SIMULAÇÃO COMPUTACIONAL DO RESFRIAMENTO DA MANGA TOMMY ATKINS

Este trabalho tem como objetivo simular o resfriamento da manga Tommy Atkins através do software ANSYS Mechanical, evidenciando a capacidade dos processos de simulação computacional aplicada na agricultura como uma opção na predição do comportamento termofísico de produtos agrícolas. O método, de pequeno custo computacional, mostrou-se apropriado para a caracterização do processo de resfriamento, tendo como benefício a aplicabilidade para outros produtos agrícolas

Saúde bucal, práticas de higiene bucal e ocorrência de câncer da cavidade oral

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between oral health and hygiene practices and oral cancer. METHODS: Hospital-based case-control study in the metropolitan area of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, from 1998 to 2002. A total 309 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth and the pharynx and 468 controls matched by sex and age were included in the study. Cases were recruited in seven reference hospitals and controls were selected in five out of the seven participating hospitals. Detailed information on smoking, alcohol consumption, schooling, oral health status and hygiene practices were obtained through interviews. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), adjusted by sex, age, schooling, smoking, alcohol consumption as well as the variables oral health status and hygiene practices were estimated using unconditional logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The use of complete dental prosthesis was not associated with oral cancer but regular gum bleeding showed a strong association (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.2-7.9). Those who never attended a dental visit were more likely to have oral cancer (OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.3-4.8). Daily mouthwash use showed a stronger association to pharynx (OR 4.7; 95% CI 1.8-12.5) than mouth cancer (OR 3.2; 95% CI 1.6-6.3). CONCLUSIONS: Gum bleeding, no dental care, and daily mouthwash use were factors associated with oral cancer regardless of tobacco and alcohol consumption.OBJETIVO: Avaliar a associação entre saúde e higiene bucal na ocorrência de câncer oral. MÉTODOS: Estudo caso-controle de base hospitalar, realizado entre 1998 e 2002 na área metropolitana de São Paulo, SP. Foram incluídos 309 pacientes com carcinoma epidermóide de boca e orofaringe e 468 controles, pareados com os casos por sexo e idade. Os casos foram levantados em sete hospitais que concentram a assistência médica a pacientes com a doença e os controles rastreados em cinco hospitais gerais dentre os sete. Informações pormenorizadas sobre tabagismo, consumo de álcool, escolaridade, saúde bucal e práticas de higiene bucal foram obtidas por entrevista. Por meio de análise de regressão logística não condicional foram calculados odds ratios (OR) e intervalos com 95% de confiança (IC 95%), ajustados por sexo, idade, nível educacional, tabagismo e consumo de álcool, bem como para as demais variáveis de saúde e higiene bucal. RESULTADOS: Uso de prótese bucal total não se associou a câncer oral, mas sangramento gengival freqüente apresentou alta associação (OR=3,1; IC 95%: 1,2;7,9). Nunca ter consultado dentista mostrou associação com câncer oral (OR=2,5; IC 95%: 1,3;4,8). Uso diário de enxaguatórios bucais apresentou associação mais intensa com tumores de faringe (OR=4,7; IC 95%: 1,8;12,5) do que com tumores de boca (OR=3,2; IC 95%: 1,6;6,3). CONCLUSÕES: Sangramento gengival, ausência de consultas com dentistas e uso regular de enxaguatórios bucais foram fatores associados com câncer oral, independentemente de tabagismo e consumo de bebidas alcoólicas.European Commission ContractFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Oral health, hygiene practices and oral cancer

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between oral health and hygiene practices and oral cancer. METHODS: Hospital-based case-control study in the metropolitan area of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, from 1998 to 2002. A total 309 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth and the pharynx and 468 controls matched by sex and age were included in the study. Cases were recruited in seven reference hospitals and controls were selected in five out of the seven participating hospitals. Detailed information on smoking, alcohol consumption, schooling, oral health status and hygiene practices were obtained through interviews. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), adjusted by sex, age, schooling, smoking, alcohol consumption as well as the variables oral health status and hygiene practices were estimated using unconditional logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The use of complete dental prosthesis was not associated with oral cancer but regular gum bleeding showed a strong association (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.2-7.9). Those who never attended a dental visit were more likely to have oral cancer (OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.3-4.8). Daily mouthwash use showed a stronger association to pharynx (OR 4.7; 95% CI 1.8-12.5) than mouth cancer (OR 3.2; 95% CI 1.6-6.3). CONCLUSIONS: Gum bleeding, no dental care, and daily mouthwash use were factors associated with oral cancer regardless of tobacco and alcohol consumption.OBJETIVO: Avaliar a associação entre saúde e higiene bucal na ocorrência de câncer oral. MÉTODOS: Estudo caso-controle de base hospitalar, realizado entre 1998 e 2002 na área metropolitana de São Paulo, SP. Foram incluídos 309 pacientes com carcinoma epidermóide de boca e orofaringe e 468 controles, pareados com os casos por sexo e idade. Os casos foram levantados em sete hospitais que concentram a assistência médica a pacientes com a doença e os controles rastreados em cinco hospitais gerais dentre os sete. Informações pormenorizadas sobre tabagismo, consumo de álcool, escolaridade, saúde bucal e práticas de higiene bucal foram obtidas por entrevista. Por meio de análise de regressão logística não condicional foram calculados odds ratios (OR) e intervalos com 95% de confiança (IC 95%), ajustados por sexo, idade, nível educacional, tabagismo e consumo de álcool, bem como para as demais variáveis de saúde e higiene bucal. RESULTADOS: Uso de prótese bucal total não se associou a câncer oral, mas sangramento gengival freqüente apresentou alta associação (OR=3,1; IC 95%: 1,2;7,9). Nunca ter consultado dentista mostrou associação com câncer oral (OR=2,5; IC 95%: 1,3;4,8). Uso diário de enxaguatórios bucais apresentou associação mais intensa com tumores de faringe (OR=4,7; IC 95%: 1,8;12,5) do que com tumores de boca (OR=3,2; IC 95%: 1,6;6,3). CONCLUSÕES: Sangramento gengival, ausência de consultas com dentistas e uso regular de enxaguatórios bucais foram fatores associados com câncer oral, independentemente de tabagismo e consumo de bebidas alcoólicas

Purification and characterization of a collagenase from Penicillium sp. UCP 1286 by polyethylene glycol-phosphate aqueous two-phase system

Collagenases are proteolytic enzymes capable of degrading both native and denatured collagen, reported to be applied in industrial, medical and biotechnological sectors. Liquid-liquid extraction using aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) is one of the most promising bioseparation techniques, which can substitute difficult solid-liquid separation processes, offering many advantages over conventional methods including low-processing time, low-cost material and low-energy consumption. The collagenase produced by Penicillium sp. UCP 1286 showed a stronger affinity for the bottom salt-rich phase, where the highest levels of collagenolytic activity were observed at the center point runs, using 15.0% (w/w) PEG 3350 g/mol and 12.5% (w/w) phosphate salt at pH 7.0 and concentration. The enzyme was characterized by thermal stability, pH tolerance and effect of inhibitors, showing optimal collagenolytic activity at 37 °C and pH 9.0 and proved to be a serine protease. ATPS showed high efficiency in the collagenase purification, confirmed by a single band in SDS/PAGE, and can in fact be applied as a quick and inexpensive alternative method.This work was supported by the National Council of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq) and Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES). Sara Silvério also acknowledges her post-doc grant (SFRH/BPD/88584/2012) from FCT (SFRH/BPD/88584/2012) (Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation), Portugal

Data Driven Performance Evaluation of Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless Sensor Networks are presented as devices for signal sampling and reconstruction. Within this framework, the qualitative and quantitative influence of (i) signal granularity, (ii) spatial distribution of sensors, (iii) sensors clustering, and (iv) signal reconstruction procedure are assessed. This is done by defining an error metric and performing a Monte Carlo experiment. It is shown that all these factors have significant impact on the quality of the reconstructed signal. The extent of such impact is quantitatively assessed

Prevention of hypertension in patients with pre-hypertension: protocol for the PREVER-prevention trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Blood pressure (BP) within pre-hypertensive levels confers higher cardiovascular risk and is an intermediate stage for full hypertension, which develops in an annual rate of 7 out of 100 individuals with 40 to 50 years of age. Non-drug interventions to prevent hypertension have had low effectiveness. In individuals with previous cardiovascular disease or diabetes, the use of BP-lowering agents reduces the incidence of major cardiovascular events. In the absence of higher baseline risk, the use of BP agents reduces the incidence of hypertension. The PREVER-prevention trial aims to investigate the efficacy, safety and feasibility of a population-based intervention to prevent the incidence of hypertension and the development of target-organ damage.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, with participants aged 30 to 70 years, with pre-hypertension. The trial arms will be chlorthalidone 12.5 mg plus amiloride 2.5 mg or identical placebo. The primary outcomes will be the incidence of hypertension, adverse events and development or worsening of microalbuminuria and of left ventricular hypertrophy in the EKG. The secondary outcomes will be fatal or non-fatal cardiovascular events: myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, evidence of new sub-clinical atherosclerosis, and sudden death. The study will last 18 months. The sample size was calculated on the basis of an incidence of hypertension of 14% in the control group, a size effect of 40%, power of 85% and P alpha of 5%, resulting in 625 participants per group. The project was approved by the Ethics committee of each participating institution.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The early use of blood pressure-lowering drugs, particularly diuretics, which act on the main mechanism of blood pressure rising with age, may prevent cardiovascular events and the incidence of hypertension in individuals with hypertension. If this intervention shows to be effective and safe in a population-based perspective, it could be the basis for an innovative public health program to prevent hypertension in Brazil.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>Clinical Trials <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00970931">NCT00970931</a>.</p