Computational structural, electronic and optical properties of the palmitic acid in its C form.

In this work, we report a theoretical study of the structural, electronic, and optical properties of palmitic acid crystal in its C form under DFT calculations level. Palmitic acid is a fatty acid that constitutes the large majority of vegetable oils with recognized potential applications in medicine, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics technology, foods, and fuel. As a main result, we have found that the electronic bandstructure reveals an indirect gap given by 3.713 eV (E→B andE→Γ), as a main bandgap, while the secondary bandgaps found were 4.175 eV (γ1→Γ) and 4.172 eV (γ2→B). It behaves like a wide bandgap semiconductor, which points to potential applications in optoelectronic devices.

Critical properties of a superdiffusive epidemic process.

We introduce a superdiffusive one-dimensional epidemic process model on which infection spreads through a contact process. Healthy (A) and infected (B) individuals can jump with distinct probabilities D(A) and D(B) over a distance ℓ distributed according to a power-law probability P(ℓ)[proportionality]1/ℓ(µ). For µ≥3 the propagation is equivalent to diffusion, while µ<3 corresponds to Lévy flights. In the D(A)>D(B) diffusion regime, field-theoretical results have suggested a first-order transition, a prediction not supported by several numerical studies. An extensive numerical study of the critical behavior in both the diffusive (µ≥3) and superdiffusive (µ<3) D(A)>D(B) regimes is also reported. We employed a finite-size scaling analysis to obtain the critical point as well as the static and dynamic critical exponents for several values of µ. All data support a second-order phase transition with continuously varying critical exponents which do not belong to the directed percolation universality class.

Mitogenic response and cytokine production induced by cramoll 1,4 lectin in splenocytes of inoculated mice.

Cramoll 1,4 is a lectin with specific glucose/mannose binding, which is extracted from seeds of Cratylia mollis Mart. Many assays have shown the cytokine expression activity and anti-inflammatory profile of this lectin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunostimulatory response, in vitro, of splenocytes in mice previously inoculated, in vivo, with C. mollis (Cramoll 1,4) and Canavalia ensiformis (Con A) lectins. Results demonstrated higher proliferation indexes induced by Cramoll 1,4 than Con A lectin in relation to all experimental groups. Cramoll 1,4 and Con A also induced high levels of IL-2, IL-6, IFN-γ and nitric oxide production. Moreover, Cramoll 1,4 did not induce apoptosis and stimulated a significant number of cells in the S phase of the cell cycle. Results showed that Cramoll 1,4 lectin induces proliferative response and suggested that this lectin can be used as a mitogenic agent in immunostimulatory assays.

Clinical and immunological aspects of envenomations by Bothrops snakes: [review]

Accidents caused by snakes, especially in tropical and subtropical countries, still constitute a serious public health problem due to the lack of knowledge of health professionals and the precariousness of health systems in the regions where most accidents occur. Snake venoms contain a range of molecules that may provoke local swelling, pain, renal and respiratory insufficiencies. The study of the effects of each molecule on humans can help the development of complementary therapy. Similarly, the knowledge of clinical aspects of envenomations provides a better identification and implementation of appropriate treatment. In addition, to understand Bothrops envenomations and improve the therapeutic strategy, it is necessary to understand and study the role of important inflammatory mediators, particularly nitric oxide (NO), cytokines and the complement system.

Ion channels in volume regulation of clonal kidney cells.

OBJECTIVES: Clonal kidney cells (Vero cells) are extensively utilized in the manufacture of biological preparations for disease diagnostics and therapeutics and also in preparation of vaccines. In all cells, regulation of volume is an essential function coupled to a variety of physiological processes and is a topic of interest. The objective here was to investigate involvement of ion channels in the process of volume regulation of Vero cells. METHODS: Involvement of ion channels in cell volume regulation was studied using video-microscopy and flow cytometry. Pharmacologically unaltered cells of different sizes, which are presumably at different phases of the cell cycle, were used. RESULTS: Ion transport inhibitors altered all phases of regulatory volume decrease (RVD) of Vero cells, rate of initial cell swelling, V(max) and volume recovery. Effects were dependent on type of inhibitor and on cell size (cell cycle phase). Participation of aquaporins in RVD was suggested. Inhibitors decelerated growth, arresting Vero cells at the G(0) /G(1) phase boundary. Electrophysiological study confirmed presence of volume-activated Cl(-) channels and K(+) channels in plasmatic membranes of the cells. CONCLUSION: Vero cells of all sizes maintained the ability to recover from osmotic swelling. Activity of ion channels was one of the key factors that controlled volume regulation and proliferation of the cells.

Peptide immunization as an adjuvant to chemotherapy in mice challenged intratracheally with virulent yeast cells of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.

Immunization with peptide P10, derived from gp43, and chemotherapy were used together in an attempt to improve treatment of paracoccidioidomycosis and prevent relapses. The combined treatment showed an additive protective effect when administered at 48 h or 30 days after intratracheal challenge. Its use is recommended to improve regular chemotherapy and reduce the duration of treatment.

[Neoplasm mortality in women in reproductive age (15 to 49 years) in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, from 1991 to 1995]. / Mortalidade por neoplasmas em mulheres em idade reprodutiva - 15 a 49 anos - no estado de São Paulo, Brasil, de 1991 a 1995.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the mortality owing to neoplasms in women of reproductive age (15 to 49 years) in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, from 1991 to 1995. METHODS: A list of all deaths and their underlying causes, coded according to the International Classification of Diseases, 9 th revision, and estimates of the female population according to age groups were provided by the SEADE Foundation. Specific coefficients for 100 thousand women for each year as well as the medians of the coefficients related to 5 years, and the percentage of underlying causes of death by subgroups were calculated. RESULTS: In young women (15 to 29 years) highest rates were found for the subgroup "Malignant neoplasm of lymphatic and hematopoiethic tissues", followed by the subgroup "Malignant neoplasm of bones, connective tissue, skin and breast". In women aged 30 to 49 years, the leading underlying causes of death were those included in the last subgroup, followed by the subgroups "Malignant neoplasm of genitourinary organs", "Malignant neoplasm of digestive organs and peritoneum", and "Malignant neoplasm of lymphatic and hematopoietic tissues". The highest specific rates of underlying causes of death for women aged 15-29 were myeloid and lymphoid leukemias, and for women aged 30-49 were in decreasing rank," breast cancer"; "uterine cervix cancer" and "not specified uterine part cancer"; "stomach cancer"; "tracheal, bronchial and lung cancer" and "ovarian and other uterine annexes". CONCLUSION: Preventive measures to eliminate or lower the risk factors exposure and to promote early diagnosis and prompt treatment of these neoplasms should be enhanced in order to avoid possible future pregnancy complications and to prolong survival of women of reproductive age.

Latin American study on patient acceptance of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) in the evaluation of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the acceptance of the self-administered International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) by people of differing educational levels in two different countries. METHODS: The questionnaire adopted by the World Health Organization and known as the IPSS attempts to measure the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. An international study was performed in Brazil and Argentina and included 768 patients. The IPSS was self-administered and used to evaluate and quantify the clinical symptoms resulting from benign prostatic hyperplasia. The patients were asked not to answer any questions that they did not clearly understand or about which they were unsure of the information they should give. The patients were assessed into two subgroups according to their level of education. The Brazilian group consisted of 458 men in which subgroup 1 was composed of 244 (53%) men who had an elementary school education, whereas subgroup 2 consisted of 214 (47%) men who had a higher education level, including a university degree. The Argentinian group consisted of 310 patients, 158 (51%) of whom had an elementary school education, whereas the remaining 152 (49%) had received higher education, including a university degree. RESULTS: A total of 77 men (16.8%), 35 (45.5%) from subgroup 1 and 42 (54.5%) from subgroup 2, failed to complete the questionnaire. The difference between the two subgroups was not significant. A total of 189 questions were not answered. There was no significant difference among the three questions most frequently unanswered by each subgroup. A total of 40 (12.9%) men filled out the questionnaire incompletely, 31 (77.5%) in the lower-education subgroup and 9 (22.5%) in the higher-education subgroup. An incomplete questionnaire was more frequent among the patients with lower education (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In spite of the cultural variations, there was no significant difference in the number of patients unable to answer the questionnaire in the two countries.