Quick and sensitive determination of gene expression of fatty acid synthase in vitro by using real-time polymerase chain reaction amplification (PCR)

Obesity results from an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure, which leads to a pathological accumulation of adipose tissue, but the underlying mechanism at gene level, is far from being elucidated. The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between mRNA express from fatty acid synthase (FAS) with a different glucose level in primary adipocytes by real-time polymerase chain reaction amplification (PCR), which can aid in the understanding of the mechanism of obesity in vitro. By using the following formula, this study was able to quantify the mRNA expression of FAS of unknown samples: Y = -3.156X + 41.21 (Y = threshold cycle, X = log starting quantity). The high concentrations of glucose group significantly improved the mRNA expression of FAS (P < 0.01) rather than 0.25 and 0% concentrations of glucose. These results provide significant data that confirm an association between different glucose level and FAS expression in preadipocytes. The glucose concentration of the high group substantially augmented the mRNA expression of FAS.Key words: Expression, fatty acid synthase, lipid deposition, real-time polymerase chain reaction amplification (PCR)

Perceção de profissionais de enfermagem sobre a sexualidade de pacientes em idade fértil, hospitalizados

A sexualidade e a enfermagem são domínios intimamente relacionados (Santos, Ribeiro & Campos, 2007). O presente estudo, implementado num hospital público de São Luís-Maranhão-Brasil, teve como principal objetivo analisar a perceção da equipe de enfermagem sobre a sexualidade de utentes em idade fértil, hospitalizados. Procurou assim responder à questão de investigação: Quais as perceções de enfermeiros sobre a sexualidade do paciente hospitalizado? O estudo foi realizado com 31 profissionais de enfermagem, cujo processo de seleção foi do tipo não probabilístico, por conveniência. O instrumento de recolha de dados deu-se primeiramente por meio de uma entrevista estruturada e a partir desse primeiro diagnóstico planeou-se e implementou-se a intervenção educativa, que englobou 3 fases. Após a intervenção procedeu-se à aplicação de uma entrevista estruturada de avaliação. Os resultados, antes da intervenção, evidenciaram que a maioria dos participantes relacionou inicialmente a sexualidade com a preferência sexual e referiu não ter formação específica para lidar com a sexualidade do paciente. A masturbação, a ereção peniana durante o cateterismo vesical, e ereção peniana no momento do banho, foram as manifestações de sexualidade mais citadas pelos ntrevistados, e um número significativo referiu, levar o caso à chefia procurando assim ajuda para a sua resolução. Após a intervenção, as mudanças mais apontadas pelos participantes foram a melhoria da comunicação e convivência com o paciente e com os colegas de trabalho, além de conseguirem responder melhor em diversas situações que requeiram o cuidar do paciente erotizado. A definição da sexualidade após a intervenção foi vista pela equipe de enfermagem como parte inerente ao ser humano, relacionando-a comportamentos e sentimentos do outro. Em relação à saúde sexual, os profissionais de enfermagem relacionaram-na aos direitos da pessoa, sexo seguro e saudável, estar com todos os estímulos sexuais ativos e a prevenção de DST/AIDS. De acordo com os profissionais, após a intervenção educativa agem agora, mais frequentemente, com certa naturalidade, com menos constrangimentos, conseguindo também uma comunicação mais efetiv

Biological Synthesis of Size-Controlled Cadmium Sulfide Nanoparticles Using ImmobilizedRhodobacter sphaeroides

Size-controlled cadmium sulfide nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by immobilizedRhodobacter sphaeroidesin the study. The dynamic process that Cd2+was transported from solution into cell by livingR. sphaeroideswas characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Culture time, as an important physiological parameter forR. sphaeroidesgrowth, could significantly control the size of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles. TEM demonstrated that the average sizes of spherical cadmium sulfide nanoparticles were 2.3 ± 0.15, 6.8 ± 0.22, and 36.8 ± 0.25 nm at culture times of 36, 42, and 48 h, respectively. Also, the UV–vis and photoluminescence spectral analysis of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles were performed

Measurement of the Branching Fraction of J/psi --> pi+ pi- pi0

Using 58 million J/psi and 14 million psi' decays obtained by the BESII experiment, the branching fraction of J/psi --> pi+ pi- pi0 is determined. The result is (2.10+/-0.12)X10^{-2}, which is significantly higher than previous measurements.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, RevTex

Search for K_S K_L in psi'' decays

K_S K_L from psi'' decays is searched for using the psi'' data collected by BESII at BEPC, the upper limit of the branching fraction is determined to be B(psi''--> K_S K_L) < 2.1\times 10^{-4} at 90% C. L. The measurement is compared with the prediction of the S- and D-wave mixing model of the charmonia, based on the measurements of the branching fractions of J/psi-->K_S K_L and psi'-->K_S K_L.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur

First observation of psi(2S)-->K_S K_L

The decay psi(2S)-->K_S K_L is observed for the first time using psi(2S) data collected with the Beijing Spectrometer (BESII) at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider (BEPC); the branching ratio is determined to be B(psi(2S)-->K_S K_L) = (5.24\pm 0.47 \pm 0.48)\times 10^{-5}. Compared with J/psi-->K_S K_L, the psi(2S) branching ratio is enhanced relative to the prediction of the perturbative QCD ``12%'' rule. The result, together with the branching ratios of psi(2S) decays to other pseudoscalar meson pairs (\pi^+\pi^- and K^+K^-), is used to investigate the relative phase between the three-gluon and the one-photon annihilation amplitudes of psi(2S) decays.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Study of psi(2S) decays to X J/psi

Using J/psi -> mu^+ mu^- decays from a sample of approximately 4 million psi(2S) events collected with the BESI detector, the branching fractions of psi(2S) -> eta J/psi, pi^0 pi^0 J/psi, and anything J/psi normalized to that of psi(2S) -> pi^+ pi^- J/psi are measured. The results are B(psi(2S) -> eta J/psi)/B(psi(2S) -> pi^+ pi^- J/psi) = 0.098 \pm 0.005 \pm 0.010, B(psi(2S) -> pi^0 pi^0 J/psi)/B(psi(2S) -> pi^+ pi^- J/psi) = 0.570 \pm 0.009 \pm 0.026, and B(psi(2S) -> anything J/psi)/B(psi(2S) -> pi^+ pi^- J/psi) = 1.867 \pm 0.026 \pm 0.055.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figure

Production Scheduling Requirements to Smart Manufacturing

The production scheduling has attracted a lot of researchers for many years, however most of the approaches are not targeted to deal with real manufacturing environments, and those that are, are very particular for the case study. It is crucial to consider important features related with the factories, such as products and machines characteristics and unexpected disturbances, but also information such as when the parts arrive to the factory and when should be delivered. So, the purpose of this paper is to identify some important characteristics that have been considered independently in a lot of studies and that should be considered together to develop a generic scheduling framework to be used in a real manufacturing environment.authorsversionpublishe

Expenditures for the care of HIV-infected patients in rural areas in China's antiretroviral therapy programs

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Chinese government has provided health services to those infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) under the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) care policy since 2003. Detailed research on the actual expenditures and costs for providing care to patients with AIDS is needed for future financial planning of AIDS health care services and possible reform of HIV/AIDS-related policy. The purpose of the current study was to determine the actual expenditures and factors influencing costs for untreated AIDS patients in a rural area of China after initiating highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) under the national Free Care Program (China CARES).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A retrospective cohort study was conducted in Yunnan and Shanxi Provinces, where HAART and all medical care are provided free to HIV-positive patients. Health expenditures and costs in the first treatment year were collected from medical records and prescriptions at local hospitals between January and June 2007. Multivariate linear regression was used to determine the factors associated with the actual expenditures in the first antiretroviral (ARV) treatment year.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Five ARV regimens are commonly used in China CARES: zidovudine (AZT) + lamivudine (3TC) + nevirapine (NVP), stavudine (D4T) + 3TC + efavirenz (EFV), D4T + 3TC + NVP, didanosine (DDI) + 3TC + NVP and combivir + EFV. The mean annual expenditure per person for ARV medications was US$2,242 (US$1 = 7 Chinese Yuan (CNY)) among 276 participants. The total costs for treating all adverse drug events (ADEs) and opportunistic infections (OIs) were US$29,703 and US$23,031, respectively. The expenses for treatment of peripheral neuritis and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections were the highest among those patients with ADEs and OIs, respectively. On the basis of multivariate linear regression, CD4 cell counts (100-199 cells/μL versus <100 cells/μL, <it>P </it>= 0.02; and ≥200 cells/μL versus <100 cells/μL, <it>P </it>< 0.004), residence in Mangshi County (<it>P </it>< 0.0001), ADEs (<it>P </it>= 0.04) and OIs (<it>P </it>= 0.02) were significantly associated with total expenditures in the first ARV treatment year.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This is the first study to determine the actual costs of HIV treatment in rural areas of China. Costs for ARV drugs represented the major portion of HIV medical expenditures. Initiating HAART in patients with higher CD4 cell count levels is likely to reduce treatment expenses for ADEs and OIs in patients with AIDS.</p