Metabolic Syndrome Patient Compliance with Drug Treatment

OBJECTIVES: 1) To evaluate the compliance with drug treatment in patients with metabolic syndrome. 2) To determine association between access to and use of medicines, as well as the level of knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors and compliance. INTRODUCTION: Low compliance has been one of the greatest challenges for the successful treatment of chronic diseases. Although this issue has been widely studied in patients with isolated hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia, compliance studies involving patients with these concomitant diseases or with metabolic syndrome diagnosis are scarce. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving patients who have been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome according to the IDF criteria. Patients were being treated in a Health-Medical School Center bound to the Public Brazilian Healthcare System. This study was conducted in two phases. Phase I was characterized by analyzing medical records and Phase II involved interviewing the patients. A variation of the Morisky-Green Test was used to evaluate compliance. Compliance was the dependent variable and the independent variables included access to medicines, the use of medicines and the level of knowledge concerning cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS: Two hundred and forty-three patients were identified as being eligible for Phase II, and 75 were included in the study. The average level of compliance was 5.44 points (standard deviation of 0.68), on a scale ranging from 1.00 to 6.00 points. There was no statistically meaningful association between independent variables and compliance. The level of patient knowledge of diet and dyslipidemia was considered to be low. CONCLUSIONS: Patients involved in this study exhibited a high level of compliance with drug treatment. Further research is needed to better elucidate the compliance behavior of patients who have been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome

Asymmetric Dimethylarginine (ADMA) and Endothelial Dysfunction: Implications for Atherogenesis

Atherosclerotic coronary heart disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in industrialized countries, and endothelial dysfunction is considered a precursor phenomenon. The nitric oxide produced by the endothelium under the action of endothelial nitric oxide synthase has important antiatherogenic functions. Its reduced bioavailabilty is the beginning of the atherosclerotic process. The addition of two methyl radicals to arginine, through the action of methyltransferase nuclear proteins, produces asymmetric dimethylarginine, which competes with L-arginine and promotes a reduction in nitric oxide formation in the vascular wall. The asymmetric dimethylarginine, which is itself considered a mediator of the vascular effects of the several risk factors for atherosclerosis, can be eliminated by renal excretion or by the enzymatic action of the dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolases. Several basic science and clinical research studies suggest that the increase in asymmetric dimethylarginine occurs in the context of chronic renal insufficiency, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, and hyperhomocysteinemy, as well as with other conditions. Therapeutic measures to combat atherosclerosis may reverse these asymmetric dimethylarginine effects or at least reduce the concentration of this chemical in the blood. Such an effect can be achieved with competitor molecules or by increasing the expression or activity of its degradation enzyme. Studies are in development to establish the true role of asymmetric dimethylarginine as a marker and mediator of atherosclerosis, with possible therapeutic applications. The main aspects of the formation and degradation of asymmetric dimethylarginine and its implication in the atherogenic process will be addressed in this article

Characterization of wood anatomy, basic density, and morphology of Eucalyptus grandis chips for MDF production

O aumento na produção dos painéis Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) confeccionados com madeira de espécies de Eucalyptus spp de rápido crescimento evidencia a necessidade da caracterização dos seus componentes celulares, da densidade básica e da morfologia de cavacos. Com esse objetivo, foram coletadas três amostras de cavacos de madeira de árvores de Eucalyptus grandis, na linha de produção de indústria de painel. Em laboratório, os cavacos foram dissociados por maceração, para a avaliação das dimensões das fibras e dos vasos; determinou-se a densidade básica dos cavacos, bem como se caracterizaram a sua espessura e morfologia. Os resultados indicaram valores médios de 1005-19,7-11,8-3,9 µm para o comprimento, largura, diâmetro do lume e espessura média da parede das fibras, respectivamente. A densidade básica da madeira foi de 0,432 g/cm³ e a espessura dos cavacos, de 4,36 mm. Os valores médios de retenção dos cavacos foram de 0,9-16,9-44,5-30,7-6,1-0,9% nas peneiras 40, 25, 16, 8, 3,35 mm e fundo, respectivamente, sendo 75,2% retidos nas peneiras de 16-8 mm de abertura. Os resultados das análises anatômicas e morfológicas dos cavacos de madeira foram discutidos e comparados com informações da literatura especializada e correlacionados com o processo produtivo de chapas MDF.The increase of the MDF panels (Medium Density Fiberboard) production by the use of the fast growing eucalypt wood species it evidences the need of the characterization of the cellular components, basic density and the chips morphology. With this aim 3 samples of wood chips of Eucalyptus grandis trees were collected, in the production line of panel industry. In laboratory, the wood chips were dissociated by maceration for the evaluation of the fiber and vessels dimensions; the wood basic density was determined and the thickness and morphology were characterized. The results indicated mean values of 1005-19,7-11,8-3,9 µm for the fiber length, width, diameter and wall thickness, respectively. The wood basic density was 0,432 g/cm³ and the chip thickness of 4,36 mm. The mean values of chips retention were of 0,9-16,9-44,5-30,7-6,1-0,9% in the sieves 40, 25, 16, 8, 3,35 mm and bottom, respectively, being 75,2% retained in the sieves of 16-8 mm. The results of the anatomical and morphological analyses of the wood chips were discussed and compared with the specialized literature and its relationship with the productive process to MDF panels

Use of leguminous plants for phytoremediation of soil contaminated with sulfentrazone

Residual sulfentrazone may remain in the soil for around two years, being a source of groundwater contamination and preventing the growth of susceptible plants. So, phytoremediation may represent an option for decontaminating areas which were highly affected by applications of this herbicide. This study aimed at evaluating the potential of Crotalaria juncea, Canavalia ensiformis, Cajanus cajan and Cajanus cajan (dwarf) for remediation of soil contaminated with sulfentrazone, using millet (Pennisetum glaucum) as a bioindicator plant. The experiment was installed in a greenhouse and treatments consisted of the four species already mentioned, plus a control, and four sulfentrazone doses (0 g a.i. ha-1, 200 g a.i. ha-1, 400 g a.i. ha-1 and 800 g a.i. ha-1). Plants height, phytotoxicity to sulfentrazone and fresh and dry matter were evaluated. When P. glaucum was grown after C. juncea, the fresh and dry matter, as well as plant height, were higher, while the phytotoxicity symptoms were less evident. C. juncea showed the best results for phytoremediation of soils contaminated with sulfentrazone

EFEITO DA APLICAÇÃO DE POTÁSSIO E SÓDIO NAS CARACTERÍSTICAS DO LENHO DE ÁRVORES DE Eucalyptus grandis W.HILL, AOS 24 MESES DE IDADE

The present work had as objective to evaluate the wood anatomical characteristics and the wood apparent and basic density of Eucalyptus grandis 24 months old-trees, planted in the spacing of 3x2 m, without fertilization (control) and fertilized with potassium (T2) and sodium (T3). For each treatment they cut 8 eucalyptus trees, acoording to basal area distribution, and collected wood samples at different percentages of tree heights. In the evaluation of the vessel and fiber dimensions and the wood apparent density by X- ray densitometry they were used wood samples at DBH and for wood basic density they were used all the wood samples. The results showed that the apparent and basic wood density values were not significant in the 3 treatments, and the radial wood density profiles were characteristic of juvenile wood of eucalyptus trees. The application of mineral fertilizers (potassium and sodium) induced alterations in the fiber dimensions, responsible for the eucalypt tree sustentation and not significant differences for the vessels elements were detected.O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar as características anatômicas e a densidade aparente e básica do lenho de árvores de Eucalyptus grandis com 24 meses de idade, plantadas no espaçamento de 3x2 m, sem fertilização (testemunha) e fertilizadas com potássio (T2) e sódio (T3). De cada tratamento foram cortadas 8 árvores de eucalipto, de acordo com a distribuição de área basal, e coletadas amostras do lenho em diferentes porcentagens da sua altura total. Na avaliação das dimensões dos vasos e fibras e da densidade aparente por densitometria de raios X, foram utilizadas as amostras do lenho do DAP, e para a densidade básica todas as amostras do lenho. Os resultados mostraram que as densidades aparente e básica média do lenho das árvores de eucalipto não foram significativas nos 3 tratamentos, sendo os perfis radiais de densidade aparente característicos de madeira juvenil de árvores de eucalipto. A aplicação dos fertilizantes minerais (potássio e sódio) induziu alterações nas dimensões das fibras, responsáveis pela sustentação do tronco das árvores de eucalipto, não sendo detectadas diferenças significativas para os elementos de vaso

Leucograma, eritograma, hemoglobina, hematócrito e tempo de coagulação após o uso oral e intraperitoneal de Heterothalamus brunioides, em ratos Wistar

In the present work, authors wished to observe possible blood alterations produced by oral route (98 mg/kg weight) and intraperitonial route (40 mg/kg and 98/kg weight) proIonged administrations of Heterothalamus brunioides, Less in Wistar rats. Results analysis proved that, in the estudied paramethers, was no significant alterations.No presente trabalho pretendeu-se observar as possíveis alterações sanguíneas produzidas pela administração via oral (98mg / kg) e via intraperitonial (40mg / kg) de Heterothalamus brunioides Less, durante intervalos de tempo, em ratos Wistar. A análise dos resultados revela que não houve alterações siginificativas nos parâmetros estudados

Growth differential related to wood structure and function of Eucalyptus spp. clones adapted to seasonal drought stress

Aim of the study: To evaluate the growth performance, wood density and anatomical features of four drought-tolerant Eucalyptus spp. clones, at 4 years, and to examine the relationships between these characteristics and some functional parameters. Area of study: The analyzed trees were from a clonal test installed in a region characterized by seasonal drought stress in central-western Brazil. Methods: Trees were felled, followed by obtaining dendrometric parameters and wood disk sampling to determine wood bulk density by x-ray densitometry, and morphometric parameters of fibers and vessels in order to evaluate the xylem hydraulic architecture. Lumen fraction (F), vessel composition (S) and hydraulic conductivity (Ks) were estimated. Results: Clone D (E. urophylla x E grandis) presented the highest growth rates, which was related to anatomical characteristics such as low relative frequency of wide vessels. High theoretical Ks does not necessarily imply higher growth rates and were related to lower wood densities. It is possible to infer that the better xylem adjustability of Eucalyptus trees in response to drought stress conditions is associated with increased vessel composition to the detriment of higher hydraulic conductivity. Research highlights: Vessel composition showed a greater variation among Eucalyptus genotypes and was positively associated with growth performance. Keywords: wood anatomy; dendrometry; X-ray densitometry; water stress; hydraulic conductivity. Abbreviations used: F: lumen fraction; S: vessel composition; Ks: theoretical xylem-specific hydraulic conductivity