Anestesia Pediátrica em Período de Imaturidade Cerebral e Perturbações do Neurodesenvolvimento

INTRODUCTION: Several experimental and clinical studies suggest that drugs used in pediatric anesthesia may exert undesirable effects on the developing central nervous system. The objective of this review was to assess the results and conclusions of published studies on long lasting neurodevelopment disorders following exposure to anesthetics in children in a phase of brain immaturity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a literature search in several sources (PubMed, SciELO and Cochrane Library) using the terms 'Pediatric anesthesia OR Pediatric anesthetic OR Developing brain anesthetic OR Developing brain anesthesia AND behavior disorders'. We selected human studies, referring to long lasting neurodevelopment effects after exposure to anesthetics in the first four years of life. RESULTS: Ten retrospective studies met the inclusion criteria. Of these, seven suggest risk of neurobehavioral disorders after exposure of small children to anesthetics, as opposed to the results obtained by the other three. DISCUSSION: Although mostly using large databases, the studies found are retrospective, vary in test groups, include sometimes avoidable confounders and some present inaccuracies in the choice of the test and control populations that can compromise the reliability of the results. CONCLUSION: Because of the numerous limitations of the few studies available, the reported results are still deemed insufficient to change current clinical practice. However, although it is undisputable that anesthesia should be provided when needed, regardless of age, the warnings found in literature are worrisome, therefore whenever surgery is unavoidable in small children, alternatives that may help reduce the risks of anesthetic exposure should be sought.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Indexation of dynamic and static geomechanical properties of a cemented aggregate for transportation engineering

This paper presents an extensive experimental program aiming to the mechanical characterisation of an aggregate stabilised with cement. This geomaterial is the product of a quarry of limestone located in north region of Portugal. The aggregate is often used in current subgrading of infrastructures for transportation, namely in railway lines. Complementary, aggregate-cement admixtures are used for transition zones, such as in between deformable embankments on soft grounds lining on rigid structures, such as bridgesfounded on deep foundations, such as piles or similar. The demand for smooth transition between diverse stiffness zones implies an optimization of the composition of the enriched materials that will be used for such purpose, such as aggregate-cement admixtures. The optimization requires a thorough mechanical characterisation including dynamic tests, with recourse to geophysical techniques, cyclic and monotonic triaxial tests and, ideally,indexed to simple uniaxial compression and indirect tensile tests. The results that will be presented herein have allowed a good mechanical characterisation of the referred aggregate, in terms of the estimation of combinations of the cement content and the admixture compaction level, resulting in new correlations for design purposes

Big data : suporte consistente das decisões de gestão

Lusíada. Economia & empresa. - ISSN 1645-6750. - S. 2, n. 21 (2016). - p. 9-19Este artigo foca a descrição das inovações introduzidas por Big Data, a sua evolução exponencial e as novas abordagens tecnológicas e alguns dos temas éticos associados bem como as possíveis mudanças para a sociedade

Controle químico da cochonilha-da-raiz, Dysmicoccus texensis (Tinsley, 1900) em cafeeiro (Coffea arabica L.)

The coffee root mealybug Dysmicoccus texensis (Tinsley, 1900) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) lives in colonies in the roots of coffee plants (Coffea spp.) in Brazil. In young plants it destroys the root system, leading eventually to their death. Adult plants bear the attack without suffering damage to their roots, but the losses caused remain unknown. Infestation focuses of the root mealybug occur in new plantations. Although it has been referred to in the literature since the forties, with endemic infestations mainly in São Paulo state, Brazil, efficient control of the coffee root mealybug was only defined from 2000 onwards with the use of neonicotinoids, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam systemic and low toxicity insecticides in water dispersible granular formulation (WG). The objective of this work was to test those insecticides, when applied in liquid form to the plant basis, in several dosages, in the control of the root mealybug. The control efficiency was done through a comparison with systemic insecticides in the granular formulation (GR), applied alone or mixed with systemic fungicides already registered for control of the coffee leaf miner, Leucoptera coffeella (Guérin-Mèneville, 1842) (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae), cicada Quesada gigas (Olivier, 1790) (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) and of the rust Hemileia vastatrix Berk. & Br. The products in the liquid form were applied to the base of the plant using a hand back knap sack sprayer endowed with a dosage nipple; the granular products were applied in soil furrows. The results show that the two insecticides cause 100% mortality of the coffee root mealybug, independent of the coffee plant’s age, in a single application.A cochonilha-da-raiz, Dysmicoccus texensis (Tinsley, 1900) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) vive em colônias nas raízes dos cafeeiros (Coffea spp.) no Brasil. Em cafeeiros jovens, destrói o sistema radicular, levando a planta à morte. Plantas adultas suportam o seu ataque, cujas raízes não são danificadas; entretanto, não são conhecidos os prejuízos. Focos de infestação ocorrem em lavouras novas. Apesar de ser referida na literatura desde os anos 40, no século passado, com infestações endêmicas principalmente no estado de São Paulo, o seu controle de modo eficiente só foi definido a partir de 2000, com os inseticidas neonicotinóides imidacloprid e thiamethoxam, sistêmicos e de baixa toxicidade, na formulação de grânulos dispersíveis em água (WG). Objetivou-se com este trabalho testar esses inseticidas, em diversas dosagens no controle da cochonilha-da-raiz, quando aplicados na forma líquida no colo das plantas. A eficiência de controle foi feita comparando-se inseticidas também sistêmicos na formulação granulada (GR), isoladamente ou em mistura com fungicidas sistêmicos já registrados para o controle do bicho-mineiro, Leucoptera coffeella (Guérin- Mèneville, 1842) (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae), da cigarra-do-cafeeiro Quesada gigas (Olivier, 1790) (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) e da ferrugem Hemileia vastatrix Berk. & Br. Os produtos na forma líquida foram aplicados no colo da planta com pulverizador costal manual dotado de bico dosador e os granulados em sulcos no solo. Pelos resultados obtidos, conclui que os dois inseticidas causam 100% mortalidade da cochonilha-da-raiz, independentemente da idade do cafeeiro, numa única aplicação

Određivanje hranjivih, fizikalno-kemijskih i strukturnih svojstava ploda biljke Mauritia flexuosa i njezinih nusproizvoda u svrhu biotehnološkog razvoja održivih proizvoda

Research background. Commercialization of Mauritia flexuosa (buriti) fruits in Brazil is at an early stage. Herein, we evaluate the nutritional value of pulp, peel and endocarp samples from buriti fruits, perform macroscopic and microscopic evaluations and analyze their physicochemical properties. Experimental approach. Size and mass, pH, sugar and protein contents, soluble/insoluble fiber, total titratable acidity and energy value of the samples were analyzed. Mineral profiling was performed by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, and fatty acids and phytosterols were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Samples were also submitted to differential scanning calorimetry coupled to a thermal analyzer, and microstructure, morphology, surface and viscosity were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) with copper radiation. Rheological behavior was also studied. Results and conclusions. Lyophilized pulp had higher nutritional content of minerals, proteins, carbohydrates and energy than in natura pulp. Lyophilized pulp and its by-products showed suitable yields (>17.31%) and low aw, and potassium, manganese and monounsaturated fatty acid contents. Peels showed elevated amounts of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and phytosterols (β-sitosterol and stigmasterol), and endothermic behavior. The reductions of calcium, magnesium and manganese ranging from 18.5 to 22.7% were observed following the lyophilization. Drying processes generated semi-crystalline powders. Both peels and endocarp contained higher amounts of insoluble fiber and lower contents of sugars. Similar results were obtained by microscopic morphological analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and XRD analysis. Pulp and endocarp exhibited pseudoplastic non-Newtonian behavior, and flow behavior index values were lower than 1, while peels presented dilatant behaviour. Thus, physicochemical and nutritional characterization of pulp and by-products, such as peels and endocarp, are essential to support scientific research and exploration of new sustainable products. Novelty and scientific contribution. Processing and conservation techniques, like lyophilization, maintain the good quality of nutritional contents and bioactive compounds of buriti whole fruits, and can be used to extend their shelf life, preserve alimentary characteristics and provide wider purposes and availability. Such parameters may generate income and food security for local and regional communities.Pozadina istraživanja. Komercijalizacija ploda biljke Mauritia flexuosa (lokalnog naziva buriti) je u Brazilu još u ranoj fazi razvoja. U ovom smo radu ispitali hranjivu vrijednost uzoraka pulpe, kore i endokarpa plodova biljke buriti, proveli makro- i mikroskopske analize te odredili fizikalno-kemijska svojstva plodova. Eksperimentalni pristup. Ispitani su veličina i masa, pH-vrijednost, udjeli šećera i proteina, omjer topljivih i netopljivih vlakana, ukupna titracijska kiselost i energetska vrijednost uzoraka. Sastav mineralnih tvari određen je rendgenskom fluorescentnom spektrometrijom, a masne kiseline i fitosteroli plinskom kromatografijom u kombinaciji s masenom spektrometrijom. Uzorci su također ispitani diferencijalnom pretražnom kalorimetrijom u kombinaciji s toplinskom analizom. Mikrostruktura, morfološka svojstva, površina i viskoznost uzoraka određeni su pretražnom elektronskom mikroskopijom i rendgenskom difrakcijom s bakrom kao izvorom zračenja. Također su istražena i reološka svojstva plodova. Rezultati i zaključci. Liofilizirana pulpa imala je veće udjele mineralnih tvari, proteina, ugljikohidrata i veću energetsku vrijednost od netretirane pulpe. Prinos liofilizirane pulpe i njezinih nusproizvoda bio je zadovoljavajući (>17,31 %), a aktivitet vode te udjeli kalija, mangana i mononezasićenih masnih kiselina bili su niski. Kora ploda imala je veće udjele zasićenih i polinezasićenih masnih kiselina i fitosterola (β-sitosterola i stigmasterola) od pulpe, te je imala endotermna svojstva. Nakon liofilizacije opaženo je smanjenje udjela kalcija, magnezija i mangana, i to od 18,5 do 22,7 %. Sušenjem je dobiven polukristalični prah. Kora i endokarp ploda sadržavali su veće količine netopljivih vlakana i manje udjele šećera. Slični su rezultati dobiveni morfološkom analizom, diferencijalnom pretražnom kalorimetrijom i rendgenskom difrakcijom. Pulpa i endokarp imali su pseudoplastične nenjutonovske značajke, vrijednosti indeksa protjecanja bile su manje od 1, dok je kora imala dilatantna svojstva. Zaklljučeno je da je određivanje fizikalno-kemijskih i hranjivih svojstava pulpe i njezinih nusproizvoda kao što su kora i endokarp nužno za podržavanje ovog znanstvenog istraživanja i razvoja novih održivih proizvoda. Novina i znanstveni doprinos. Postupci obrade i čuvanja hrane, kao što je liofilizacija, omogućuju održavanje kakvoće hranjivih sastojaka i bioaktivnih spojeva plodova biljke buriti, produžuju njihovo vrijeme skladištenja, zadržavaju prehrambene značajke i proširuju njihovu uporabu i dostupnost. Takve značajke proizvoda mogu donijeti prihod i povećati sigurnost hrane u lokalnim i regionalnim zajednicama

Parecer sobre a realização de actividades Todo o Terreno nas escombreiras da Mina da Panasqueira

Parecer, elaborado em parceria, apresentado a diversas entidades, na sequência de notícia da SIC sobre actividades denominadas de radicais nas Escombreiras da Mina da Panasqueira

Significance of glycolytic metabolism-related protein expression in colorectal cancer, lymph node and hepatic metastasis

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies and a leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Most cancer cells display high rates of glycolysis with production of lactic acid, which is then exported to the microenvironment by monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs). The main aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of MCT expression in a comprehensive series of primary CRC cases, lymph node and hepatic metastasis. Methods: Expressions of MCT1, MCT4, CD147 and GLUT1 were studied in human samples of CRC, lymph node and hepatic metastasis, by immunohistochemistry. Results: All proteins were overexpressed in primary CRC, lymph node and hepatic metastasis, when compared with non-neoplastic tissue, with exception of MCT1 in lymph node and hepatic metastasis. MCT1 and MCT4 expressions were associated with CD147 and GLUT1 in primary CRC. These markers were associated with clinical pathological features, reflecting the putative role of these metabolism-related proteins in the CRC setting. Conclusion: These findings provide additional evidence for the pivotal role of MCTs in CRC maintenance and progression, and support the use of MCTs as biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets in primary and metastatic CRC.This work was supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) grant ref. PTDC/SAU-FCF/104347/2008, under the scope of ‘Programa Operacional Temático Factores de Competitividade’ (COMPETE) of ‘Quadro Comunitário de Apoio III’ and co-financed by the Fundo Europeu De Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER). Ricardo Amorim was recipient of the fellowship SFRH/BD/98002/2013, from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT Portugal).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio