External control of fluoridation in public water supply of Canoas/RS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of fluoride in public water supplies in Canoas/RS. Samples of drinking water were collected in duplicates for eight months on 22 different points grouped into three water treatment plants of the city. The measurement of fluoride concentration was performed using the electrometric method. The analysis of samples collected in the study period showed that there was oscillation in fluoride concentrations in accordance with the sampling months (from 0.185 to 1.605 ppm /L). Of the samples, 96 (54.5%) were inadequate (0.6 ppm 0.9 ppm) as the fluoride concentration. Of inadequate samples, the majority showed concentrations above the maximum acceptable concentration for drinking water standard. There was statistically significant difference among the three water treatment plants regarding the suitability of the fluoride concentration (p 0.001). The large variation in relation to fluoride concentration as well as the high percentage of inadequate samples revealed the need to implement measures of external control to ensure continuous effectiveness of water fluoridation

Comparison of Two Aquaretic Drugs (Niravoline and OPC-31260) in Cirrhotic Rats with Ascites and Water Retention1

k-Opioid receptor agonists (niravoline) or nonpeptide antidi-uretic hormone (ADH) V2 receptor antagonists (OPC-31260) possess aquaretic activity in cirrhosis; however, there is no information concerning the effects induced by the chronic ad-ministration of these drugs under this condition. To compare the renal and hormonal effects induced by the long-term oral administration of niravoline, OPC-31260, or vehicle, urine vol-ume, urinary osmolality, sodium excretion, and urinary excre-tion of aldosterone (ALD) and ADH were measured in basal conditions and for 10 days after the daily oral administration of niravoline, OPC-31260, or vehicle to cirrhotic rats with ascites and water retention. Creatinine clearance, serum osmolality, ADH mRNA expression, and systemic hemodynamics were also measured at the end of the study. Niravoline increase

The Current Role of the Heavy/Light Chain Assay in the Diagnosis, Prognosis and Monitoring of Multiple Myeloma: An Evidence-Based Approach.

Despite tremendous progress being made in recent years, multiple myeloma (MM) remains a challenging disease. The laboratory plays a critical role in the overall management of patients. The diagnosis, prognosis, clinical monitoring and evaluation of the response are key moments in the clinical care process. Conventional laboratory methods have been and continue to be the basis of laboratory testing in monoclonal gammopathies, along with the serum free light chain test. However, more accurate methods are needed to achieve new and more stringent clinical goals. The heavy/light chain assay is a relatively new test which can overcome some of the limitations of the conventional methods for the evaluation of intact immunoglobulin MM patients. Here, we report an update of the evidence accumulated in recent years on this method regarding its use in MM

Análise comparativa da resistência de fêmures de cães após a confecção de janelas ósseas circular e quadrada Comparative analysis of dog femur resistance after receiving circular and square holes

Com o objetivo de avaliar o enfraquecimento causado pela confecção de janela óssea cortical, os autores confeccionaram uma janela circular no osso cortical da diáfise de oito fêmures de carcaças de cães e uma janela quadrada nos oito pares destes fêmures, com diagonal semelhante ao diâmetro da janela circular contralateral. As peças anatômicas foram submetidas a teste de tensão torcional em uma máquina de ensaios mecânicos; obtendo-se o torque máximo e a rigidez à torção. Os resultados mostraram que, para o fêmur com janela circular, o torque máximo médio foi de 13,65 ± 5,12 Nm, e a rigidez média foi de 1,18 ± 0,45 Nm/grau, enquanto que para a janela quadrada o torque máximo médio foi de 13, 39 ± 5,23 Nm, e a rigidez média foi de 1,05 ± 0,41 Nm/grau. A resistência nos ossos com janela circular e quadrada submetidos à tensão torcional foi praticamente igual, fato este corroborado pela análise estatística que não revelou diferença significante (p = 0,05).<br>With the purpose of evaluating the weakness caused by holes in the cortical bone, the authors performed circular holes in the diaphysis cortical bone of eight femurs from dog carcasses, and square holes in the diaphysis cortical bone of the contralateral femurs, the diagonals being similar to the diameters. The specimens were submitted to torsion stress test in a mechanical test machine to determine maximum torque and rigidity to torsion. Maximum mean torque for the femurs with circular holes was 13.65 ± 5.12 Nm and mean rigidity was 1.18 ± 0.45 Nm/degree, while the femurs with square holes showed maximum mean torque of 13.39 ± 5.23 Nm and mean rigidity of 1.05 ± 0.41 Nm/degree. The resistance to torsion stress in femurs with circular or square holes was very similar and the statistical analysis did not show a significant difference (p = 0.05)

Paisaje Cultural Urbano e Identitad Territorial

Linguaggio contemporaneo e preesistenze: dialogo in un mondo globalizzato Il tema del rapporto con l’antico trova una giusta dimensione operativa quando, superando la sfera delle ideologie e quella delle opposte ragioni della memoria e dello sviluppo, indirizza positivamente l’azione progettuale ora per differenza ora per empatia, a seconda delle circostanze, ma crea sempre una forte tensione tra le ragioni dell’esistente e le necessità del nuovo. Intervenire nell’antico e per l’antico significa, pertanto, riprogettare il nostro modo di relazionarci con il passato, rinegoziandone identità e valori alla luce del nostro presente. Da questa angolazione il patrimonio non è solo lo spazio della memoria o quello della storia, ma diviene lo spazio del desiderio che trae alimento dal mito dell’araba fenice: esso, come principio evolutivo, rappresenta l’inizio di un incessante ricominciamento e l'occasione per una mediazione tra globale e locale

Subcutaneous anti-COVID-19 hyperimmune immunoglobulin for prevention of disease in asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trialResearch in context

Summary: Background: Anti-COVID-19 hyperimmune immunoglobulin (hIG) can provide standardized and controlled antibody content. Data from controlled clinical trials using hIG for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 outpatients have not been reported. We assessed the safety and efficacy of subcutaneous anti-COVID-19 hyperimmune immunoglobulin 20% (C19-IG20%) compared to placebo in preventing development of symptomatic COVID-19 in asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: We did a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, in asymptomatic unvaccinated adults (≥18 years of age) with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection within 5 days between April 28 and December 27, 2021. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive a blinded subcutaneous infusion of 10 mL with 1 g or 2 g of C19-IG20%, or an equivalent volume of saline as placebo. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants who remained asymptomatic through day 14 after infusion. Secondary endpoints included the proportion of individuals who required oxygen supplementation, any medically attended visit, hospitalisation, or ICU, and viral load reduction and viral clearance in nasopharyngeal swabs. Safety was assessed as the proportion of patients with adverse events. The trial was terminated early due to a lack of potential benefit in the target population in a planned interim analysis conducted in December 2021. ClinicalTrials.gov registry: NCT04847141. Findings: 461 individuals (mean age 39.6 years [SD 12.8]) were randomized and received the intervention within a mean of 3.1 (SD 1.27) days from a positive SARS-CoV-2 test. In the prespecified modified intention-to-treat analysis that included only participants who received a subcutaneous infusion, the primary outcome occurred in 59.9% (91/152) of participants receiving 1 g C19-IG20%, 64.7% (99/153) receiving 2 g, and 63.5% (99/156) receiving placebo (difference in proportions 1 g C19-IG20% vs. placebo, −3.6%; 95% CI -14.6% to 7.3%, p = 0.53; 2 g C19-IG20% vs placebo, 1.1%; −9.6% to 11.9%, p = 0.85). None of the secondary clinical efficacy endpoints or virological endpoints were significantly different between study groups. Adverse event rate was similar between groups, and no severe or life-threatening adverse events related to investigational product infusion were reported. Interpretation: Our findings suggested that administration of subcutaneous human hyperimmune immunoglobulin C19-IG20% to asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection was safe but did not prevent development of symptomatic COVID-19. Funding: Grifols