The impact of fruit and soybean by-products and amaranth on the growth of probiotic and starter microorganisms.

The ability of different fruit by-products, okara, and amaranth flour, to support the growth of probiotic and non-probiotic strains was evaluated. The tests were conducted with three commercial starter cultures (Streptococcus thermophilus), ten probiotic strains (seven Lactobacillus spp. and three Bifidobacterium spp. strains), and two harmful bacteria representative of the intestinal microbiota (Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens). In vitro fermentability assays were performed using a modified MRS broth supplemented with different fruits (acerola, orange, passion fruit, and mango), and soy (okara) by-products or amaranth flour. Orange and passion-fruit by-products were the substrates that most promoted the growth of bacterial populations, including pathogenic strains. On the other hand, the acerola by-product was the substrate that showed the highest selectivity for beneficial bacteria, since the E. coli and Cl. perfringens populations were lower in the presence of this fruit by-product. Although the passion fruit by-product, okara, and amaranth stimulated the probiotic strains, the growth of the pathogenic strains studied was higher compared to other substrates. Different growth profiles were verified for each substrate when the different strains were compared. Although pure culture models do not reflect bacterial interaction in the host, this study reinforces the fact that the ability to metabolize different substrates is strain-dependent, and acerola, mango, and orange by-products are the substrates with the greatest potential to be used as prebiotic ingredients.

Oral cleft volumetric assessment by 3D multislice computed tomographic images.

The aim of this study was to determine the quantitative assessment of bone volume defects using multislice computed tomography (CT), and to establish an image processing protocol that enables this analysis. Bone defects were created in nine dry skulls, to mimic oral clefts. All the defects were modelled with wax, following the contralateral shape of the alveolo-palatal region. The wax was used to obtain the real volume of the cleft (gold standard). The skulls (with and without wax) were submitted to multislice CT examination, and the images were processed in an independent workstation using volumetric software. All the images were analysed twice, by two examiners at different times, performing intra- and inter-examiner analyses. The results show that the protocol for image processing has high efficiency (P=0.995). Multislice CT showed excellent results, with high reliability in the study of bone defect volume (P=0.997). The intra- and inter-observer analysis showed no statistically significant differences. It was demonstrated that multislice CT is a reliable technique in the volumetric assessment of bone defects in the alveolar and palatal regions, and that this method was efficient for calculating the volume of the clefts.

Volumetric and linear assessment of maxillary sinuses using computed tomography.

The purpose of this work was to compare linear and volumetric measurements of maxillary sinus (with and without lesion), using 3D (gold standard) and multiplanar reconstructions (MRP) by computed tomography in order to establish the precision and accuracy of these methods, determining which one would allow more effective assessments for this site. Linear measurements were performed in the maxillary sinus of 50 patients and compared with MPR and 3D images. We also analyzed the area and volume of this anatomic structure. Inter- and intra-observer average percentage errors for linear measurements were lower than 4%, the samples with lesion presenting higher values. The average error of accuracy was 4.94% for sinuses with lesion, and 7.41% for those without. We could verify that the antero-posterior and right-left measurements in axial view showed smaller figures of error when compared to sagittal and coronal reconstructions, respectively. The largest diameters observed for the sinuses had, in average, 39.6 mm in the antero-posterior direction, 28.35 mm in the right-left direction, and 36.3 mm in the supero-inferior. For the volume and area assessment, the values of error ranged lower than 9%, the highest values corresponding to the samples with lesion. The precision of measurements was inferior for maxillary sinus with lesion when compared with those without lesion. Measurements performed in the axial view were more precise than those performed in MPR images, and the coronal view measurements were considered to be more precise than the sagittal measurements.

The distribution of endocrine cell types of the gastrointestinal mucosa in genetically diabetic (db/db) mice.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Genetically diabetic (db/db) mice are a model for non-insulin-dependent diabetes in humans. The gastrointestinal tracts in 12-week-old db/db and nondiabetic control (db/+) mice were studied with particular emphasis on the endocrine cells. METHODS: Immunocytochemical and quantification techniques were used to localize and determine the number of cells containing serotonin and various regulatory peptides. RESULTS: In the antrum, the gastrin- and serotonin-immunoreactive cells were increased in number. In the large intestine, the enteroglucagon and the peptide tyrosine-immunoreactive cells were increased in number, whereas there were fewer serotonin-immunoreactive cells. There were also fewer somatostatin-immunoreactive cells in most gastrointestinal regions. In diabetic mice, the intestine was longer and its mucosa thicker than in control mice. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the genetic diabetic (db/db) condition exerts a significant influence on the gastrointestinal tract and on the endocrine cell systems studied. The observed alterations may reflect the effect of indirect factors rather than the diabetes per se.

Vivencias do paciente em litioterapia / Life experience of the patient in lithium therapy

A prescricao de um psicofarmaco transcende os limites do bioquimico e do farmacologico para influenciar tambem os aspectos psicologicos e sociais do paciente e de sua familia.Sao essas repercussoes psicossociais que constituem o foco da analise do autor. Os efeitos terapeuticos e colaterais tanto do litio como de outros medicamentos utilizados no tratamento das doencas afetivas sao vivenciados pelos pacientes e por seus familiares segundo o significado simbolico que possuem. Este significado influencia tambem os profissionais de saude mental na sua decisao de instituir ou suspender a litioterapia. E preciso estar ciente da existencia desses fatores, que podem ser extremamente relevantes em determinados casos, a fim de que se possa prestar ao paciente um atendimento verdadeiramente holistico, indo ao encontro de suas necessidades biopsicossociais

A eletrocardiografia dinâmica em portadores de prolapso da válvula mitral / Dynamic electrocardiography in patients with mitral valve prolapse

A frequencia das arritmias, no prolapso de valva mitral, em 51 pacientes (41 do sexo feminino e 10 do sexo masculino, com idade media de 35 anos), foi avaliada por meio de eletrocardiografia dinamica (sistema Holter) por 12 horas. Disturbios de ritmo foram evidenciado em 30 (58,8%) dos casos: arritmias ventriculares em 70,0%; taquicardia sinusal em 10%; bradicardia sinusal em 6,7%; fibrilacao atrial em 3,3%. Nao se observou correlacao significativa entre os sintomas referidos durante o exame e a presenca de arritmias. Formulam-se comentarios sobre a genese das arritmias na sindrome e sobre a indicacao terapeutica

Fibrilação ventricular durante teste ergométrico em jovem portadora de prolapso da valva mitral. Relato de caso / Ventricular fibrillation during ergometric test in a young woman with mitral valve prolapse. Report of a case

Uma paciente jovem, portadora da sindrome de prolapso da valva mitral (SPVM), com historia de sincopes desencadeadas por esforco fisico, durante a realizacao do teste ergometrico, apresentou episodio de fibrilacao ventricular, revertida apos cardioversao eletrica. O exame fisico nao revelou dados auscutatorios compativeis com SPVM. O diagnostico foi feito retrospectivamente, atraves do ecocardiograma e do cateterismo cardiaco, caracterizando assim o chamado "prolapso silencioso"

[Drug addiction and freedom]. / Toxicomanias e liberdade.

The author, in a historical and philosophical approach, analyses the concept of freedom as opposed to slavery. He also refers to the legal and social restrictions and studies the determinism and free will as the causes of human behaviour. Quoting Spinoza, the author states that man accepts the idea of freedom because he realizes the "how" of his options but ignores "why". Without the hypothesis of causality and determinism, there seems to have no science. Without freedom, there seems to be no anthropos man (Jimeno Valdez). The principles of anticausality, of nonreproducibility and of differentiation characterize the human freedom, but are contrary to the way science works. According to the social and political point of view, it was established that the State has the right to oblige and to violently limit freedom. Practically speaking, though, the State is violent just for being the State; the dominant groups are the government because they are and they have been violent. There is a need to limit and to discipline this right of the State of being violent within the dilemma of safety and freedom. By working, the slave avoided the whip. And by doing this, he encouraged the behaviour of the one who whipped him. The non-aversive attitudes limit the freedom in the modern world more and more for they also enchain our will, a rebellion becoming impossible. One is not granted the freedom; it shall be conquered and kept. Freedom, either as a concept or a phenomenon, is always relative. The concept of toxicomania or pharmacodependance is analysed according to the same perspective. The conclusion is that this is always more a problem of the society than of the individual, and this is how it has to be understood and treated. The present world is described as a millenial human culture specifically characterized by eight groups of phenomena: 1. Transport increased human mobility, reduced the relative dimensions of the earth, mixed peoples, compared cultures and created opportunities for conflicts; 2. The means of communication spread information surpassing their own capacity of being formed, they becoming traumatic; 3. The natural energies and electronic computing disturbed the work and comsumption market, man becoming insecure and disposable; 4. The industrial development produced a mass-culture and old time establishment became unreliable; 5. The demographic boom altered the age groups ratio which now presents an excess of children and grandparents with a relative lack of parents; 6. The diffusion of knowledge on human nature; 7. The religions emerged again, even the most primitive, persuading youngsters and governments; 8. The law, institutions and governments did not keep up with the rhythm of the changings and progress. The result was a generalized dissatisfaction.

Infarto do miocardio apos choque eletrico. Apresentacao de um caso. / Myocardial infarction after electric shock. Report of a case

E relatado o caso de um paciente de 27 anos, sem fatores de risco e antecedentes de coronariopatia na familia, acometido de infarto do miocardio transmural apos eletrocussao acidental. A cinecoronariografia realizada 30 dias apos, mostrou arterias coronarias normais e acinesia antero-apical. Os autores discutem a etiopatogenia, dando enfase a possibilidade de vasoespasmo coronario ou trombose coronaria com recanalizacao

Estenose aórtica supravalvar (sindrome de Williams-Beuren). Apresentacao de um caso / Supravalvular aortic stenosis (Williams-Beuren syndrome).Report of a case

Os autores apresentam um caso de estenose aortica supravalvar associada a anomalia facial e a retardo mental, caracterizando a sindrome de Williams-Beuren. Sao abordados os aspectos etiologicos, o quadro clinico, os metodos de exames complementares de diagnostico e o tratamento cirurgico

Toxicomanias e liberdade. / Drug abuse and freedom

O A. discute, em perspectiva historica e filosofica, os conceitos de liberdade e de farmacopendencia. Comenta e explica as crescentes limitacoes a liberdade do homem, principalmente jovem, na sociedade moderna. Descreve esquematicamente as caracteristicas atuais da humanidade e de seu funcionamento. Cita os estimulos aversivos e, principalmente, nao aversivos que pressionam para o consumo de drogas.Conclui que os jovens superam os adultos na resistencia a estas pressoes quando o quadro comparativo inclui condutas similares como alcoolismo, obesidade, tabagismo, jogos de azar e uso desnecessario de psicofarmacos

Netilmicina - avaliacao clinico-laboratorial em pacientes portadores de infeccao urinaria. / Netilmicin: clinical and laboratorial evaluation with urinary infection

Os autores avaliam a eficacia e paraefeitos de um novo aminoglicosideo, a netilmicina, utilizada em um grupo de 20 pacientes portadores de infeccao urinaria