Early Anti-inflammatory and Pro-angiogenic Myocardial Effects of Intravenous Serelaxin Infusion for 72 H in an Experimental Rat Model of Acute Myocardial Infarction

Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by permanent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. At the time of AMI, a subcutaneous mini-osmotic pump was implanted and animals were randomized into three groups, according to the intravenous therapy received during the first 72 h: placebo-treated (saline), serelaxin10-treated (SRLX10 = 10 μg/kg/day), or serelaxin30-treated (SRLX30 = 30 μg/kg/day). Treatment with SRLX30 reduced the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, as well as the infiltration of macrophages, and increased the expression of pro-angiogenic markers and vessel density in the infarcted myocardium after 7 days. SRLX30 did not reduce early myocardial fibrosis but reduced myocardial levels of sST2 and galectin-3. No significant effects were observed with SRLX10 treatment. A significant correlation was observed between plasma levels of serelaxin and effect measures. The results suggest serelaxin has a protective effect in early processes of cardiac remodeling after AMI.     

Single dose treatment of vaginal candidosis: Randomised comparison of amorolfine (50 mg and 100 mg) and clotrimazole (500 mg) in patients with vulvovaginal candidosis

A double blind randomised comparative study of single dose treatment with amorolfine vaginal tablets (50 mg and 100 mg) and clotrimazole 500 mg monodose vaginal tablets (open labelled) was undertaken in patients with vaginal candidosis. Vaginitis was demonstrated by both a positive culture and positive findings on microscopic examination of a vaginal smear as well as by the presence of clinical symptoms. 118 patients seen over a 6 month period were randomly allocated to receive one 50 mg vaginal tablet of amorolfine (regimen A, 40 patients), a 100 mg vaginal tablet of amorolfine (regimen B, 38 patients) or a 500 mg tablet of clotrimazole (regimen C, 40 patients). At the assessment one week after the end of therapy the proportion of cured patients was 90% in group A, 94.7% in group B and 92.5% in group C. 4 patients (10%) in group A, 2 (5.2%) in group B and 3 (7.5%) in group C did not respond to the treatment. There was a significant association between Candida glabrata and treatment failure (P less than 0.001) and C. glabrata and carrier state (P less than 0.01). At the assessment 4 weeks after the end of therapy the proportion of cured patients was 80% in group A, 84.2% in group B and 67.5% in group C with a relapse rate of 10% (group A), 10.5% (group B) and 25% (group C). C. glabrata was significantly associated with non-effective overall treatment (P less than 0.05). The relapse rate was significantly associated with positive culture results one week post therapy (P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Dietary fiber: a brief review and potential application to enteral nutrition

Advances in enteral nutrition include the provision of organ-specific fuels to improve gut structure and function. Examples of these fuels include soluble fiber as a fuel precursor, and the SCFAs acetate, propionate, and butyrate. Butyrate appears to exert its trophic effect primarily in the colon, whereas the combined SCFAs affect the whole gastrointestinal tract. The provision of these fuels may be indicated for selected patients with intestinal dysfunction.     

Dimensions of managerial work in hospital dietetic services

The objective of this study was to identify underlying dimensions of the managerial work of hospital dietetic services professional staff. A survey instrument was developed on the basis of Mintzberg's role theory of management. Respondents were asked to rate 80 activity statements on the relative importance and time demand of each. Principal component analysis was used to determine whether items could be conceptualized meaningfully by a smaller number of components capable of accounting for interrelationships. Reliabilities and correlations were computed for the resulting managerial factor scores. Six factors were identified from the importance ratings: Upper Management, Interaction with Subordinates, Outside Activities, Quality Assurance, Communication Activities, and Personnel Activities. Similar dimensions were identified from the time-demand ratings. Findings from this analysis suggest that managers in different functional specialties and at various organizational levels tend to vary in their allocation of time and to stress different roles. As a person rises on the administrative ladder of responsibility, concentration on extramural affairs and involvement in planning are greater, and concern with specific operational problems decreases. The importance of conceptual skills was especially evident in upper administrative positions, as was the critical need for intergroup skills.     

Phase II trial of ifosfamide in recurrent and metastatic head and neck cancer

Thirty-six patients with recurrent carcinoma of the head and neck and no prior exposure to chemotherapy were treated with Ifosfamide. This drug was administered, concomitantly with Mesna, as a 24-hr infusion at a dose of 5-6.25 g/m2 every 3 weeks. Objective activity in 32 evaluable patients was 28% (9/32, 95% C.I. 17%-39%); 40% of patients had leukocyte values less than 2000 mm3 and 6% platelets less than 50,000 mm3. Nonhematologic toxicity consisted mainly of nausea/vomiting (66% greater than or equal to grade 2) and alopecia (80% greater than or equal to grade 2). The activity encountered warrants further studies with this drug in head and neck cancer.     

Pitfalls and Misinterpretations of Cardiac Findings on PET/CT Imaging: A Careful Look at the Heart in Oncology Patients

Positron emission tomography (PET) computed tomography (CT) with 2-[fluorine-18] fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) has been established as an effective modality for evaluation of cancer. Interpretations of patterns of physiologic ¹⁸F-FDG uptake by the heart is particularly difficult given the wide normal variations of ¹⁸F-FDG metabolic activity observed. Atypical patterns of focal or diffuse physiologic cardiac ¹⁸F-FDG uptake and post-therapeutic effects after radiation therapy, systemic diseases, or cardiomyopathy may also be confused with malignant disease on ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT. In this article, we review the variations of normal cardiac ¹⁸F-FDG uptake observed in oncology patients and the appearances of other patterns of pathologic metabolic activity, related or not related to the malignancy being investigated, that may lead to false-negative and false-positive results.     

Carpals and epiphyses of radius and ulna as age indicators using longitudinal data: a Bayesian approach

International Journal of Legal Medicine - The aim of this study is to develop a new formula for age estimation in a longitudinal study of a sample from the radiological collection of wrist bones of...     

Choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvents do not improve the ethanolic extraction of carotenoids from buriti fruit (Mauritia flexuosa L.)

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as co-solvents for the ethanolic extraction of total carotenoids from buriti fruit (Mauritia flexuosa L.). Choline chloride-based DESs were synthesized by the heating method. The systems were prepared using ethanol and DESs as a co-solvent in concentrations of 0.5–70.0% (w/v). In addition, a control condition was performed using ethanol as the sole solvent. The total carotenoid concentration in the systems was determined by spectrophotometry at 450 nm. The results showed that the ethanol used without co-solvent obtained total carotenoid yields of 10.06 ± 0.03 mg/g for the buriti pulp and 10.43 ± 1.27 mg/g for the buriti peel. In turn, the use of choline chloride-based DESs as co-solvents did not increase the ethanolic extraction yield of carotenoids. However, it was observed that the buriti peel can be a rich source of carotenoids with yields comparable to the fruit. Thus, it is suggested that new green solvents be evaluated to increase the recovery of total carotenoids from buriti fruit using ecofriendly processes.     

3D evaluation of maxillary arches in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients treated with nasoalveolar moulding vs. Hotz′s plate

To compare the three‐dimensional changes occurring in the maxillary arch during the use of modified pre‐surgical nasoalveolar moulding (PNAM) and Hotz′s plate. A clinical trial including 32 children with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP), 16 treated with Hotz′s plate and 16 with PNAM, was performed. Impressions of the maxillary arches were taken: A. prior to pre‐surgical orthopaedics, B. before cheiloplasty and C. after cheiloplasty. Models were digitised using a stereophotogrammetric instrument, and geodesic distances were calculated: anterior, canine and posterior widths of the arch, and lengths and cleft depths of the larger and shorter segments. The time and treatment effects were assessed by two‐factor anova . A significant effect of treatment was found for cleft depth at the larger segment: children treated with Hotz′s plate had significantly deeper cleft than children treated with PNAM. All distances significantly changed during time: the anterior and canine widths decreased, while the posterior width, the lengths and depths of the cleft segments increased. Significant treatment per time interactions was found. The anterior and canine widths reduced more with PNAM between time points A and B while Hotz's treatment was more effective between B and C. The shorter segment depth increased more between B and C with PNAM, and between A and B with Hotz's plate. During pre‐surgical orthopaedics, therapy with PNAM obtained the best results in reducing the width at the anterior segment of the cleft. This treatment gave a lower increase in cleft depth than treatment with Hotz′s plate.