Copd Phenotypes On Computed Tomography And Its Correlation With Selected Lung Function Variables In Severe Patients

Computed tomography (CT) phenotypic characterization helps in understanding the clinical diversity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, but its clinical relevance and its relationship with functional features are not clarified. Volumetric capnography (VC) uses the principle of gas washout and analyzes the pattern of CO2 elimination as a function of expired volume. The main variables analyzed were end-tidal concentration of carbon dioxide (ETCO2), Slope of phase 2 (Slp2), and Slope of phase 3 (Slp3) of capnogram, the curve which represents the total amount of CO2 eliminated by the lungs during each breath. Objective: To investigate, in a group of patients with severe COPD, if the phenotypic analysis by CT could identify different subsets of patients, and if there was an association of CT findings and functional variables. Subjects and methods: Sixty-five patients with COPD Gold III-IV were admitted for clinical evaluation, high-resolution CT, and functional evaluation (spirometry, 6-minute walk test [6MWT], and VC). The presence and profusion of tomography findings were evaluated, and later, the patients were identified as having emphysema (EMP) or airway disease (AWD) phenotype. EMP and AWD groups were compared; tomography findings scores were evaluated versus spirometric, 6MWT, and VC variables. Results: Bronchiectasis was found in 33.8% and peribronchial thickening in 69.2% of the 65 patients. Structural findings of airways had no significant correlation with spirometric variables. Air trapping and EMP were strongly correlated with VC variables, but in opposite directions. There was some overlap between the EMP and AWD groups, but EMP patients had signicantly lower body mass index, worse obstruction, and shorter walked distance on 6MWT. Concerning VC, EMP patients had signicantly lower ETCO2, Slp2 and Slp3. Increases in Slp3 characterize heterogeneous involvement of the distal air spaces, as in AWD. Conclusion: Visual assessment and phenotyping of CT in COPD patients is feasible and may help identify functional and clinically different subsets of patients. VC may provide useful information about the heterogeneous involvement of lung structures in COPD.1150351

TREATMENT OF MILKING PARLOR EFFLUENT: STABILIZATION PONDS FOLLOWED BY CONSTRUCTED WETLAND

One of the major concerns in dairy cattle lodging management is the great amount of manure produced daily in a reduced area that can be an excellent fertilizer option or an enormous pollutant potential, depending on the disposal procedures. In Brazil, the destination of raw effluent of lodged dairy cattle was in the past and continues nowadays being the water courses using the conventional and condemned method of the dilution, as the only form to eliminate the residues of the installations which is one of the reasons for eutrophication of rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. A pilot plant was installed to treat 10% of the effluent produced in the dairy parlor installations of the EAFI/MG. The pilot plant was designed with three units: an anaerobic lagoon followed by a facultative pond and a subsurface constructed wetland. The pilot plant presented the following average removal: phosphorus, 80%; nitrate, 88%; COD, 89%; total solids, 67%; and turbidity, 60%. The pH during the whole operation maintained around 6.2. The study concluded that the system presented a great potential for treatment of dairy parlor effluent.301677

Erratum To: Functional And Evolutionary Analyses Of The Mir156 And Mir529 Families In Land Plants.

1

Formação de Joint venture pelas distribuidoras de combustíveis como estratégica para vantagem competitiva

O planeta passa por uma transição energética e uma busca por produção de combustíveis de baixo nível de emissão de carbono. O objetivo do estudo, é investigar consequências de ações esg idealizadas para obtenção de vantagem competitiva por joint ventures formadas por empresas de combustíveis. O método está dividido em três etapas: pesquisa docum tal, revisão bibliográfica e análise dos relatórios. Este estudo é relevante, para a prática gerencial e mostra que empresas que unem forças, através de coopetição, tem mais chances de sobrevivência e expansão de seus negócios. Os estudos evidenciam que grandes players do mercado buscam parcerias, com base em uma gestão sustentável

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy as a non-invasive method to quantify muscle carnosine in humans: a comprehensive validity assessment

Carnosine is a dipeptide abundantly found in human skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle and neuronal cells having numerous properties that confers performance enhancing effects, as well as a wide-range of potential therapeutic applications. A reliable and valid method for tissue carnosine quantification is crucial for advancing the knowledge on biological processes involved with carnosine metabolism. In this regard, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) has been used as a non-invasive alternative to quantify carnosine in human skeletal muscle. However, carnosine quantification by 1H-MRS has some potential limitations that warrant a thorough experimental examination of its validity. The present investigation examined the reliability, accuracy and sensitivity for the determination of muscle carnosine in humans using in vitro and in vivo experiments and comparing it to reference method for carnosine quantification (high-performance liquid chromatography – HPLC). We used in vitro 1H-MRS to verify signal linearity and possible noise sources. Carnosine was determined in the m. gastrocnemius by 1H-MRS and HPLC to compare signal quality and convergent validity. 1H-MRS showed adequate discriminant validity, but limited reliability and poor agreement with a reference method. Low signal amplitude, low signal-to-noise ratio, and voxel repositioning are major sources of error

Spatial clustering of high load ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection in trachoma: A cross-sectional population-based study

Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is the most common cause of bacterial sexually transmitted infection and infectious cause of blindness (trachoma) worldwide. Understanding the spatial distribution of Ct infection may enable us to identify populations at risk and improve our understanding of Ct transmission. In this study, we sought to investigate the spatial distribution of Ct infection and the clinical features associated with high Ct load in trachoma-endemic communities on the Bijagós Archipelago (Guinea Bissau). We collected 1507 conjunctival samples and corresponding detailed clinical data during a cross-sectional population-based geospatially representative trachoma survey. We used droplet digital PCR to estimate Ct load on conjunctival swabs. Geostatistical tools were used to investigate clustering of ocular Ct infections. Spatial clusters (independent of age and gender) of individuals with high Ct loads were identified using local indicators of spatial association. We did not detect clustering of individuals with low load infections. These data suggest that infections with high bacterial load may be important in Ct transmission. These geospatial tools may be useful in the study of ocular Ct transmission dynamics and as part of trachoma surveillance post-treatment, to identify clusters of infection and thresholds of Ct load that may be important foci of re-emergent infection in communities

Structure of the protective nematode protease complex H-gal-GP and its conservation across roundworm parasites

Roundworm parasite infections are a major cause of human and livestock disease worldwide and a threat to global food security. Disease control currently relies on anthelmintic drugs to which roundworms are becoming increasingly resistant. An alternative approach is control by vaccination and ‘hidden antigens’, components of the worm gut not encountered by the infected host, have been exploited to produce Barbervax, the first commercial vaccine for a gut dwelling nematode of any host. Here we present the structure of H-gal-GP, a hidden antigen from Haemonchus contortus, the Barber’s Pole worm, and a major component of Barbervax. We demonstrate its novel architecture, subunit composition and topology, flexibility and heterogeneity using cryo-electron microscopy, mass spectrometry, and modelling. Importantly, we demonstrate that complexes with the same architecture are present in other Strongylid roundworm parasites including human hookworm. This suggests a common ancestry and the potential for development of a unified hidden antigen vaccine

Violência sexual contra crianças e adolescentes: para além do direito penal

O presente artigo tem por objetivo refletir criticamente sobre a violência sexual contra crianças e adolescentes no Brasil, buscando ampliar a visão da questão para além da esfera penal. Nesse sentido, trataremos da maior visibilidade desse fenômeno nas duas últimas décadas, tentando pensar o enfrentamento dessa grave violação de direitos humanos sem contribuir para o reforço da visão tradicional meramente punitiva. Embora as normas vigentes proclamem majoritariamente direitos e garantias fundamentais de crianças e adolescentes, quando o assunto é  sexualidade, o tratamento atribuído restringe-se à tipificação de condutas criminosas, sem qualquer preocupação em reconhecer e defender os direitos sexuais desse público. Ao contrário, as campanhas e materiais publicitários produzidos têm reforçado uma visão reducionista do fenômeno, com claro enfoque na prática de um delito. Enfrentar a violência sexual contra crianças e adolescentes de maneira mais racional e eficaz passa por encarar essa questão como uma grave violação de direitos humanos, combatendo desigualdades estruturais, afirmando os direitos sexuais infantojuvenis, garantindo o direito de participação, ampliando as políticas públicas de acolhimento e proteção, construindo meios de superação do modelo de desenvolvimento baseado no consumo, em um verdadeiro sistema de garantia de direitos infantojuvenis. Palavras-chave: Violência sexual. Criança e adolescente. Direitos humanos. Direito penal

In Vitro and In Vivo Investigation of the Efficacy of Arylimidamide DB1831 and Its Mesylated Salt Form - DB1965 - against Trypanosoma cruzi Infection

Chagas disease is caused by infection with the intracellular protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. At present, nifurtimox and benznidazole, both compounds developed empirically over four decades ago, represent the chemotherapeutic arsenal for treating this highly neglected disease. However, both drugs present variable efficacy depending on the geographical area and the occurrence of natural resistance, and are poorly effective against the later chronic stage. As a part of a search for new therapeutic opportunities to treat chagasic patients, pre-clinical studies were performed to characterize the activity of a novel arylimidamide (AIA - DB1831 (hydrochloride salt) and DB1965 (mesylate salt)) against T.cruzi. These AIAs displayed a high trypanocidal effect in vitro against both relevant forms in mammalian hosts, exhibiting a high selectivity index and a very high efficacy (IC50 value/48 h of 5–40 nM) against intracellular parasites. DB1965 shows high activity in vivo in acute experimental models (mouse) of T.cruzi, showing a similar effect to benznidazole (Bz) when compared under a scheme of 10 daily consecutive doses with 12.5 mg/kg. Although no parasitological cure was observed after treating with 20 daily consecutive doses, a combined dosage of DB1965 (5 mg/kg) with Bz (50 mg/kg) resulted in parasitaemia clearance and 100% animal survival. In summary, our present data confirmed that aryimidamides represent promising new chemical entities against T.cruzi in therapeutic schemes using the AIA alone or in combination with other drugs, like benznidazole