Studies towards the synthesis of Pd(ii)-containing [2] and [3]catenanes in aqueous media.

Here is reported the investigation of a synthetic route for the preparation of Pd(ii)-containing catenanes in aqueous media. A pseudorotaxane intermediate was prepared, which can potentially be converted into a series of catenanes. From the pseudorotaxane, using a Pd(ii)-driven clipping step a dinuclear [3]catenane was obtained in the solid state.

Chemical immobilisation of free-ranging Pampas foxes (Pseudalopex gymnocercus): Assessment of ketamine-xylazine and tiletamine-zolazepam combinations.

Two protocols to immobilise free-ranging Pampas foxes for ear-tagging or radio-collaring were evaluated. One hundred fifteen foxes were injected with ketamine-xylazine (K-X) and thirteen with tiletamine-zolazepam (T-Z). The use of both T-Z and K-X combinations typically resulted in a smooth induction and recovery. In 86% of the cases K-X protocol was judged effective (mean±SD, K: 10.7±3.3mg/kg, X: 1.0±1.0mg/kg) while T-Z protocol was judged effective in 92% of the cases (T: 3.6±1.05mg/kg, Z: 3.6±1.05mg/kg). The primary differences between the two drug combinations were that the time necessary for the complete recovery was longer with T-Z, and thermic problems were found more frequently with K-X. Additionally, our results suggest that thermic stress may be a relatively frequent complication for Pampas foxes. This study provides baseline data on some physiologic variables in Pampas foxes captured with different methods and drugs in field conditions.

Prediction of death using the Mannheim Peritonitis Index in oncologic patients

O Índice de Peritonite de Mannheim (MPI) é um sistema de escore idealizado para avaliar o prognóstico de pacientes com peritonite. Realizamos um estudo retrospectivo de oito anos dos prontuários de 89 pacientes com doença maligna e peritonite submetidos a cirurgia. O índice médio foi de 26.6 pontos (5-47), com sensibilidade de 87,3 por cento e especificidade de 41,2 por cento. A melhor acurácia (69,7 por cento) foi obtida com o escore de 21. Concluimos que o MPI foi um preditor de morte confiável em pacientes oncológicos com peritonite e pode ser de utilidade no planejamento e avaliação de futuras formas de tratamento nestes pacientes.

Detection of microcalcifications by means of multiscale methods and statistical techniques.

The detection of clustered microcalcifications can help the radiologist to detect early breast cancer. Microcalcifications exhibit some important characteristics, such as small size and high luminosity. Use of a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) method can prevent them being overlooked. In this report, a multiresolution analysis is performed based on a multilevel wavelet transformation. Decomposition produces sub-band images which become visible only as details of the different scales. Thereafter, all the images will be combined in a final image, in order to obtain an image that contains all the interest details at the scale where microcalcifications tend to appear. Once the image, called detail image, is obtained, it is necessary to determine which details correspond with microcalcifications. Statistical analysis of the histogram permits classification of the zones likely to contain microcalcifications. Applying this statistical techniques over the whole image and representing the results in a two-dimensional map, clustered microcalcification regions are clearly distinguishable.

Sleeping site preferences in tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella nigritus).

The characteristics and availability of the sleeping sites used by a group of 27 tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella nigritus) were studied during 17 months at the Iguazu National Park, Argentina. We tested different hypotheses regarding possible ultimate causes of sleeping-site selection. Most sleeping sites were located in areas of tall, mature forest. Of the 34 sleeping sites the monkeys used during 203 nights, five were more frequently used than the others (more than 20 times each, constituting 67% of the nights). Four species of tree (Peltophorum dubium, Parapiptadenia rigida, Copaifera langsdorfii and Cordia trichotoma) were the most frequently used. They constituted 82% of all the trees used, though they represent only 12% of the trees within the monkeys' home range which had a diameter at breast height (DBH) > 48.16 cm (1 SD below the mean DBH of sleeping trees). The sleeping trees share a set of characteristics not found in other trees: they are tall emergent (mean height +/- SD = 31.1+/-5.2 m) with large DBH (78.5+/-30.3 cm), they have large crown diameter (14+/-5.5 m), and they have many horizontal branches and forks. Adult females usually slept with their kin and infants, while peripheral adult males sometimes slept alone in nearby trees. We reject parasite avoidance as an adaptive explanation for the pattern of sleeping site use. Our results and those from other studies suggest that predation avoidance is a predominant factor driving sleeping site preferences. The patterns of aggregation at night and the preference for trees with low probability of shedding branches suggest that social preferences and safety from falling during windy nights may also affect sleeping tree selection. The importance of other factors, such as seeking comfort and maintaining group cohesion, was not supported by our results. Other capuchin populations show different sleeping habits which can be explained by differences in forest structure and by demographic differences.

The significance of changing trends in prostate cancer incidence and mortality.

The increasing incidence of prostate cancer stood for years as a seemingly unshakable axiom of modern medicine. Recent evidence illustrates that the incidence of prostate cancer may have peaked and raises questions about the relative meaning of prostate cancer in the future. This article reviews the many antagonistic factors that will affect prostate cancer incidence and mortality. No projections are offered about incidence and mortality, but it is believed that the number of patient-years with prostate cancer will increase and present new clinical challenges.