Antidepressants for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

Background Pharmacological treatments have been successfully used to treat Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Benzodiazepine and non benzodiazepine anxiolytics used to be the mainstay for the pharmacological treatment of GAD. However, data emerging over the last two decades have shown that antidepressants may be as effective as anxiolytics in this condition. The use of antidepressants may also be beneficial , because GAD often coexists with major depressive disorder (62% comorbidity) and dysthymia (37%). Objectives To assess the efficacy and acceptability of antidepressants for treating generalized anxiety disorder. Search methods Cochrane Collaboration Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Controlled Trials Register - CCDANCTR (up to May 2002), Anxiety Neurosis (up to May 2002) and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CENTRAL/CCTR) (up to May 2002), MEDLINE (1966 to May 2002), LILACS (1982 to May 2002); reference searching; personal communication; conference abstracts and book chapters on the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. Selection criteria Randomized controlled trials were included. Non randomized studies and those that included patients with both GAD and another Axis I co-morbidity were excluded. Data collection and analysis The data from studies were extracted independently by two reviewers. Relative risks, weighted mean difference and number needed to treat were estimated. People who died or dropped out were regarded as having had no improvement. Main results Antidepressants (imipramine, venlafaxine and paroxetine) were found to be superior to placebo in treating GAD. The calculated NNT for antidepressants inGADis 5.15.Dropout rates did not differ between antidepressants. Only one study presented data on imipramine and trazodone. Imipramine was chosen as the reference drug and, therefore, data on trazodone could not be included in the meta analysis. Only one study was conducted among children and adolescents (Rynn 2000). This showed very promising results of sertraline in children and adolescents with GAD, which warrants replication in larger samples. Authors’ conclusions The available evidence suggests that antidepressants are superior to placebo in treating GAD. There is evidence fromone trial suggesting that paroxetine and imipramine have a similar efficacy and tolerability. There is also evidence from placebo-controlled trials suggesting that these drugs are well tolerated by GAD patients. Further trials of antidepressants for GAD will help to demonstrate which antidepressants should be used for which patients

Ambiente, saúde e qualidade de vida: uma reflexão teórica

Objetivo: desarrollar una reflexión teórica de los conceptos "medio ambiente", "salud" y "calidad de vida". Metodología: se trata de una reflexión teórica fundamentada en una revisión bibliográfica de libros, artículos, tesis y disertaciones sobre los temas “salud”, “calidad de vida” y “medio ambiente”. Resultados: se puede inferir que sólo rompiendo los patrones actuales de consumo y una redefinición de las necesidades humanas básicas pueden disfrutar de la salud y la calidad de vida en comunión con la calidad del medio ambiente. Consideraciones Finales: se cree que un establecimiento efectivo de medidas para mantener la estabilidad del medio ambiente deseado, así como la supervisión de dichas solicitudes en la práctica es uno de los caminos posibles para la compatibilidad de subsistencia de los seres humanos y su calidad de vida.Descriptores: Salud; Calidad de vida; Ambiente; Enfermería

3D Multi-Material Laser Powder Bed Fusion of 420 stainless steel-Cu parts for Plastic Injection Mold Inserts

Plastic injection molding is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. However, although it presents numerous advantages, the costs associated with the mold and machine are high and, therefore, this process is only profitable for mass production. Moreover, the reduction in the cycle time, more specifically the cooling time, has been a never-ending challenge since it has a direct influence on production costs. This study is focused on the production of 420 stainless steel-copper solutions by 3D multi-material laser powder bed fusion. This novel material’s design concept allows combining the high mechanical resistance of the steel alloy and the high thermal conductivity of the copper. The processing parameters and strategies as well as the transition zone between these materials are of the most challenging and important aspects both from a mechanical and metallurgical point of view. The obtained results show that this approach is effective to produce inserts of copper in a 420 stainless steel capable of improving the in-service conditions of a plastic injection mold, enhancing its performance and life

DOES SULPHUR EXPEL THE COFFEE BERRY BORER FROM Coffea arabica L. FRUITS?

Technicians and insecticide retailers recommend adding sulfur to the insecticide mixture to expel coffee borer females (Hypothenemus hampei ) from the fruit. The objective in this study was to verify if sulfur expels the coffee borer from the fruit and what the cost associated with the use of sulfur in the insecticide mixture is. Perforated fruits were collected from coffee crops (Red Catuaí, IAC 144) during the granulation phase for the experiments and divided into two lots. The first lot was used to verify the effectiveness of sulfur to expel the borer, and the second to evaluate the effect of temperature x sulfur source x expelling effect on the borer. Sources of sulfur tested were: SK30 and Kumulus DF. The first experiment was the treatments: sulfur sources (two + control without sulfur), two plastic containers (open and closed), five repetitions (factorial: 3 x 2). The second were the treatments: sulfur sources, plastic containers and under two temperatures, factorial 3x2x2. The number of adult females that left the fruits within 24 and 48 h was evaluated. There was no difference in the number of females that abandoned the fruits between treatments with sulfur and control (P> 0.05). It was concluded that sulfur does not expel H. hampei from C. arabica fruits

EFETIVIDADE DA ASSOCIAÇÃO DO EXERCICIO FISICO E PLASMA RICO EM PLAQUETAS NA INFLAMAÇÃO ARTICULAR

O tratamento das lesões na cartilagem representam um desafio, devido a sua baixa atividade metabólica, regeneração e reação inflamatória. Investigar os efeitos do plasma rico em plaquetas na inflamação aguda e crônica da cartilagem articular, de forma isolada e em associação ao exercício terapêutico. 44 ratos Wistar divididos em 4 grupos: grupo controle (GCON), grupo tratado-plasma rico em plaquetas (GPRP), grupo tratado-exercício (GEXER) e grupo tratado-plasma rico em plaquetas e exercício (GPRP+EXER), por 3 dias (fase aguda) e 14 dias (fase crônica). A análise microscópica observou a presença ou não de células inflamatórias agudas e crônicas. Realizaram-se testes de normalidade e de significância com 3 dias todos os grupos tratados obtiveram uma diminuição da quantidade de células inflamatórias. Com 14 dias apenas o grupo GPRP+EXER, obteve uma diminuição estatisticamente significante. Na fase aguda todos os tratamentos foram efetivos, na etapa crônica a associação das terapias se mostra superior para a redução da inflamação articular

Popular knowledge in care of the newborn with focus on health promotion

Object: verifying the influence of popular knowledge in the care of newborn, focusing on the promotion of child health. Methods: study with a qualitative approach, and was carried in public maternity hospital from Imperatriz-Maranhão, with 15 mothers of newborns. A questionnaire and semi-structured interview using thematic content analysis were used to collect data. Results: Three categories emerged: Knowledge used in the cleaning of the umbilical stump; Knowledge used to feed the newborn; Knowledge of practices used in daily care of the newborn; Knowledge used on diseases of the newborn. The reported knowledge and their influence on newborn care were prayers and blessings, herbal teas varied beliefs related to the care of umbilical stump, hiccups and sleep disorders. Conclusion: mothers do not rely heavily on the use of popular knowledge based practices, giving for credit to the guidelines given by the health professionals

A Influência dos Aspectos Sociais na Competitividade das Redes Interorganizacionais: a Experiência da Rede dos Exportadores de Frango Halal Brasileiro

Inter-organizational networks are groups of legally independent organizations working together to achieve both their individual goals to the collective goals of the group. The focus of this research is the influence of social aspects on the competitiveness of inter-organizational networks, and the aim is to identify the contribution of the social aspects (strategy group, trust, commitment and cooperation) to the competitiveness of the network. It is about a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive study, through the case study of a single network of Brazilian poultry exporters of Halal. Primary data were collected through semi-structured interviews, in addition, the information obtained from these interviews were checked with information from other secondary sources such as reports and institutional materials. The results indicated that these social aspects are complementary and collaborate for a more competitive network. The contribution of this research indicates the existence of complementarities of the categories, wherein a positively reinforces the presence of another network.Redes interorganizacionais são grupos de organizações legalmente independentes que atuam em conjunto para alcançar seus objetivos individuais simultaneamente aos objetivos coletivos do grupo. O objeto de estudo desta pesquisa é a influência dos aspectos sociais na competitividade de redes interorganizacionais, e o objetivo é a identificação da contribuição dos aspectos sociais (estratégia de grupo, confiança, comprometimento e cooperação) para a competitividade da rede. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, de natureza exploratória e descritiva, realizada por meio do estudo de caso único da rede dos exportadores de frango Halal brasileiro. Os dados primários foram coletados por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas, além disso, as informações obtidas por meio dessas entrevistas foram checadas com informações de outras fontes secundárias, como relatórios e materiais institucionais. Os resultados indicaram que esses aspectos sociais são complementares e colaboram para uma maior competitividade da rede. A contribuição desta pesquisa aponta a existência da complementaridade das categorias, em que uma reforça positivamente a presença da outra na rede

Preventive but Not Curative Efficacy of Celecoxib on Bladder Carcinogenesis in a Rat Model

To evaluate the effect of a cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitor, celecoxib (CEL), on bladder cancer inhibition in a rat model, when used as preventive versus as curative treatment. The study comprised 52 male Wistar rats, divided in 5 groups, during a 20-week protocol: control: vehicle, carcinogen: 0.05% of N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN), CEL: 10 mg/kg/day of the selective COX-2 inhibitor Celebrex, preventive CEL (CEL+BBN-P), and curative CEL (BBN+CEL-C) groups. Although tumor growth was markedly inhibited by the preventive application of CEL, it was even aggravated by the curative treatment. The incidence of gross bladder carcinoma was: control 0/8(0%), BBN 13/20(65%), CEL 0/8(0%), CEL+BBN-P 1/8(12.5%), and BBN+CEL-C 6/8(75%). The number and volume of carcinomas were significantly lower in the CEL+BBN-P versus BBN, accompanied by an ample reduction in hyperplasia, dysplasia, and papillary tumors as well as COX-2 immunostaining. In spite of the reduction of tumor volumes in the curative BBN+CEL-C group, tumor malignancy was augmented. An anti-inflammatory and antioxidant profile was encountered only in the group under preventive treatment. In conclusion, preventive, but not curative, celecoxib treatment promoted a striking inhibitory effect on bladder cancer development, reinforcing the potential role of chemopreventive strategies based on cyclooxygenase 2 inhibition

CORE COLLECTION OF COMMON BEAN FORMED FROM TRADITIONAL BRAZILIAN GERMPLASM

O objetivo deste trabalho foi, através de estratégias de análise por modelos multivariado, selecionar acessos tradicionais, compor uma coleção nuclear de feijoeiro comum e avaliar sua representatividade em relação à coleção base de coletas hospedadas no BAG da Embrapa. Utilizando dados de caracterização de 2903 acessos de coletas representando todas as regiões geográficas do Brasil quanto a três descritores morfológicos (cor de semente, tipos de crescimento e tamanho de semente) e quatro descritores ecogeográficos (regiões geográficas, unidades federativas, altitudes e classes de solos), foram selecionados 400 acessos utilizando modelos multivariado aplicados aos dados transformados em valores multibinários. Os acessos amostrados apresentaram similaridade máxima (100,0%) com a coleção tradicional, diversidade fenotípica e heterogeneidade representativa em relação à coleção tradicional. Na coleção nuclear os acessos tradicionais representaram 9,5% dos acessos tradicional e equivalente a 3% dos acessos da coleção base. Com isso conclui-se que é possível formar uma coleção nuclear representativa da coleção base, no que diz respeito à diversidade genética e a conservação de alelos raros

Physical and chemical properties of soils in different physiographic environments in the southern Amazonas region

The Amazon region has a great diversity of landscapes such as forests galleries, natural fields (“Cerrados Amazônicos”), dense forest, these environments made possible the formation of a broad class of soils over time. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physical and chemical properties of soils in different physiographic environments in southern Amazonas, Brazil. Three areas of representative physiographies were selected, all of them in natural conditions: natural field / forest and floodplain / dry land transitions, and corrugated relief areas. Soil samples were collected in layers of 0.0 to 0.20 and 0.80-1.0 m. From the samples collected the following physical analyzes were performed: particle size, bulk density, particle density, total porosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity; and chemical: exchangeable calcium, magnesium, aluminum and potassium available, phosphorus, potential acidity, pH and organic carbon. Based on the results of chemical analysis were calculated the sum of bases and base saturation. The results were submitted to multivariate statistics analysis, at the discretion of the principal component analysis (PCA). From the results it is clear that different physiographic environments studied influence the formation of different soil classes, featuring the diversity of Amazonian soils. The PCA allowed the distinction and formation of different similarity groups, thus enabling to relate the physical and chemical properties with the physiographic formation in which they are inserted