Expressão de neurotrofinas e seus receptores em amostras de osteossarcoma primários

Objetivo: Determinar a expressão imuno-histoquímica de neurotrofinas e seus receptores tirosino-quinases (Trk) em pacientes com osteossarcoma (OS) e sua relação com desfechos clínicos. Métodos: Biópsias de tumores primários de pacientes com OS tratados em uma única instituição consecutivamente entre 2002 e 2015 foram analisadas através da técnica de imuno-histoquímica para expressão de receptores Trk A e B (TrkA e TrkB), fator de crescimento neural (NGF) e fator neurotrófico derivado do cérebro (BDNF). De forma independente, dois patologistas classificaram os marcadores de imuno-histoquímica como negativos (ausência de expressão ou reação de instensidade fraca) ou positivos (reação de instensidade moderada ou forte com expressão focal ou difusa). Resultados: Foram analisados dados de 19 pacientes (10 do sexo feminino e 9 do masculino) com mediana de idade de 12 anos (5-17,3 anos). Dos tumores, 83,3% estavam localizados em membros inferiores, e 63,2% dos pacientes eram metastáticos ao diagnóstico. A sobrevida global em 5 anos foi de 55,3%. BDNF foi positivo em 16 pacientes (84%), e NGF em 14 pacientes (73%). TrkA e TrkB apresentaram coloração positiva em 4 (21%) e 8 (42%) dos pacientes, respectivamente. A análise de sobrevida não demonstrou diferença significativa entre receptores Trk e neurotrofinas. Conclusões: Amostras de OS primário expressam neurotrofinas e receptores Trk através de imuno-histoquímica. Estudos futuros podem auxiliar na identificação do papel das mesmas na patogênese do OS e determinar se há possível correlação prognóstica.Objective: To determine the expression of tyrosine kinase receptors (Trk) and neurotrophins (NT) in patients with OS and their relation with clinical outcomes. Methods: Primary tumor biopsies from patients with OS consecutively treated at a single institution between 2002 and 2015 were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for the expression of Trk receptors A and B (TrkA and TrkB), nerve growth factor (NGF), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Two pathologists independently classified immunohistochemistry staining as negative (negative or weak focal) or positive (moderate focal/diffuse or strong focal/diffuse). Results: We analyzed data from 19 patients (10 females) with median age of 12 years (5–17.3). Of the tumors, 83.3% were located in the lower extremities and 63.2% were metastatic at diagnosis. The 5-year overall survival was 55.3%. BDNF was positive in 16 patients (84%), and NGF was positive in 14 patients (73%). TrkA and TrkB had positive staining in 4 (21%) and 8 (42%) patients, respectively. There was no significant difference between neurotrophin and Trk receptors in the survival analysis. Conclusion: OS primary tumor samples express neurotrophin and Trk receptors by immunohistochemistry. Future studies should explore their role in OS pathogenesis and determine their prognostic significance in larger cohorts

Bovine grafting : an effective alternative after curettage of benign bone tumors

We retrospectively reviewed 28 patients (15 women and 13 men) with benign bone tumors or pseudotumors treated with curettage and filling with freeze-dried bovine bone graft Orthogen (Baumer S/A, São Paulo, Brazil). The aim of the study was to evaluate the rate of incorporation of Orthogen into the host bone, as well as to describe the outcomes of bone healing (quality, time, and complications). General characteristics, tumor volume, size, site, complications, percent filled, and healing quality at 6 and 12 months were assessed through radiographs. Mean patient age was 20.5 (range 4.7-75.1) years. The most common lesion type was simple bone cyst (12/28), and the most common sites were the tibia (7/28) and humerus (7/28). There were no postoperative pathologic fractures. Two cases (7.1%) of serous fluid leakage through the wound occurred. Mean cavity volume was 20.1 (range 2.7-101.4) cm3. At 6 and 12 months, 75% and 77.8% of cavities, respectively, showed complete bone healing. At 12 months, 81% of cavities filled >90% with graft showed complete bone healing vs. only 19% of those filled <90%. Filling with bovine bone graft resulted in few complications and excellent healing after curettage of benign bone tumors or pseudotumors. Complete healing occurred in most cases by 12 months. Cavities with a higher percentage of filling had a higher rate of complete radiographic incorporation

Effects of disturbance area on fouling communities from a tropical environment: Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Em comunidades incrustantes marinhas, o espaço livre no substrato é um dos principais recursos limitantes para o estabelecimento de novos organismos. Assim sendo, distúrbios físicos que removam biomassa se mostram importantes agentes para a estruturação e dinâmica dessas comunidades. A extensão do distúrbio é uma característica que parece afetar os padrões de recolonização, e desta forma altera a diversidade de espécies. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar os efeitos de áreas crescentes de distúrbio em comunidades incrustantes. Para tal, comunidades macrobentônicas incrustantes foram previamente desenvolvidas por 6 meses na Baía de Guanabara (22°52'S, 043°08'W), recebendo uma única vez distúrbios circulares, aleatoriamente posicionados, com áreas crescentes (7 níveis, de 0 a 75% da cobertura removida, 10 réplicas por nível). Amostragens quinzenais foram realizadas após o distúrbio, de modo a acompanhar os padrões de desenvolvimento das comunidades. Na primeira amostragem observou-se que índices máximos de diversidade foram obtidos nas comunidades que receberam níveis intermediários de distúrbio. No entanto, no decorrer do tempo este perfil deu lugar a um pico de diversidade nas comunidades que sofreram os maiores níveis de distúrbio. Notou-se também um incremento contínuo da riqueza e diversidade ao longo do tempo até a 7ª amostragem (110 dias após os distúrbios), com subseqüente redução a partir deste momento. Tais padrões parecem corroborar a Hipótese do Distúrbio Intermediário, embora em médio prazo o perfil da comunidade mude drasticamente, revelando que perturbações físicas representam de fato um importante fator na estruturação de comunidades marinhas de substrato consolidado da Baía de Guanabara, além de realçar a importância de estudos de maior duração na avaliação dos impactos de distúrbios em comunidades marinhas.In marine fouling communities, free space is one of the key limiting resources for settlement of new organisms. In this way, removing biomass through physical disturbances would play an important role in the structure and dynamics of these communities. The disturbance size seems to be a characteristic that influences recolonization patterns, thus affecting species diversity. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of growing disturbance areas on fouling communities. Fouling panels were allowed to develop for 6 mo. at Guanabara Bay (22°52'S, 043°08'W) prior to a single application of randomly positioned, circular physical disturbances of growing areas (7 levels, from 0 to 75% removed cover, 10 replicates per treatment). Samples were taken fortnightly after the disturbance event, so as to follow the development patterns of the community afterward. At the first sampling the diversity showed maximum indices in communities to which intermediary disturbance levels were applied. However, this profile changed later to a diversity peak in communities with higher disturbance levels. It also showed a continuous increase in richness and diversity through time until the 7th sample (110 days after the disturbance event), with subsequent decrease. Such patterns seem to corroborate the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis, despite the drastic profile change with time, revealing that disturbance is indeed an important factor structuring hard bottom communities at Guanabara Bay, and highlighting the importance of longer term studies of disturbance impacts in marine communities

Fast and secure automatic retrieval of data from multi-vendor devices - The portuguese experience

Nowadays protection systems generate large amounts of useful data. The most important of which are the oscillographic records, because they allow: fault location estimation; validation of relay settings; validation of coordination among protections. This important information traditionally resided in the protection units and could only be retrieved through vendor proprietary software. Retrieving this information could be conducted in two ways: a specialized technician had to physically go to the substation (expensive solution); by use of a slow analog modem with a tendency to breakdown (especially in remote areas exposed to lightning strikes) and a high probability to stop working due to communication errors. Recently EDP has begun to equip all the substations with an IP network through optical fiber. This fast and reliable network, which is also intended for other application other than remote access, eliminates the communication constraints. Due to technological differences the substations were, for this purpose, separated in two groups: Substations with a modern protection system complying with IEC 61850; Substations with older protection units for which a pilotproject was conducted using the communications gateway Kalkitech SYNC2000. This device communicates with protection units from several vendors, using standardized (ex.: IEC61850) or proprietary protocols (ex.: ABB SPABUS), and has mechanisms for retrieving oscillographic records. The usage of standard tools such as FTP and file sync programs proved to be cost effective and reliable to get the information to a central location

Geothermal resources research in a granitic basement - the Braga area case study (NW Portugal)

Geothermal resources are increasingly being considered as a strategic alternative in energy production, especially with the latest geopolitical developments. The densely populated Braga region, in NW Portugal, is endowed with a geostructural setting that enables the existence of several thermal water occurrences, spatially associated with a deep-rooted structure – the Vigo-Régua shear zone, set in a granite context. Given the latest advances in geothermal energy production, it is possible to predict a mid- to long-term implementation of geothermal energy production in the vicinity of that deep rooted structure. Although strongly encouraging, the exploratory geophysical, geochemical and geological data are still insufficient to deliver a definitive frame of the potential energy associated with the estimated reservoirs. Ongoing work combining gravimetric, radiometric and geochemical data will provide a better understanding of the deeply concealed structures.Les ressources géothermiques sont de plus en plus considérées comme une alternative stratégique dans la production d'énergie, en particulier compte tenu du contexte géopolitique récent. La région densément peuplée de Braga, au nord-ouest du Portugal, est située dans un contexte granitique spatialement associé à une structure enracinée - la zone de cisaillement Vigo-Régua. Ce contexte géologique et structural a permis le développement de plusieurs occurrences d'eau thermale. Compte tenu des dernières avancées en matière de production d'énergie géothermique, il est possible de prévoir une mise en œuvre à moyen et long terme de la production d'énergie géothermique à proximité de cette structure profonde. Bien que fortement encourageantes, les données géophysiques, géochimiques et géologiques exploratoires sont encore insuffisantes pour fournir un cadre définitif de l'énergie potentielle associée aux réservoirs estimés. Des travaux en cours combinant des données gravimétriques, radiométriques et géochimiques permettront de mieux comprendre les structures profondément enfouies.Los recursos geotérmicos se consideran cada vez más como una alternativa estratégica en la producción de energía, especialmente con los últimos desarrollos geopolíticos. La región densamente poblada de Braga, en el noroeste de Portugal, está dotada de un entorno estructural que permite la presencia de aguas termales, asociadas espacialmente con una estructura profunda en un contexto granítico: la zona de falla Vigo-Régua. Dados los últimos avances en la producción de energía geotérmica, es posible predecir una implementación a mediano y largo plazo de la producción de energía geotérmica en las cercanías de esa estructura de raíces profundas. Aún cuando los datos geofísicos, geoquímicos y geológicos exploratorios son muy alentadores, son insuficientes para brindar un marco definitivo del potencial geotérmico asociada con los yacimientos. El trabajo en curso que integra datos gravimétricos, radiométricos y geoquímicos proporcionará una mejor comprensión de las estructuras profundas por explorar

Numerical Simulation of the Mechanical Behaviour of Boron Nitride Nanosheets and Nanotubes

Among the compounds formed by an element of the 13th group and nitrogen, boron nitride, also called white graphene, stands out for its high strength and thermal conductivity, transparency to visible light, antimicrobial properties, high resistance to oxidation, and biocompatibility. One-dimensional and two-dimensional boron nitride nanostructures, i.e. nanotubes and nanosheets, respectively, are expected to present innovative advanced characteristics not equal to those of bulk boron nitride, bringing new perspectives to numerous applications in nanoscale electronics and biomedicine. For the correct design of systems and devices consisting of boron nitride nanosheets and nanotubes, understanding the mechanical behaviour of these nanostructures is extremely important. Firstly, because the robustness and functioning of nanosystems and nanodevices based on boron nitride nanostructures are determined by the mechanical behaviour of their constituents and also because deformation can influence the optical, electric, and thermoelectric properties of boron nitride nanotubes and nanosheets. In this context, the current chapter is dedicated to the numerical evaluation of the elastic properties of boron nitride nanosheets and nanotubes, using the nanoscale continuum modelling (also called molecular structural mechanics) approach. With this aim, a three-dimensional finite element model was used to evaluate their elastic moduli

Forms of application of nitrogen in different stages of the development of soybean culture / Formas da aplicação de nitrogênio em diferentes estádios do desenvolvimento da cultura da soja

In Brazil, inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum and B. elkanii strains is the main form of Nitrogen (N) supply to soybean, but there are reports of the use of mineral N as a complement to biological fixation. The objective was to evaluate the effect of different forms and times of N application on the development and yield of soybean. The treatments include a control without N application and in all other treatments 10 kg ha-1 of N was applied, altering the time (V2, V4, R1 or R2) and the application form, namely, at sowing, broadcast on topdressing or by leaf spraying. The application of N provided an increase in leaf area, dry mass of shoot, number of nodules and dry mass of nodules in treatments with application of N at sowing and N at V2 on topdressing. For plant height, the treatment with N at V2 by leaf spraying was superior compared to control. The weight of one thousand seeds was not affected by N application. For grain yield the treatments with application of N by leaf spraying in V2 and R1 were highlighted. The greatest increase in grain yield on soybean is reached with leaf spraying at V2 stage

Clube Português do Pâncreas Recommendations for Chronic Pancreatitis: Medical, Endoscopic, and Surgical Treatment (Part II)

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a complex disease that should be treated by experienced teams of gastroenterologists, radiologists, surgeons, and nutritionists in a multidisciplinary environment. Medical treatment includes lifestyle modification, nutrition, exocrine and endocrine pancreatic insufficiency correction, and pain management. Up to 60% of patients will ultimately require some type of endoscopic or surgical intervention for treatment. However, regardless of the modality, they are often ineffective unless smoking and alcohol cessation is achieved. Surgery retains a major role in the treatment of CP patients with intractable chronic pain or suspected pancreatic mass. For other complications like biliary or gastroduodenal obstruction, pseudocyst drainage can be performed endoscopically. The recommendations for CP were developed by Clube Português do Pâncreas (CPP), based on literature review to answer predefined topics, subsequently discussed and approved by all members of CPP. Recommendations are separated in two parts: "chronic pancreatitis etiology, natural history, and diagnosis," and "chronic pancreatitis medical, endoscopic, and surgical treatment." This abstract pertains to part II.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio