Validation of fetal cerebellar volume by three-dimensional ultrasonography in Brazilian population

BACKGROUND: To validate the prediction equation of the volume of fetal cerebellum by three-dimensional ultrasonography determined for Taiwan's population in Brazilian population. METHODS: A longitudinal prospective study was performed with 52 normal pregnant women between 20 and 32 weeks. The measurement of fetal cerebellar volume was done by virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL) method, with a rotation angle of 30 degrees. To establish the correlation of fetal cerebellar volume with gestational age, a polynomial regression analysis was performed, with cerebellar volume as dependent variable and gestational age as independent variable. To compare the prediction equation of the volume of fetal cerebellum in Taiwan's population and the equation established in this study, with the values obtained from Brazilian population (referential), we used the intraclass correlation coefficient, with the averages compared by paired Student's t test. RESULTS: The volume of fetal cerebellum was highly correlated with gestational age, and the best prediction equation obtained was of the second degree. The equation established in this study predicted cerebellar volumes more accurately than the equation established for Taiwan's population, since the average values of fetal cerebellar volume were more similar to the average values of reference. CONCLUSIONS: The equation established for Taiwan's population presented less accuracy in Brazilian population, possibly due to the strong ethnical differences between both populations.     

Biopolymer-Based Films from Sodium Alginate and Citrus Pectin Reinforced with SiO2

Blend films based on sodium alginate (SA) and citrus pectin (P) reinforced with different concentrations of SiO₂ (0–10% w/w) were developed in this study. From the morphological (SEM) and structural (FT-IR) evaluation, it was verified that the incorporation of the reinforcing agent did not drastically modify the microstructure of the films, nor did new chemical bonds form. However, the XRD results suggested a slight reduction in the crystallinities of the blends by the incorporation of SiO₂. Among the formulations prepared, the addition of a 5% reinforcing agent was responsible for the simultaneous improvement of mechanical and barrier properties. Comparing the control sample (SA/P) with the SA/P/5.0%SiO₂ film, the tensile strength increased from 27.7 ± 3.7 to 40.6 ± 4.5 MPa, and the water-vapor transmission rate decreased from 319.8 ± 38.7 to 288.9 ± 23.5 g m⁻² day⁻¹. Therefore, SiO_2, as a reinforcing agent in SA/P blends, represents a simple and effective strategy for improving the properties of biopolymer-based films in applications, such as packaging.     

A new heparin fragment decreases liver ischemia-reperfusion injury

<正>To the Editor:Ischemia-reperfusion injury following surgery and transplantation can lead to irreversible multiorgan failure.Intracellular calcium overload is associated to cellular death during ischemiareperfusion.A recently discovered heparin fragment (HF),trisulfated disaccharide (TD),that acts on sodium-calcium exchanger(NCX) decreasing intracellular Ca²⁺,showed effectiveness on protecting hepatocytes from ischemia-reperfusion injury [1],     

Exercise-Induced Decrease in Myocardial High-Energy Phosphate Metabolites in Patients With Chagas Heart Disease

BackgroundThe influence of exercise on cardiac metabolic response in patients with Chagas disease is incompletely understood.Methods and ResultsChanges in cardiac energetic metabolism were investigated in Chagas disease patients before and during isometric handgrip exercise with ³¹P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Twenty-eight patients (10 with systolic dysfunction: group I; 10 with normal systolic function and electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities: group II; and 8 asymptomatic without ECG abnormalities: group III) and 8 healthy control subjects (group C) were evaluated by electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, functional tests for coronary artery disease, and image-selected localized cardiac ³¹P-MRS. The myocardial phosphocreatine to [β-phosphate]adenosine triphosphate ratio (PCr/β-ATP) was measured at rest and during isometric handgrip exercise. Exercise testing or 99mTc–sestamibi scintigraphy were negative for myocardial ischemia in all individuals. At rest, cardiac PCr/β-ATP was decreased in all Chagas groups (1.23 ± 0.37) versus group C (1.88 ± 0.08; P < .001) and was lower in group I (0.89 ± 0.24) versus groups II (1.44 ± 0.23) and III (1.40 ± 0.37; P < .001). There was no stress-induced change in cardiac PCr/β-ATP (1.88 ± 0.08 at rest vs 1.89 ± 0.08 during exercise; P = NS) in group C. Mean cardiac PCr/β-ATP was 0.89 ± 0.24 and 0.56 ± 0.21 at rest and during exercise, respectively, in group I (37% decrease; P < .001). In group II, PCr/β-ATP was 1.44 ± 0.23 at rest and 0.97 ± 0.37 during exercise (33% decrease; P < .001). In group III, PCr/β-ATP was 1.40 ± 0.37 at rest and 0.60 ± 0.19 during exercise (57% decrease; P < .001).ConclusionsMyocardial high-energy phosphates are reduced at rest in Chagas heart disease patients, and the reduction is greater in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. Regardless of left ventricular function, Chagas patients exhibit an exercise-induced decline in cardiac high-energy phosphates consistent with myocardial ischemia, suggesting the possibility that this metabolic approach may offer a tool to probe new interventions in Chagas disease patients.     

Induction of cancer cell death by apoptosis and slow release of 5-fluoracil from metal-organic frameworks Cu-BTC

This study aimed to evaluate the mechanism associated with cytotoxic activity displayed by the drug 5-fluorouracil incorporated in Cu-BTC MOF and its slow delivery from the Cu-BTC MOF. Structural characterization encompasses elemental analysis (CHNS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTG), Fournier transform infrared (FIT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) was performed to verify the process of association between the drug 5-FU and Cu-BTC MOF. Flow cytometry was done to indicate that apoptosis is the mechanism responsible for the cell death. The release profile of the drug 5-FU from Cu-BTC MOF for 48 hours was obeisant. Also, the anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by the peritonitis testing and the production of nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured. The chemical characterization of the material indicated the presence of drug associated with the coordination network in a proportion of 0.82 g 5-FU per 1.0 g of Cu-BTC MOF. The cytotoxic tests were carried out against four cell lines: NCI-H292, MCF-7, HT29 and HL60. The Cu-BTC MOF associated drug was extremely cytotoxic against the human breast cancer adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cell line and against human acute promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL60), cancer cells were killed by apoptosis mechanisms. The drug demonstrated a slow release profile where 82% of the drug was released in 48 hours. The results indicated that the drug incorporated in Cu-BTC MOF decreased significantly the number of leukocytes in the peritoneal cavity of rodents as well as reduced levels of cytokines and nitric oxide production.