Influência da variabilidade composicional dos resíduos de rochas ornamentais em propriedades físicas e microestruturais de cerâmica vermelha.

A geração de resíduos é um problema mundial, principalmente quando esses são depositados em locais impróprios, causando a contaminação de águas e solos. Todos os dias são geradas grandes quantidades de resíduos durante o processo de beneficiamento de rochas ornamentais. Porém, esses resíduos podem ser utilizados na fabricação de peças cerâmicas e possuem uma função específica dentro da massa, não só utilizado como preenchimento, mas como material fluxante. O objetivo desse trabalho foi caracterizar, por meio de análises de difração de raios X (DRX) e fluorescência de raios X (FRX), 33 amostras de rejeitos de distintas rochas ornamentais coletadas em indústrias de beneficiamento no município de Cachoeiro de Itapemirim sul do Estado do Espírito Santo, e analisar como a variação composicional desses resíduos podem influenciar nas características da cerâmica vermelha. Foram confeccionados corpos de prova com 20% em massa de resíduo em uma matriz cilíndrica de 37 mm de diâmetro e depois, secos em estufa a 110 ºC por 24 horas e sinterizados em forno de queima cerâmica a 1000 ºC por 1 hora. Os testes realizados para essa análise foram os de retração volumétrica, massa específica real, massa específica aparente, densidade aparente, absorção de água, e microscopia óptica. Observou-se que todos os corpos de prova cerâmicos incorporados com resíduos de rochas ornamentais estão de acordo com as normas estabelecidas para absorção de água. Contudo, os corpos de prova com resíduos de rochas silicáticas apresentaram menores valores de absorção de água

Achieving a Preoperative Target HbA1c of < 69 mmol/mol in Elective Vascular and Orthopedic Surgery: A Retrospective Single Center Observational Study

Introduction Diabetes mellitus (DM) is present in 10–15% of the surgical population. It is a known risk factor for adverse postoperative outcomes. UK perioperative guidance recommends optimizing glycemic control preoperatively, aiming for a target glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of < 69 mmol/mol. However, real-world compliance with this guidance remains unknown. The aim of our study was to determine how many patients with DM undergoing elective orthopedic and vascular surgery had a preoperative HbA1c of < 69 mmol/mol. We also reviewed the surgical reasons for non-concordance with the recommended preoperative HbA1c target. Methods This was a retrospective observational study of 1000 consecutive patients who had been referred for elective vascular and orthopedic surgery at a large tertiary center. Data were collected on these patients, both those with and without DM, between January 2016 and February 2017. Electronic databases were used to collect information on the patients’ preoperative HbA1c concentration and to determine whether there was a resulting delay in surgery when the preoperative HbA1c target of < 69 mmol/mol was exceeded. Results Of the 1000 patients referred for surgery (500 orthopedic and 500 vascular patients) included in the study, 201 (20%) had diabetes. Among these 201 people with DM, 155 (77%) had a preoperative HbA1c < 69 mmol/mol. Among the 46 people with DM whose HbA1c exceeded the recommended target, 41 were operated on despite the high HbA1c level, and only five had their surgery deferred or canceled due to suboptimal preoperative glycemic control. Conclusions Our data shows that the majority (77% ) of people undergoing elective vascular and orthopedic surgery were able to achieve a target HbA1c of < 69 mmol/mol. The current preoperative guidance is therefore achievable in a real-life setting. However, as is stated in the national guidance, this target should only be used where it is safe to do so and a degree of clinical discretion is necessary

Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the evolution of form and function in the amniote jaw.

The amniote jaw complex is a remarkable amalgamation of derivatives from distinct embryonic cell lineages. During development, the cells in these lineages experience concerted movements, migrations, and signaling interactions that take them from their initial origins to their final destinations and imbue their derivatives with aspects of form including their axial orientation, anatomical identity, size, and shape. Perturbations along the way can produce defects and disease, but also generate the variation necessary for jaw evolution and adaptation. We focus on molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate form in the amniote jaw complex, and that enable structural and functional integration. Special emphasis is placed on the role of cranial neural crest mesenchyme (NCM) during the species-specific patterning of bone, cartilage, tendon, muscle, and other jaw tissues. We also address the effects of biomechanical forces during jaw development and discuss ways in which certain molecular and cellular responses add adaptive and evolutionary plasticity to jaw morphology. Overall, we highlight how variation in molecular and cellular programs can promote the phenomenal diversity and functional morphology achieved during amniote jaw evolution or lead to the range of jaw defects and disease that affect the human condition

Evaluation of Commercial Probiotic Products

Although there is a vast number of probiotic products commercially available due to their acceptability and increasing usage, their quality control has continuously been a major concern. This study aimed to assess some commercially available probiotics on the UK market for content in relation to their label claim. Seven products were used for the study. The bacteria content were isolated, identified and enumerated on selective media. The results revealed that all products evaluated contained viable probiotic bacteria but only three out of the seven products (43%) contained the claimed culture concentration or more. None of the multispecies product contained all the labelled probiotic bacteria. Misidentification of some species occurred. The results concurred with previous studies and showed that quality issues with commercial probiotics remain. Since probiotic activity is linked with probiotic concentration and is strain specific, the need exist for a global comprehensive legislation to control the quality of probiotics whose market is gaining huge momentum

MENISCECTOMIZED KNEES REGAIN NORMAL WALKING FLEXION RANGE OF MOTION WITH TIME PAST SURGERY

INTRODUCTION Meniscal tears are one of the most common knee injuries with an incidence rate of 60-70 per 100,000 person-years METHODS Six patients with unilateral partial medial mensciectomy were enrolled and their gait was measured at 6.2±2.7 months (mean±SD) and again at 31.8±2.5 months post-operation. At baseline, subject demographics were: age 36.0±7.5 years, height 180.3±6.0 cm, weight 79.4±10.3 kg, one female. All patients had no other knee ligament or articular injury or surgery and could walk without pain. Patients signed Institutional Review Board-approved consent documents. A group of 23 healthy age-, height-, and weight-matched control subjects were used for comparison; one randomly chosen limb was tested for each control subject. All participants were asked to perform several walking trials at a self-selected normal speed and an eight-camera optoelectronic motion capture system (Qualysis Medical AB) was used to determine knee flexion angle during gait following a previously described metho