Magnetic resonance breast coils: models and image quality

In three MRI equipments [1,5 T], we evaluated and compared 3 models of dedicated coils to breast MR Imaging. The image quality variable was quantitatively assessed by the indicators: (i) signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and (ii) uniformity (U). The qualitative assessment by the voluntaries and Radiographers in a Likert scale, considered: (iii) comfort provided during the examination, (iv) accessibility for interventional breast procedures, (v) handling and positioning by Radiographers, (vi) single or bilateral imaging selection, (vii) 17guidance patient within the magnet. Three female volunteers without related breast disease represents the breast patterns of BIRADS system (35, 53 and 72 years old) were exanimate in all coils and underwent a SPIR (spectral inversion recovery) weighted T2 sequence. It was applied a factorial analysis of variance with five fixed factors without replicates to evaluate if there was significant differences between images, concerning the average of SNR and U in the three coils. The differences were significant with the best performance attributed to the coil Z [SNR (p-value=0, F=277,193) e U (p-value=0, F=1487,95)]. There were significant differences in the images quality obtained by the 3 coils (multiple comparisons Tukey test). To the coil z the values are [SNR (15,08u.a.) e U (0,58u.a.)] so, is these coil that produce the best images. The Y coil had lesser rating in image quality variable: (SNR values of 1.89 and U = 0.06). It was found that the draw position of the ROI (Spearman correlation) does not influence the image quality. The highest rating for comfort was given to the coil X followed by coil Z. The coil model choice is important to perform high quality images, patient comfort and handling in positioning. The study results can contribute to a reduction in financial speculation linked to the commercial approaches of competing manufacturers on the market

Immune Modulation in Primary Vaccinia virus Zoonotic Human Infections

In 2010, the WHO celebrated the 30th anniversary of the smallpox eradication. Ironically, infections caused by viruses related to smallpox are being increasingly reported worldwide, including Monkeypox, Cowpox, and Vaccinia virus (VACV). Little is known about the human immunological responses elicited during acute infections caused by orthopoxviruses. We have followed VACV zoonotic outbreaks taking place in Brazil and analyzed cellular immune responses in patients acutely infected by VACV. Results indicated that these patients show a biased immune modulation when compared to noninfected controls. Amounts of B cells are low and less activated in infected patients. Although present, T CD4+ cells are also less activated when compared to noninfected individuals, and so are monocytes/macrophages. Similar results were obtained when Balb/C mice were experimentally infected with a VACV sample isolated during the zoonotic outbreaks. Taking together, the data suggest that zoonotic VACVs modulate specific immune cell compartments during an acute infection in humans

Indicações da fototerapia em recém-nascidos com icterícia / Indications for phototherapy in newborns with jaundice

A fototerapia é um método eficaz, não invasivo de alto impacto, sem restrições enquanto a sua utilização independente da idade gestacional, comorbidades ou nível de pigmentação cutânea, tratamento utilizado para redução de bilirrubina usado devido a sua alta eficiência e ausência de efeitos adversos. Analisar as evidências científicas publicadas sobre as indicações da fototerapia em recém–nascidos com icterícia. Trata de uma revisão bibliográfica do método revisão integrativa de literatura, realizado no período compreendido entre os meses de janeiro a abril de 2021. A busca efetuou-se, através da BVS, utilizando as bases de dados LILACS, MEDLINE, e por meio do SCIELO. Aderindo-se através dos descritores/palavras chaves: “Fototerapia”, “Icterícia Neonatal”, “Terapêutica”, “Diagnóstico”, “Cuidados de Enfermagem”, combinados entre si com o operador booleano “AND”. Os profissionais da equipe de enfermagem são responsáveis pelo recebimento e preparação do recém-nascido para a terapêutica, bem como, preparam os aparelhos que serão usados para a fototerapia, como os focos de luz, as incubadoras, entre outros. Evidenciou-se que a fototerapia é utilizada como forma de tratamento mais eficaz no controle da hiperbilirrubinemia. Sendo indicada nas doenças hemolíticas ou não, incompatibilidade fator Rh e grupo ABO. Embora seja frequente o uso da técnica em neonatos, deve-se enquanto profissionais se atentar aos sinais e sintomas, como também os fatores de risco no manejo da técnica, intervir elaborando uma rotina para o controle e manutenção dos equipamentos, observando criteriosamente o tipo de aparelhos utilizados e se atentar a distância ideal das lâmpadas sob o RN, avaliando sempre possíveis complicações durante o tratamento

Aspectos metodológicos e desafios da Coorte On-line Comportamento Alimentar e Saúde Mental (COCASa) de docentes e discentes universitários durante a pandemia da COVID-19

O distanciamento social adotado para controle da COVID-19 obrigou Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES) a aderirem a novas estratégias para realização das atividades acadêmicas e muitas pesquisas passaram a ser realizadas em ambientes virtuais. O objetivo deste artigo é descrever os aspectos metodológicos e principais desafios enfrentados para a execução do projeto COCASa, um estudo de coorte on-line sobre comportamento alimentar e saúde mental de docentes e discentes de IES do Brasil. O estudo foi iniciado em julho de 2020 e acompanhará os participantes por dois anos. Adotou-se amostragem não probabilística estratificada proporcional com a utilização de escalas, de inquérito alimentar e de questões estruturadas elaboradas pela equipe do projeto. Entre os participantes do baseline, 4.074 discentes e 2.210 docentes iniciaram o questionário e, respectivamente, 76,8% e 85,1% finalizaram o preenchimento. Em ambos os grupos, a maior participação foi de mulheres (docentes: 66,7% e discentes: 76,2%) e residentes nas regiões Nordeste (docentes: 37% e discentes: 50,9%) e Sul (docentes: 27,1% e discentes: 22,5%) do Brasil. A pesquisa on-line amplia a possibilidade de recrutamento de participantes e alcança limites territoriais com menor demanda por financiamento. Durante a pandemia da COVID-19, o uso do ambiente virtual tornou-se uma estratégia viável e acessível para a manutenção das atividades de pesquisa, configurando-se como uma provável tendência a ser adotada pela comunidade científica

Clinical Study Immune Modulation in Primary Vaccinia virus Zoonotic Human Infections

In 2010, the WHO celebrated the 30th anniversary of the smallpox eradication. Ironically, infections caused by viruses related to smallpox are being increasingly reported worldwide, including Monkeypox, Cowpox, and Vaccinia virus (VACV). Little is known about the human immunological responses elicited during acute infections caused by orthopoxviruses. We have followed VACV zoonotic outbreaks taking place in Brazil and analyzed cellular immune responses in patients acutely infected by VACV. Results indicated that these patients show a biased immune modulation when compared to noninfected controls. Amounts of B cells are low and less activated in infected patients. Although present, T CD4 + cells are also less activated when compared to noninfected individuals, and so are monocytes/macrophages. Similar results were obtained when Balb/C mice were experimentally infected with a VACV sample isolated during the zoonotic outbreaks. Taking together, the data suggest that zoonotic VACVs modulate specific immune cell compartments during an acute infection in humans

Regulatory T Cells Phenotype in Different Clinical Forms of Chagas' Disease

CD25High CD4+ regulatory T cells (Treg cells) have been described as key players in immune regulation, preventing infection-induced immune pathology and limiting collateral tissue damage caused by vigorous anti-parasite immune response. In this review, we summarize data obtained by the investigation of Treg cells in different clinical forms of Chagas' disease. Ex vivo immunophenotyping of whole blood, as well as after stimulation with Trypanosoma cruzi antigens, demonstrated that individuals in the indeterminate (IND) clinical form of the disease have a higher frequency of Treg cells, suggesting that an expansion of those cells could be beneficial, possibly by limiting strong cytotoxic activity and tissue damage. Additional analysis demonstrated an activated status of Treg cells based on low expression of CD62L and high expression of CD40L, CD69, and CD54 by cells from all chagasic patients after T. cruzi antigenic stimulation. Moreover, there was an increase in the frequency of the population of Foxp3+ CD25HighCD4+ cells that was also IL-10+ in the IND group, whereas in the cardiac (CARD) group, there was an increase in the percentage of Foxp3+ CD25High CD4+ cells that expressed CTLA-4. These data suggest that IL-10 produced by Treg cells is effective in controlling disease development in IND patients. However, in CARD patients, the same regulatory mechanism, mediated by IL-10 and CTLA-4 expression is unlikely to be sufficient to control the progression of the disease. These data suggest that Treg cells may play an important role in controlling the immune response in Chagas' disease and the balance between regulatory and effector T cells may be important for the progression and development of the disease. Additional detailed analysis of the mechanisms on how these cells are activated and exert their function will certainly give insights for the rational design of procedure to achieve the appropriate balance between protection and pathology during parasite infections

Frequency of Hepatobiliary Manifestations and Concomitant Liver Disease in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

Background. In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients there are reports of the occurrence of hepatobiliary manifestations, so the aim of this study was to evaluate the hepatobiliary manifestations in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) from an IBD reference center. Methods. Cross-sectional study in an IBD reference center, with interviews and review of medical charts, between July 2015 and August 2016. A questionnaire addressing epidemiological and clinical characteristics was used. Results. We interviewed 306 patients, and the majority had UC (53.9%) and were female (61.8%). Hepatobiliary manifestations were observed in 60 (19.6%) patients with IBD. In the greater part of the patients (56.7%) hepatobiliary disorders were detected after the diagnosis of IBD. In UC (18.2%) patients, the hepatobiliary disorders identified were 11 (6.7%) non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, 9 (5.5%) cholelithiasis, 6 (3.6%) primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), 3 (1.8%) hepatotoxicity associated with azathioprine, 1 (0.6%) hepatitis B, and 1 (0.6%) hepatic fibrosis. In CD (21.3%) patients, 11 (7.8%) had cholelithiasis, 11 (7.8%) non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, 4 (2.8%) PSC, 3 (2.1%) hepatotoxicity, 1 (0.7%) hepatitis B, (0.7%) hepatitis C, 1 (0.7%) alcoholic liver disease, and 1 (0.7%) autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). There was one case of PSC/AIH overlap syndrome. Conclusion. The frequency of hepatobiliary disorders was similar in both forms of IBD in patients evaluated. The most common nonspecific hepatobiliary manifestations in IBD patients were non-alcoholic liver disease and cholelithiasis. The most common specific hepatobiliary disorder was PSC in patients with extensive UC or ileocolonic CD involvement; this was seen more frequently in male patients

Bioethanol from lignocelluloses: Status and perspectives in Brazil

The National Alcohol Program - ProAlcool, created by the government of Brazil in 1975 resulted less dependency on fossil fuels. The addition of 25% ethanol to gasoline reduced the import of 550 million barrels oil and also reduced the emission CO(2) by 110 million tons. Today, 44% of the Brazilian energy matrix is renewable and 13.5% is derived from sugarcane. Brazil has a land area of 851 million hectares, of which 54% are preserved, including the Amazon forest (350 million hectares). From the land available for agriculture (340 million hectares), only 0.9% is occupied by sugarcane as energy crop, showing a great expansion potential. Studies have shown that in the coming years, ethanol yield per hectare of sugarcane, which presently is 6000 L/ha, could reach 10,000 L/ha, if 50% of the produced bagasse would be converted to ethanol. This article describes the efforts of different Brazilian institutions and research groups on second generation bioethanol production, especially from sugarcane bagasse. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.MCIMCICNPqConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)CAPESCoordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)FINEPFinanciadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESPPetróleo Brasileiro S.A. (PETROBRAS)PETRO-BRA