85 research outputs found
Point-Coupling Models from Mesonic Hypermassive Limit and Mean-Field Approaches
In this work we show how nonlinear point-coupling models, described by a
Lagrangian density that presents only terms up to fourth order in the fermion
condensate , are derived from a modified meson-exchange
nonlinear Walecka model. The derivation can be done through two distinct
methods, namely, the hypermassive meson limit within a functional integral
approach, and the mean-field approximation in which equations of state at zero
temperature of the nonlinear point-coupling models are directly obtained.Comment: 18 pages. Accepted for publication in Braz. J. Phy
âEl Sexo no es Maloâ: Maternal Values Accompanying Contraceptive Use Advice to Young Latina Adolescent Daughters
In this study, we utilized observational methods to identify maternal values and concerns accompanying contraceptive use advice in Latina motherâdaughter sexuality conversations. The sample included non-sexually active early adolescents around 12Â years of age and their mostly Spanish-speaking Latina mothers. Videotaped conversations were coded for the prevalence of messages related to four sexual values (abstinence, delay sex until older, sex is ânormalâ, sex is âimproperâ) and concerns about pregnancy and STD transmission. We examined whether the duration of time spent conversing about these messages was associated with participant characteristics, general communication openness, and the amount of time the dyads spent discussing contraceptive use. Results indicated that Latina mothers who had fewer years of education and lower family income talked longer to their daughters about the need to delay sex, avoid risky situations that would increase their chances of getting pregnant or acquiring an STD, and engage in self-protective practices. Less perceived openness in general communication as reported by both the mothers and the daughters was associated with increased time discussing that sex is improper. Although the duration of contraceptive use messages was brief, mothers and daughters who discussed the fact that sex is normal, and who communicated more about the importance of delaying sex, talked longer about contraceptive use practices compared to mothers and daughters who engaged in minimal discussion of these sexual values
Epidemiological characteristics of Brazilian spotted fever in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, 2000-2008
Description of the methodology used in an ongoing pediatric care interventional study of children born with cleft lip and palate in South America [NCT00097149]
BACKGROUND: The contribution of birth defects, including cleft lip and palate, to neonatal and infant mortality and morbidity is substantial. As other mortality and morbidity causes including infections, hygiene, prematurity, and nutrition are eradicated in less developed countries, the burden of birth defects will increase proportionally. METHODS/DESIGN: We are using cleft lip and palate as a sentinel birth defect to evaluate its burden on neonatal and infant health and to assess the effectiveness of systematic pediatric care during the first month and first two years of life in decreasing this burden. The neonatal intervention, consisting of weekly pediatric evaluation and referral to appropriate care, is delivered to about 696 infants born with cleft lip and/or palate in 47 hospitals in South America. Neonatal mortality in this group will be compared to that in a retrospective control group of about 464 infants born with cleft lip and/or palate in the same hospitals. The subgroup of infants with isolated clefts of both the lip and palate (about 264) is also randomized into two groups, intervened and non-intervened, and further followed up over 2 years. Intervened cases are evaluated by pediatricians every three months and referred for appropriate care. The intervened and non-intervened cases will be compared over study outcomes to evaluate the intervention effectiveness. Non-intervened cases are matched and compared to healthy controls to assess the burden of cleft lip and palate. Outcomes include child's neurological and physical development and family social and economic conditions. DISCUSSION: Large-scale clinical trials to improve infant health in developing countries are commonly suggested, making it important to share the methods used in ongoing studies with other investigators implementing similar research. We describe here the content of our ongoing pediatric care study in South America. We hope that this may help researchers targeting this area to plan their studies more effectively and encourage the development of similar research efforts to target other birth defects or infant outcomes such as prematurity and low birth weight
Design of an allele-specific PCR assay to genotype the rs12255372 SNP in a pilot study of association between common TCF7L2 polymorphisms and type 2 diabetes in Venezuelans
Characterising the KMP-11 and HSP-70 recombinant antigens' humoral immune response profile in chagasic patients
11 pages, 6 figures.-- The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed
here:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/9/186/pre
pubBackground: Antigen specificity and IgG subclass could be significant in the natural history of
Chagas' disease. The relationship between the different stages of human Chagas' disease and the
profiles of total IgG and its subclasses were thus analysed here; they were directed against a crude
T. cruzi extract and three recombinant antigens: the T. cruzi kinetoplastid membrane protein-11
(rKMP-11), an internal fragment of the T. cruzi HSP-70 protein192-433, and the entire Trypanosoma
rangeli HSP-70 protein.
Methods: Seventeen Brazilian acute chagasic patients, 50 Colombian chronic chagasic patients (21
indeterminate and 29 cardiopathic patients) and 30 healthy individuals were included. Total IgG and
its subtypes directed against the above-mentioned recombinant antigens were determined by
ELISA tests.
Results: The T. cruzi KMP-11 and T. rangeli HSP-70 recombinant proteins were able to distinguish
both acute from chronic chagasic patients and infected people from healthy individuals. Specific
antibodies to T. cruzi crude antigen in acute patients came from IgG3 and IgG4 subclasses whereas
IgG1 and IgG3 were the prevalent isotypes in indeterminate and chronic chagasic patients. By
contrast, the specific prominent antibodies in all disease stages against T. cruzi KMP-11 and T. rangeli
HSP-70 recombinant antigens were the IgG1 subclass.This work was supported by Colciencias Research project No. 1203-333-
18692. IDF was supported by Colciencias and the Universidad Javeriana's
Young Researcher 2008 Programme (BogotĂĄ, Colombia). MCT and MCL
were supported by P06-CTS-02242 Grant from PAI (Junta de Andalucia)
and RICET-RD06/0021-0014, Spain. MS received financial support from the
Brazilian agency - CNPq.Peer reviewe
Lutz's spontaneous sedimentation technique and the paleoparasitological analysis of sambaqui (shell mound) sediments
PrevalĂȘncia de excesso de peso e seus fatores associados em adolescentes da rede de ensino pĂșblico de Piracicaba, SĂŁo Paulo
Differing phagocytic function of monocytes and neutrophils in Chagas' cardiopathy according to the presence or absence of congestive heart failure
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