Linking cohort-based data with electronic health records: a proof-of-concept methodological study in Hong Kong.

OBJECTIVES: Data linkage of cohort-based data and electronic health records (EHRs) has been practised in many countries, but in Hong Kong there is still a lack of such research. To expand the use of multisource data, we aimed to identify a feasible way of linking two cohorts with EHRs in Hong Kong. METHODS: Participants in the 'Children of 1997' birth cohort and the Chinese Early Development Instrument (CEDI) cohort were separated into several batches. The Hong Kong Identity Card Numbers (HKIDs) of each batch were then uploaded to the Hong Kong Clinical Data Analysis and Reporting System (CDARS) to retrieve EHRs. Within the same batch, each participant has a unique combination of date of birth and sex which can then be used for exact matching, as no HKID will be returned from CDARS. Raw data collected for the two cohorts were checked for the mismatched cases. After the matching, we conducted a simple descriptive analysis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) information collected in the CEDI cohort via the Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD Symptoms and Normal Behaviour Scale (SWAN) and EHRs. RESULTS: In total, 3473 and 910 HKIDs in the birth cohort and CEDI cohort were separated into 44 and 5 batches, respectively, and then submitted to the CDARS, with 100% and 97% being valid HKIDs respectively. The match rates were confirmed to be 100% and 99.75% after checking the cohort data. From our illustration using the ADHD information in the CEDI cohort, 36 (4.47%) individuals had ADHD-Combined score over the clinical cut-off in the SWAN survey, and 68 (8.31%) individuals had ADHD records in EHRs. CONCLUSIONS: Using date of birth and sex as identifiable variables, we were able to link the cohort data and EHRs with high match rates. This method will assist in the generation of databases for future multidisciplinary research using both cohort data and EHRs.

Spillover Effects of Maternal Chronic Disease on Children's Quality of Life and Behaviors Among Low-Income Families.

BACKGROUND: Mothers with chronic diseases may have spillover effects on their children. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to estimate the spillover effects of mothers with chronic disease on their children's health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and behavior. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 255 mother-child pairs (130 boys and 125 girls, mean age 8.4 years) from low-income Chinese families. We asked the mothers to self-report any doctor-diagnosed chronic diseases, and evaluate their children's HRQOL and behaviors with the Child Health Questionnaire-Parent Form-50 (CHQ-PF50) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to assess the independent spillover effect of maternal chronic disease on children's HRQOL and behaviors, with adjustment for confounders. The differential impact of maternal physical and mental diseases was also investigated. RESULTS: Over one-third of mothers (n = 88, 34.5%) reported one or more doctor-diagnosed chronic diseases. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that children of mothers with chronic diseases had significantly lower CHQ-PF50 scores in the parental impact-time, parental impact-emotional, and family activities subscales and psychosocial summary scores, as well as more hyperactive and inattentive problems measured by SDQ after adjustment for confounders. Maternal mental and physical disease showed a differential impact on children's HRQOL and behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic disease in mothers might exert adverse effects on their children's HRQOL and behaviors. The effects could differ by maternal physical or mental disease status. Special attention and support should be paid to children of mothers with chronic disease as these children are at an increased risk of poor HRQOL and problematic behaviors.

Remediation of phenol-contaminated soil by a bacterial consortium and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus isolated from an industrial wastewater treatment plant.

Time-course performance of a phenol-degrading indigenous bacterial consortium, and of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var. anitratus, isolated from an industrial coal wastewater treatment plant was evaluated. This bacterial consortium was able to survive in the presence of phenol concentrations as high as 1200mgL(-1) and the consortium was more fast in degrading phenol than a pure culture of the A. calcoaceticus strain. In a batch system, 86% of phenol biodegradation occurred in around 30h at pH 6.0, while at pH 3.0, 95.2% of phenol biodegradation occurred in 8h. A high phenol biodegradation (above 95%) by the mixed culture in a bioreactor was obtained in both continuous and batch systems, but when test was carried out in coke gasification wastewater, no biodegradation was observed after 10 days at pH 9-11 for both pure strain or the isolated consortium. An activated sludge with the same bacterial consortium characterized above was mixed with a textile sludge-contaminated soil with a phenol concentration of 19.48mgkg(-1). After 20 days of bioaugmentation, the remanescent phenol concentration of the sludge-soil matrix was 1.13mgkg(-1).

Correlação entre a proporção de fibras rápidas do músculo bíceps braquial e o torque relativo da flexão do cotovelo em sujeitos com hipótese clínica de miopatia / Correlation between the proportion of fast fibers in the biceps brachii muscle and the relative torque during elbow flexion in subjects with clinical hypothesis of myopathy

A produção de força muscular pode estar comprometida em pacientes portadores de miopatias. Estas representam um grupo heterogêneo de doenças com distintas características clínicas e morfológicas. Supõe-se que achados de desempenho funcional estejam relacionados com o tipo predominante de fibra expresso no músculo em análise. OBJETIVO: Correlacionar a proporção das fibras tipo 2 (FT2) do músculo bíceps braquial de sujeitos com hipótese clínica de miopatia (HCM) com picos de torque isométrico e isocinético de flexão do cotovelo. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Participaram deste estudo sete sujeitos com HCM: quatro do sexo feminino com média de idade de 37 anos (dp= 9), peso de 73kg (dp= 26) e altura de 155cm (dp= 6); e três do sexo masculino com média de idade de 39 anos (dp= 1), peso de 88kg (dp= 5) e altura de 172cm (dp= 4). Pela técnica histoquímica de mATPase, foi realizada análise de proporção das fibras musculares. Após um mês da realização das biópsias, os sujeitos realizaram teste de força isométrica e isocinética concêntrica de flexão e extensão do cotovelo em dinamômetro isocinético. Avaliou-se o pico de torque (PT) isométrico a 90ºs-Õ e 180ºs-Õ e calculou-se o torque relativo 90 (TR90) e 180 (TR180). Para análise estatística, utilizou-se correlação de Spearman (r). RESULTADOS: A proporção de FT2 se correlacionou positivamente com TR180 (r= 0,89, p= 0,01). Uma moderada correlação foi encontrada entre FT2 e TR90 (r= 0,75, p= 0,05). CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados sugerem que o comportamento contrátil das FT2 não foi modificado nestes sujeitos. O dinamômetro isocinético mostrou ser um instrumento que pode avaliar, de forma não invasiva, a predominância do tipo de fibra muscular.

Muscular strength production may be impaired in myopathic patients. Myopathies represent a heterogeneous group of diseases with distinct clinical and morphological characteristics. It has been hypothesized that functional performance findings may be related to the predominant fiber type expressed in the muscle analyzed. OBJECTIVE: To correlate the proportion of type 2 fibers in the biceps brachii muscles of subjects with a clinical hypothesis of myopathy with their peak isometric and isokinetic torque during elbow flexion. METHOD: Seven subjects with a clinical hypothesis of myopathy participated in this study: four females of mean age 37 years (sd = 9), weight 73kg (sd= 26) and height 155cm (sd= 6); and three males of mean age 39 years (sd= 1), weight 88kg (sd= 5) and height 172cm (sd= 4). The muscle fiber proportion was analyzed using the mATPase technique. One month after taking biopsies, the subjects performed concentric isometric and isokinetic strength tests for elbow flexion and extension using an isokinetic dynamometer. The isometric and isokinetic peak torques at 90ºs-Õ and 180ºs-Õ were evaluated and the relative 90º (RT90) and 180º (RT180) torques were calculated. Spearman's correlation (r) was used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: The proportion of type 2 fibers correlated positively with RT180 (r= 0.89, p= 0.01), and there was a moderate correlation with RT90 (r= 0.75, p= 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the contractile behavior of type 2 fibers was not modified in these subjects. The isokinetic dynamometer was shown to be an instrument capable of noninvasively evaluating muscle fiber type predominance.

Glycosaminoglycan loss from cartilage after anterior cruciate ligament rupture: influence of time since rupture and chondral injury

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the concentration of sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) concentration in the synovial fluid (SF) of knees with chronic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture and to identify possible associations between GAG concentration in SF and the time elapsed since rupture and degree of chondral injury. METHOD: Fourteen adult male subjects with total unilateral ACL rupture, which had occurred between 5 and 144 months earlier, were assessed. All subjects underwent joint aspiration; it was possible to collect SF from ten individuals. The samples were quantified to determine the GAG concentration using dimethylmethylene blue (DMMB) staining. The degree of chondral injury was macroscopically evaluated using the modified Mankin histological scale. Spearman correlation test (< 0.05) was used to evaluate the association between GAG concentration and chondral injury, and Pearson correlation test (< 0.05) was used to evaluate the association between GAG concentration and the time elapsed since rupture. RESULTS: The GAG concentration in SF showed a mean variation of 73.84 ± 40.75 µg/ml, with a mean time of 40.4 ± 40.3 months since the rupture. There was no correlation between GAG concentration and time since the rupture (r= -0.09, p= 0.81). The chondral injury grades found were 0, 1, 4 and 5. There was no correlation between chondral injury grade and GAG concentration in SF (r= -0.41, p= 0.24). CONCLUSION: After at least 5 months, the GAG concentration in SF from knees with ACL rupture is independent of the time elapsed since rupture and/or the severity of chondral injury.

OBJETIVO: Quantificar a concentração de glicosaminoglicanas sulfatadas (GAGs) no líquido sinovial (LS) de joelhos com ruptura crônica do ligamento cruzado anterior (LCA) e identificar uma possível correlação entre a concentração de GAGs no LS e o tempo pós-ruptura e grau de lesão condral. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 14 indivíduos adultos do sexo masculino com ruptura total unilateral do LCA, ocorrida entre cinco a 144 meses. Todos os sujeitos foram puncionados, sendo possível a coleta de LS em dez indivíduos. As amostras foram quantificadas para determinar a concentração de GAGs usando a coloração azul de dimetilmetileno, método descrito por Farndale21. O grau de lesão condral foi macroscopicamente avaliado pela escala histológica de Mankin modificada por Messner14. As correlações entre concentração de GAGs e lesão condral foram feitas pelo teste de correlação de Sperman (p< 0,05) e a concentração de GAGs e tempo pós-ruptura pelo teste de correlação de Pearson (p< 0,05). RESULTADOS: Concentração de GAGs no LS apresentou variação média de 73,84 ± 40,75µg/mL, sendo o tempo médio pós-ruptura de 40,4 + 40,3 meses. Não houve correlação entre concentração de GAGs e o tempo pós-ruptura (r= -0,09, p= 0,81). Os graus de lesão condral encontrados foram de 0, 1, 4 e 5. Não houve correlação entre grau de lesão condral e a concentração de GAGs no LS (r= -0,41, p= 0,24). CONCLUSÕES: Após no mínimo cinco meses, a concentração de GAGs no LS de joelhos com ruptura do LCA independe do tempo pós-ruptura e/ou do grau de lesão condral.

Relação entre a lesão condral e o pico de torque após reconstrução do ligamento cruzado anterior do joelho: estudo de casos / Relationship between chondral lesion and peak torque following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction of the knee: case study

CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: A associação entre lesão do ligamento cruzado anterior (LCA) e desenvolvimento de osteoartrite (OA) secundária tem sido objeto de vários estudos. A lesão ligamentar predispõe a lesões da cartilagem articular, influenciando, assim, o controle motor e o pico de torque. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a influência do grau de lesão condral no pico de torque da musculatura anterior e posterior da coxa após lesão e reconstrução do LCA. MÉTODO: Seis sujeitos do sexo masculino com lesão total e unilateral do LCA foram avaliados pré-cirurgia (24 horas antes da cirurgia) e pós-cirurgia em dois momentos distintos, 4,66 ± 1,03 e 15,83 ± 2,63 meses, respectivamente. As avaliações isocinéticas foram realizadas no modo concêntrico de flexão e extensão do joelho, nas velocidades de 60º/s e 180º/s, em que foram a analisadas as variáveis PT dos isquiotibiais (PTI), PT do quadríceps (PTQ) e a relação entre eles (I/Q). A escala histológica de Mankin modificada foi utilizada para avaliar o grau macroscópico de lesão condral. O teste estatístico ANOVA (p< 0,05) comparou os resultados nos três períodos estudados e o post-hoc teste de Newman Keuls foi utilizado como pós-teste. Posteriormente, foi aplicado o teste de Correlação de Spearman para avaliar a influência do grau de lesão condral com o PT da musculatura da coxa. RESULTADOS: Os resultados mostraram diferenças estatisticamente significativas na relação entre I/Q na velocidade de 60º/s (p= 0,01). O grau de lesão condral variou de 1 a 5, entretanto não houve correlação com os achados isocinéticos. CONCLUSÃO: Identificamos que ocorreu desequilíbrio na relação agonista/antagonista, no que se refere ao torque, entre os grupos musculares do joelho após reconstrução do LCA, entretanto o grau da lesão condral secundária não influenciou o ganho progressivo desse mesmo grupo muscular dentro do período estudado.

CONTEXT: The association between anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and the development of secondary osteoarthritis has been the subject of several studies. Ligament injury predisposes joint cartilage lesions, thus influencing motor control and peak torque. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of the degree of chondral lesion on peak torque of the anterior and posterior musculature of the thigh following ACL injury and reconstruction. METHOD: Six male subjects with total unilateral ACL injury were evaluated 24 hours before surgery and at two times after surgery (4.66 ± 1.03 and 15.83 ± 2.63 months, respectively). Isokinetic evaluations of knee flexion and extension were made in concentric mode, at velocities of 60º/s and 180º/s, and the variables of hamstring peak torque (HPT) and quadriceps peak torque (QPT) and hamstring/quadriceps ratio (H/Q) were analyzed. The modified Mankin histological scale was used to evaluate the macroscopic degree of chondral injury. The ANOVA statistical test (p< 0.05) was used to compare the results between the three times studied, with the Newman-Keuls post-hoc test. Spearman's correlation test was then applied to evaluate the influence of the degree of chondral injury on the peak torque of the thigh musculature. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in the H/Q ratio at the velocity of 60º/s (p= 0.01). The degree of chondral injury degree ranged from 1 to 5, although there was no correlation with the isokinetic findings. CONCLUSION: There was an imbalance in agonist/antagonist relationship, with regard to torque, between muscle groups of the knee following ACL reconstruction. However, the degree of secondary chondral lesion did not influence the progressive gains in this muscle groups over the study period.

Pain in workers with shoulder impingement syndrome: an assessment using the DASH and McGill pain questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed physical function and pain in male and female workers with shoulder impingement syndrome using the Brazilian Portuguese versions of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) and McGill pain questionnaires. METHODS: Twenty-seven assembly line workers (18 men and 9 women; mean age of 33.26 ± 6.49 years) in the school supply industry were evaluated. The duration of the shoulder impingement pain was 31.74 ± 32.92 months and the amount of time of the workers in this industry was 11.08 ± 6.41 years. The DASH questionnaire was used to evaluate functional status and symptoms of the upper limbs of the workers. Using the McGill Pain Questionnaire, the pain was quantified by the number of words chosen and by the pain rating index (PRI). RESULTS: The women presented higher scores (P< 0.05) than the men for both DASH overall and DASH work scores. The women chose more words (17.00 ± 2.59) than the men (13.33 ± 3.16) and also presented the highest total PRI (P< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained in this group of Brazilian workers with shoulder impingement identify the most commonly used descriptors of shoulder pain. Further, this study shows that females are more likely than males to refer physical disability and pain. Also, the DASH and McGill pain questionnaires are important and helpful tools in the clinical evaluation of shoulder impingement syndrome.

OBJETIVO: Este estudo avaliou função física e dor em trabalhadores com síndrome do impacto através das versões brasileiras dos questionários "Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand" (DASH) e McGill de dor. MÉTODO: Vinte e sete trabalhadores (18 homens e 9 mulheres; idade média de 33,26 ± 6,49 anos) de uma linha de produção de uma indústria de material escolar foram avaliados. O tempo de duração de dor no ombro era de 31,74 ± 32,92 meses e o tempo de trabalho na indústria era de 11,08 ± 6,41 anos. O questionário DASH foi utilizado para avaliar o estado funcional e os sintomas dos membros superiores dos trabalhadores. Através do questionário McGill de dor, a dor foi quantificada pelo número de palavras escolhidas e pelo índice de classificação da dor (ICD). RESULTADOS: As mulheres apresentaram maiores escores (P< 0,05) que os homens para ambos os módulos do DASH. As mulheres escolheram mais palavras (17,00 ± 2,59) que os homens (13,33 ± 3,16) e também apresentaram o maior ICD total (P< 0,05). CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados obtidos neste grupo de trabalhadores brasileiros com síndrome do impacto do ombro identificam os mais comuns descritores utilizados para dor no ombro. Além disso, este estudo mostra que as mulheres estão mais propensas a relatarem incapacidade física e dor quando comparadas aos homens. Os questionários DASH e McGill de dor são ferramentas importantes e úteis na avaliação clínica da síndrome do impacto do ombro.

Reliability and confidence in using a paired comparison paradigm in perceptual voice quality evaluation.

One of the ways to improve the reliability in perceptual voice quality rating is to provide listeners with external anchors. A paired comparison matching paradigm using synthesized Cantonese voice stimuli that covered a range of rough and breathy qualities were used to investigate the rating reliability. Twenty-five speech pathology students rated the severity of roughness and breathiness of natural pathological voice samples using two paradigms: an eight-point anchored matching (paired comparison) paradigm and an eight-point non-anchored equal-appearing-interval (EAI) scale paradigm. The listeners also rated their confidence in judging each testing stimulus on a seven-point EAI scale. The results showed that the paired comparison method specifically improved the inter-rater reliability in rating male rough stimuli and mildly dysphonic female stimuli. The intra-rater agreement and confidence ratings remained similar across the two rating paradigms. These results suggest that the paired comparison paradigm may be used as an alternative perceptual voice quality evaluation tool.

Analise da resposta da frequencia cardiaca durante a realizacao de exercicio isocinetico excentrico de grupamento extensor de joelho / Analysis of heart rate response during eccentric isokinetic exercise of knee extensor muscle group

Investigar a magnitude da resposta da frequencia cardiaca durante o exercicio isocinetico excentrico do grupamento extensor do joelho, em diferentes velocidades angulares. Materiais e metodos: dez voluntarios jovens, sadios e ativos foram submetidos a contracao excentrica maxima do grupo extensor do joelho dominante. Foi utilizado um dinamometro isocinetico, nas velocidades de 30o/s, 60o/s e 120o/s, ordenadas aleatoriamente. A FC foi obtida batimento a batimento, na derivacao eletrocardiografica MC5 modificada, durante 60s pre-exercicio, durante o tempo de contracao, sendo cinco repeticoes para cada velocidade, e por 120s apos o esforco. Foram calculadas: FC media dos 60s pre-exercicio, FC pico atingida ao final do esforco, e variacao da FC (AFC), alem dos valores do pico de torque. Tambem foram comparados valores da FC media dos 6 minutos pre exercicio com os 6 minutos de recupercao. Os resultados foram comparados pelo teste de Friedman com post hoc de Dunn. O nivel de significancia estabelecido foi de 5 por cento. Resultados:nao foram observadas diferencas estatisticamente significantes entre os valores medianos da FC de repouso (68bpm para 30o/s e 60o/s, 70 bpm para 120o/s), FC pico (107bpm para 30o/s, 103 em 60o/s e 100bpm em 120o/s) e AFC (37bpm para 30o/s, 35bpm em 60o/s e 27bpm para 120o/s). A mediana dos valores de FC anteriores ao esforco foi semelhante aos de recuperacao (67bpm). Conclusao: a magnitude de resposta da FC foi semelhante, durante atividade muscular excentrica, indicando uma mesma sobrecarga cardiaca, independente da velocidade angular realizada

Avaliação propriocepção do joelho em individuos portadores de disfunção femoropatelar / Evaluation of proprioception on the knee among individuals with patellofemoral dysfunctuion

Avaliar a propriocepcao do joelho de individuos portadores de disfuncao femoropatelar (DFP) e de individuos-controle em dinamometro isocinetico. Metodo: forma selecionados 20 sujeitos do sexo feminino, sendo 10 (22,5 +- 2,3 anos) portadores de DFP unilateral sem sintomatologia dolorosa (grupo DFP) e 10 (21,3 +- 1,7 anos) clinicamente normais (grupo N). As voluntarias, sentadas na cadeira do dinamometro isocinetico e com os olhos vendados, realizaram tres reposicionamentos ativos para tres diferentes angulos-alvo (30, 45 e 60 graus) de flexao do joelho. As variaveis estudads foram o angulo de reposicionamento ativo do joelho e os erros absoluto e relativo em relacao a cada angulo-alvo avaliado. Resultados: o teste t evidenciou que nao houve diferenca significativa na media dos reposicionamentos ativos (P30º=0,33l; P45º=0,39; e P60º=0,96) entre os grupos DFP e controle. Alem disso, a analise de variancia (ANOVA) nao mostrou diferenca significativa, tanto na media do erro absoluto (p=0,66) quanto na media do erro relativo (p=0,81) entre os diferentes angulos-alvo de flexao do joelho. Conclusao: nas condicoes experimentais utilizadas, os dados do presente estudo nao evidenciam deficit proprioceptivo em realacao ao senso de posicao articular entre os grupos DFP e controle

Correlação entre métodos de auto-relato e testes provocativos de avaliação da dor em indivíduos portadores de disturbios osteomusculares relacionados ao trabalho / Correlation between pain self-reports and provocative tests in work-related musculoskeletal disorders

Os disturbios osteomusculares relacionados ao trabalho (DORT) sao responsaveis por grande parte dos afastamentos e pelos altos custos em indenizacoes. O diagnostico dessas lessoes e essencial porque direciona as desicoes clinicas e legais a serem adotadas. Como a presenca de dor e um elemento frequente nessa sindromesua avaliacao e importante para caracteriza-la. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi comparar diferentes formas de avaliacao da intensidade dolorosa nos DORT, a fim de identificar as que melhor expressam esses quadros. Foram avaliadas 134 mulheres trabalhadoras de linhade producao industrial, sendo selecionadas 77 com idade media de 33,5 + 6,6 anos que relataram dor decorrente de DORT em um questionario de anamnese. Utilizaram-se no estudo um roteiro para anamnese, uma escala semantica, uma escala numerica de avaliacao da dor e exames de palpacao manual e algometria de pressao. Os dados foram analisados por meio da correlacaode Spearman. A correlacao entre as escalas de dor foi estatisticamente significatia e boa (r=0,62; p<0,05) e entre a algometria de pressao e a palpacao manual tambem foi significativa, porem fraca. A associacao entre os testes provocativos (algometria de pressao e palpacao manual) e os metodos de relato da percepcao dolorosa (escalas numerica e semantica de dor) tambem foi significativa, porem pobre (r=0,25-0,44;p<0,05). Os resultados sugerem a pertinencia da utilizacao associada de um metodo de relato de dor e um teste provocativo para melhor caracterizacao da dor nos DORT

Influencia do laser de baixa potencia nos niveis das proteinas plasmaticas de coelhos / Low power laser influence on the plasmatic proteins levels in rabbits

Os efeitos do laser de baixa potencia parecem nao se limitar ao local da aplicacao. Eles podem, por meio dos mediadores metabolicos, chegar a areas mais distantes do corpo promovendo efeitos sistemicos. O objetivo destre trabalho foi analisar as mudancas dos niveis de proteinas sericas, como uma forma de determinar um dos efeitos sistemicos do laser de baixa potencia. Trinta e seis coelhos machos foram induzidos a um processo inflamatorio articular no joelho da pata direita com terebinthina comum (Tc). Foram divididos aleatoriamente em 3 grupos, cada um com 12 animais, e subdivididos em grupos de 6 animais para receber as densidades energeticas diferenciadas de 3.4 J.cm e 8 J.cm. O grupo exerimental agudo (GEA) iniciou o laser 48 horas apos a injecao da Tc o grupo experimental cronico (GEC) recebeu laser 5 dias depois da inducao da inflamacao e o grupo ontrole, que nao recebeu tratamento e foi subdividido, por sua vez, em 6 animais (GCA) que seguiram o mesmo esquema do GEA e outros 6 (GCC), O esquema do GEC. Tambem foi colhido o sangue de outros 30 animais normais para obter um grupo-padrao. Usou-se um laser com comprimento de onda de 830 nm e potencia de 77 mW, aplicado durante 7 dias, uma sessao a cada 24 horas. O sangue foi processado para eletroforse. O modelo experimental foi adequado, uma vez que os animais dos grupos sob inducao da inflamacao se comportaram diferentemente do grupo-padrao. Nos animais com infamacao induzida, foram observadas as seguintes alteracoes diminuicao acentuada da albumina no GCC, aumento da-globulina no GEA e da-globulina nos GCA e GCC e elevacao da y-globulina no GCC. Poucas diferencas foram encontradas quando comparadas as duas doses de laser rmpregadas (3,4 e 8 J.cm ). Os resultados indicam haver efeito sistematico sobre as proteinas plasmaticas promovido pelo laser de baixa potencia nesse modelo de infamacao articular induzida

Ozonation of textile wastewater: physicochemical and phytotoxic aspects.

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the performance of ozonation as a technique to treat textile effluents. This performance evaluation was made using physico-chemical parameters and phytotoxic endpoints (i.e. biomass growth enzyme activities - catalase and peroxidase). After ozonation, the color absorbance (523 nm) was reduced by 80.9% and the pH decreased from 10.9 to approximately 7.5 while COD reduction reached nearly 87%. Phytotoxicity tests carried out in solution with three plant species (i.e. soybean, rice and wheat) allowed us to compare toxicity data of both, raw and ozonated effluents. The biomass (fresh weight) of the 3 plant species clearly decreases as a function of the increase in raw effluent concentration with LOEC values of 100% for rice and wheat, and 50% for soybean. Activities of catalase and peroxidase in the 3 plant species exposed to the raw textile effluent were significantly different from plant controls. The LOEC values for catalase were 6.2% (in wheat and soybean plants), and 25% (in rice plants), while for peroxidase the LOEC values were 6.2% (in rice plants), 25% (in soybean plants), and 50% (in wheat plants). Reduction in the phytotoxicity of textile effluent samples after ozonation is likely due to the elimination of the toxic organic fraction oxidized during this process. Regarding endpoint sensitivity, our results showed that biomass endpoint was less sensitive than biochemical endpoint. In conclusion, ozonation was relatively effective in reducing physico-chemical parameters and phytotoxic effects of textile effluents. Plant enzyme assays used in this study proved to be a sensitive tool in order to determine the toxicity of industrial effluents and may be used to evaluate efficiency of established (or emergent) wastewater treatment technology.

Lipid composition and dynamics of cell membranes of Bacillus stearothermophilus adapted to amiodarone.

Bacillus stearothermophilus, a useful model to evaluate membrane interactions of lipophilic drugs, adapts to the presence of amiodarone in the growth medium. Drug concentrations in the range of 1-2 microM depress growth and 3 microM completely suppresses growth. Adaptation to the presence of amiodarone is reflected in lipid composition changes either in the phospholipid classes or in the acyl chain moieties. Significant changes are observed at 2 microM and expressed by a decrease of phosphatidylethanolamine (relative decrease of 23.3%) and phosphatidylglycerol (17.9%) and by the increase of phosphoglycolipid (162%). The changes in phospholipid acyl chains are expressed by a decrease of straight-chain saturated fatty acids (relative decrease of 12.2%) and anteiso-acids (22%) with a parallel increase of the iso-acids (9.8%). Consequently, the ratio straight-chain/branched iso-chain fatty acids decreases from 0. 38 (control cultures) to 0.30 (cultures adapted to 2 microM amiodarone). The physical consequences of the lipid composition changes induced by the drug were studied by fluorescence polarization of diphenylhexatriene and diphenylhexatriene-propionic acid, and by differential scanning calorimetry. The thermotropic profiles of polar lipid dispersions of amiodarone-adapted cells are more similar to control cultures (without amiodarone) than those resulting from a direct interaction of the drug with lipids, i.e., when amiodarone was added directly to liposome suspensions. It is suggested that lipid composition changes promoted by amiodarone occur as adaptations to drug tolerance, providing the membrane with physico-chemical properties compatible with membrane function, counteracting the effects of the drug.

Amiodarone interactions with membrane lipids and with growth of Bacillus stearothermophilus used as a model.

The thermophilic eubacterium Bacillus stearothermophilus was used as a model to study the effects of amiodarone (2-butyl-3-[3',5'diido-4'alpha-diethylaminoethoxybenzoyl]-be nzofuran) in lipid organization and in bacterial growth. Effects on the structural order of lipids were assessed by fluorescence polarization of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH), probing the bilayer core, and of the propionic acid derivative 3-[p-(6-phenyl)-1,3,5-hexatrienyl] phenylpropionic acid (DPH-PA), probing the outer regions of the bilayer. Amiodarone fluidizes bacterial polar lipid bilayers for temperatures below the phase transition midpoint, and orders the fluid phase of the bacterial polar lipids, as evaluated by DPH and DPH-PA. The ordering and disordering effects, which are concentration dependent, are more extensive when detected by DPH relative to DPH-PA. Growth studies performed in parallel revealed that amiodarone inhibits bacterial growth as a function of concentration. Amiodarone concentrations in the range from 1 to 2.5 microM increased the lag time, decreased the specific growth rate, and decreased the final cell density. Furthermore, 3 microM amiodarone completely inhibited growth. These in vivo effects of amiodarone can be related to its ability to perturb the phospholipid bilayer structure, whose integrity is essential for cell function, viability, and growth.