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

La regolazione del commercio in Francia: Norme, piani, strategie

In most European countries, among them France, the regulations of retail activities are achieved in two different fields, which work independently. In the field of town and regional planning, the procedure’s goal is to get a building permission, while a commercial authorization is given to start the retail activity. In other countries, such as Great Britain or Sweden, only a planning permission is requested to locate buildings in which retail activities are run. In principle, the “double path” model can be followed in several ways, with different levels of graduation for the predetermination of the areas or number of retail activities.In France, it seems that the choice of a model where the regulation is managed by a commercial authorization has led the government authorities to adopt more and more a quantitative approach to decide the amount of areas or retail activities to leave. The studies and inquiries, which are requested to justify this approach, often seem to aim at finding a vain “best” balance between the demand of the consumers and the offer of retail activities.En la mayoría de los países europeos, entre ellos Francia, la regulación de la actividad comercial minorista se realiza en dos ámbitos diferentes, que trabajan independientemente. En el ámbito del planeamiento urbanístico, se necesita una licencia de construcción, mientras que en el ámbito comercial es una autorización administrativa de apertura del local. En otros países, como Gran Bretaña o Suecia, solamente se solicita un permiso de planeamiento para situar el edificio que alojará la actividad comercial. En principio, el modelo de “doble camino” se puede seguir de varias maneras, para determinar las áreas o del número de comercios minoristas.En Francia, la elección de un modelo donde la regulación, por vía administrativa, tiene lugar con una autorización comercial, provoca la adopción de sistemas de programación cuantitativos de las superficies comerciales. A menudo, los estudios e investigaciones que se solicitan para justificarlo parecen tener como objetivo encontrar un “mejor” equilibrio entre la demanda de los consumidores y la oferta de la actividad comercial minorista

Quale cooperazione intercomunale fuori dalle città metropolitane? Il percorso di riconoscimento dell'IPA veronese come laboratorio per il governo dell'area vasta

Il paper affronta il tema della governance di scala vasta e delle forme di cooperazione fra Comuni negli ambiti al di fuori delle città metropolitane. Le riflessioni si misurano sulle questioni del cosiddetto “rescaling of formal planning activities” presenti in diverse normative nazionali e sono sviluppate a partire dai temi emersi nel percorso di definizione di un partenariato tra soggetti pubblici e privati nel Veronese che opera ad una scala intermedia fra quella municipale e regionale.The aim of this paper is exploring the intermunicipal governance through volunteer cooperation for those areas which are marked by mature metropolisation processes without a recognition by specific bodies or institutions (as città metropolitane in Italy). Focusing on the case of the IPA Veronese – a peculiar figure which involved public bodies and private companies in local government – we reflect about the intermediate scale and its role as role of testing ground for innovations in governance

Occurrence of solar retinopathy after religious ritual in Londrina, Paraná, Brazil

PURPOSE: To present a series of patients with solar retinopathy after direct solar observation during a religious ritual in Londrina City, Paraná, Brazil. METHODS: 24 patients with visual alterations were evaluated after their participation in a religious ritual. Data of the initial and final visit after 6 months of follow-up are presented and include best corrected visual acuity, refraction, color fundus picture, macular biomicroscopy, Amsler's screen and contrast sensibility. RESULTS: A total of 24 cases was reported. Of these, 21 (87.5%) were females and 3 (12.5%) males. Age varied from 18 to 46 years. A total of 43 eyes were damaged. The lesion was bilateral in 19 (79.2%) patients and in 5 (20.8%) it was unilateral. The initial visual acuity ranged from 20/20 to 20/70, and the final visual acuity was 20/25 or better in 40 (93%) eyes. Of these, 33 (76.7%) eyes reached 20/20 or the last follow-up visit. Only 2 (4.6%) eyes presented alteration in the sensibility to contrast and 3 (6.9%) remained with persistent scotoma. CONCLUSION: This is the largest series of solar retinopathy after religious ritual. The cases herein presented showed a quite favorable evolution. However recovery of visual acuity is not complete, once scotoma and residual metamorphopsia persisted in a few patients.OBJETIVO: Relato de uma série de casos de retinopatia solar após a observação direta do sol durante ritual religioso na cidade de Londrina. MÉTODOS: 24 pacientes com alteração da visão após participarem de ritual religioso, foram avaliados quanto à acuidade visual inicial e final, após 6 meses, refração, biomicroscopia de mácula, retinografia, tela de Amsler e sensibilidade ao contraste. RESULTADOS: 24 casos foram relatados. Destes, 21 (87,5%) eram mulheres e 3 (12,5%) eram homens. A idade variou de 18 a 46 anos. Houve acometimento de 43 olhos. A lesão foi bilateral em 19 (79,2%) pacientes e unilateral em 5 (20,8%). A acuidade visual inicial variou de 20/20 a 20/70 e a final foi de 20/25, ou melhor, em 40 (93%) olhos. Destes, 33 (76,7%) olhos alcançaram 20/20. Apenas 2 (4,6%) olhos ficaram com alteração da sensibilidade ao contraste e 3 (6,9%) ficaram com escotoma persistente. CONCLUSÃO: Este é o maior relato de casos de retinopatia solar após ritual religioso. A retinopatia solar apresenta evolução bastante favorável. No entanto, a acuidade visual não apresenta recuperação completa da visão. Os pacientes podem ficar com escotoma e metamorfopsia residual.Universidade Estadual de Londrina Departamento de OftalmologiaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de OftalmologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de OftalmologiaSciEL

Neuropilin 1mediates keratinocyte growth factor signaling in adipose-derived stem cells: potential involvement in adipogenesis

Adipogenesis is regulated by a complex network of molecules, including fibroblast growth factors. Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) has been previously reported to promote proliferation on rat preadipocytes, although the expression of its specific receptor, FGFR2-IIIb/KGFR, is not actually detected in mesenchymal cells. Here, we demonstrate that human adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) show increased expression of KGF during adipogenic differentiation, especially in the early steps. Moreover, KGF is able to induce transient activation of ERK and p38 MAPK pathways in these cells. Furthermore, KGF promotes ASC differentiation and supports the activation of differentiation pathways, such as those of PI3K/Akt and the retinoblastoma protein (Rb). Notably, we observed only a low amount of FGFR2-IIIb in ASCs, which seems not to be responsible for KGF activity. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that Neuropilin 1 (NRP1), a transmembrane glycoprotein expressed in ASCs acting as a coreceptor for some growth factors, is responsible for KGF-dependent pathway activation in these cells. Our study contributes to clarify the molecular bases of human adipogenesis, demonstrating a role of KGF in the early steps of this process, and points out a role of NRP1 as a previously unknown mediator of KGF action in ASCs

Performance and reliability degradation of CMOS Image Sensors in Back-Side Illuminated configuration

We present a systematic characterization of wafer-level reliability dedicated test structures in Back-Side-Illuminated CMOS Image Sensors. Noise and electrical measurements performed at different steps of the fabrication process flow, definitely demonstrate that the wafer flipping/bonding/thinning and VIA opening proper of the Back-Side-Illuminated configuration cause the creation of oxide donor-like border traps. Respect to conventional Front-Side-Illuminated CMOS Image Sensors, the presence of these traps causes degradation of the transistors electrical performance, altering the oxide electric field and shifting the flat-band voltage, and strongly degrades also reliability. Results from Time-Dependent Dielectric Breakdown and Negative Bias Temperature Instability measurements outline the impact of those border traps on the lifetime prediction

Separase prevents genomic instability by controlling replication fork speed

Proper chromosome segregation is crucial for preserving genomic integrity, and errors in this process cause chromosome mis-segregation, which may contribute to cancer development. Sister chromatid separation is triggered by Separase, an evolutionary conserved protease that cleaves the cohesin complex, allowing the dissolution of sister chromatid cohesion. Here we provide evidence that Separase participates in genomic stability maintenance by controlling replication fork speed. We found that Separase interacted with the replication licensing factors MCM2-7, and genome-wide data showed that Separase co-localized with MCM complex and cohesin. Unexpectedly, the depletion of Separase increased the fork velocity about 1.5-fold and caused a strong acetylation of cohesin's SMC3 subunit and altered checkpoint response. Notably, Separase silencing triggered genomic instability in both HeLa and human primary fibroblast cells. Our results show a novel mechanism for fork progression mediated by Separase and thus the basis for genomic instability associated with tumorigenesis

Separase prevents genomic instability by controlling replication fork speed

Proper chromosome segregation is crucial for preserving genomic integrity, and errors in this process cause chromosome mis-segregation, which may contribute to cancer development. Sister chromatid separation is triggered by Separase, an evolutionary conserved protease that cleaves the cohesin complex, allowing the dissolution of sister chromatid cohesion. Here we provide evidence that Separase participates in genomic stability maintenance by controlling replication fork speed. We found that Separase interacted with the replication licensing factors MCM2-7, and genome-wide data showed that Separase co-localized with MCM complex and cohesin. Unexpectedly, the depletion of Separase increased the fork velocity about 1.5-fold and caused a strong acetylation of cohesin's SMC3 subunit and altered checkpoint response. Notably, Separase silencing triggered genomic instability in both HeLa and human primary fibroblast cells. Our results show a novel mechanism for fork progression mediated by Separase and thus the basis for genomic instability associated with tumorigenesis

Promoting effect of palladium on ZnAl2O4-supported catalysts based on cobalt or copper oxide on the activity for the total propene oxidation

Palladium-modified Co-ZnAland Cu-ZnAl materials were used and found active for the catalytic oxidation of propene and propane. According to the results obtained by XRD, TPR and XPS, the zinc aluminate-supported phases are oxide phases, Co3 O4, CuO and PdOx for Co-ZnAl, Cu-ZnAl and Pd-ZnAl catalysts, respectively. These reducible oxide species present good catalytic activity for the oxidation reactions. The addition of palladium to Co-ZnAl or Cu-ZnAl samples promoted the reducibility of the system and, consequently, produced a synergic effect which enhanced the activity for the propene oxidation. The PdCo-ZnAl sample was the most active and exhibited highly dispersed PdOx particles and surface structural defects. In addition, it exhibited good catalytic stability. The H2 pre-treated PdCu-ZnAl, PdCo-ZnAl and Pd-ZnAl samples showed higher activity than the original oxide catalysts, evidencing the important role of the oxidation state of the species, mainly of the palladium species, on the catalytic activity for the propene combustion. The synergic effect between metal transition oxides and PdOx could not be observed for the propane oxidation.Fil: Ocsachoque, Marco Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas "Dr. Jorge J. Ronco". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Leguizamón Aparicio, María Silvia del Valle. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas "Dr. Jorge J. Ronco". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Casella, Mónica Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas "Dr. Jorge J. Ronco". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Lick, Ileana Daniela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas "Dr. Jorge J. Ronco". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas; Argentin