dental forensic studies, mainly in cases where only fragments of the skull remain and there is no possibility of identification based on the dental arch. The aim of the present study was to develop a mathematical method based on logistic regression analysis capable of determining the gender of individuals using measurements of the frontal sinus. The right and left areas and the maximum height and width of the frontal sinus were determined in 100 radiographs taken by the Caldwell technique of 50 women and 50 men between 20 and 30 years old, with the help of the prog ram SIARCS 3.0 (EMBRAPA). The mean values of the frontal sinus were greater in males and the left area was larger than the right area, based on Student’s t-test at the 5% level of significance. The mathematical model based on logistic regression analysis gave a concordanceindex for gender of 79.7% in the cases studied. The areas of the frontal sinus and the logistic regression technique proved to be useful in the determination of gender. (Logit = 1.6905 – 0.5383* left area).

[Simplifying the sampling method for evaluating the larval density of Aedes aegypti in São Paulo State, Brazil]. / Simplificação do método de estimação da densidade larvária de Aedes aegypti no Estado de São Paulo.

OBJECTIVE: To suggest changes in the sampling procedures for estimating the larval density of Aedes aegypti in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, by assessing the efficacy and level of complexity of the current procedures. METHODS: The "Superintendência de Controle de Endemias do Estado de São Paulo" - SUCEN's (Superintendence for Endemic Control of the State of São Paulo) sampling procedures for estimating the density of Aedes aegypti larvae was assessed. The Breteau index with one-stage cluster sampling was applied. An average of 35 blocks, 14 buildings per block, of a total of 510 buildings per sample, were assessed. One hundred and eleven samples were obtained in 6 municipalities of São José do Rio Preto. RESULTS: The Breteau index estimates higher than 3 had coefficients of variation smaller than 30% in 71% of the samples. The design effect was 1.19 and 1.79 for indexes lower and higher than 5, respectively. The estimates were obtained in less than 3 days, requiring a daily average of 5.5 men per sampling. CONCLUSION: This sampling design revealed to be a simplified one: fast, economic and easily managed. The operational easiness was due to the use of the one-stage cluster sampling, when there was not need to prepare lists of addresses and then sort and locate the buildings. Though the design effect shows a slight loss of the estimates' accuracy with the use of one-stage cluster sampling, this was proven to be under acceptable range. Simplifying changes in the process of determining the sample size and assessing sampling errors are proposed.

Seroprevalence of HIV, hepatitis B virus, and syphilis in women at their first visit to public antenatal clinics in Vitória, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: In some countries, HIV infection in pregnancy has become a common complication of pregnancy. GOAL: To determine the seroprevalence of HIV, hepatitis B virus, and syphilis among pregnant women, and to assess risk factors for these infections. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was performed. METHODS: Pregnant women attending antenatal clinics of Vitória Municipality from March to December 1999 were included in this study after giving written informed consent. The women were systematically interviewed. During the interview, their demographics and patterns of risk behavior were explored. A blood sample was collected for testing HIV, hepatitis B virus, and syphilis. RESULTS: The participants in this study were 1608 pregnant women. The prevalence of HIV infection was 0.8% (95% CI, 0.4-1.2), hepatitis B virus carriers 1.1% (95% CI, 0.8-1.3), and syphilis 3% (95% CI, 2.6-3.5). The potential risk behaviors were found to be a history of STDs (6.5%), condoms never used (52.8%), prostitution (0.5%), noninjection drug use (6.3%), blood transfusion (1.5%), and intravenous drug abuse (0.7%). CONCLUSION: These results show the necessity of implementing programs aimed at preventing transmission of these infections in women and their children.

A 2.3 to 25 keV XAS beamline at LNLS.

The LNLS XAS beamline has been operating for external users since July 1997. Many facilities and improvements have been progressively added to it, extending the range of applications. Here, a technical description of the main beamline components is given, and results concerning important points, such as available flux at low and high energies, harmonic contamination, energy resolution and stability, are presented. Some key results are given to demonstrate the beamline performance and limitations. It is shown that the beamline can cover a large energy range, starting from the rather low energy of 2.3 keV up to 25 keV.