328 research outputs found
Archaeological Geophysical Prospection in Peatland Environments: case studies and suggestions for future practice
Peatland environments, in contrast to ‘dry-land’ sites, preserve organic material, including anthropogenic objects, because they are anaerobic, and are therefore of great importance to archaeology. Peat also preserves macro- and micro- paleoenvironmental evidence and is the primary resource for understanding past climates and ecology. Archaeological sites often lie within or at the base of wet, deep, homogenous peat rendering them invisible to surface observers. As a result, they most often c..
Morte e luto: competências dos profissionais
A concepção social de morte é resultado de um longo processo histórico, marcado por diferentes sistemas econômicos e sociais, bem como por costumes que envolvem dimensões existenciais, subjetivas e espirituais. Este artigo tem como objetivo revisar a morte, o luto e as competências profissionais nos diversos contextos. A metodologia adotada consiste na revisão bibliográfica de artigos pesquisados nas bases de dados PubMed, Scielo.org, BVS Psi, EBSCO, LILACS, PePSIC, PsycNET, Science Direct e Web of Knowledge (ISI), no período de 2008 a 2014, por meio de termos como morte, luto e profissionais, incluindo o ciclo da vida (crianças, adolescentes, adultos e idosos). Conclui-se que há deficiência na formação educacional dos profissionais que lidam com a morte e o luto, sobretudo aqueles que trabalham em contextos de saúde. Observou-se a necessidade da criação de programas voltados à educação para a morte nos currículos dos profissionais e na sociedade de maneira geral, incluindo medidas interventivas e protocolos em terapia cognitivo-comportamental para adquirir competências no enfrentamento adequado e saudável dessas experiências
Serial optical coherence microscopy for label-free volumetric histopathology
The observation of histopathology using optical microscope is an essential procedure for examination of tissue biopsies or surgically excised specimens in biological and clinical laboratories. However, slide-based microscopic pathology is not suitable for visualizing the large-scale tissue and native 3D organ structure due to its sampling limitation and shallow imaging depth. Here, we demonstrate serial optical coherence microscopy (SOCM) technique that offers label-free, high-throughput, and large-volume imaging of ex vivo mouse organs. A 3D histopathology of whole mouse brain and kidney including blood vessel structure is reconstructed by deep tissue optical imaging in serial sectioning techniques. Our results demonstrate that SOCM has unique advantages as it can visualize both native 3D structures and quantitative regional volume without introduction of any contrast agents
Aspectos patológicos de miopatias em frangos de corte.
As alterações patológicas que ocorrem no músculo das aves são denominadas de miopatias. A primeira miopatia descrita foi a necrose do músculo peitoral profundo em perus e frangos, que podia ser reproduzida com estímulo para batimento de asas (1). Posteriormente foi identificada a alteração conhecida como ?white striping?, caracterizada por estrias brancas de gordura na superfície do músculo peitoral superficial. Mais recentemente foram observados novos quadros como o ?wooden breast - peito madeira? (2). Podem ocorrer também alterações na coloração ou tonalidade da carne de aves devido à queda brusca e acentuada do pH muscular, levando à condição conhecida como carne PSE (pale, soft and exudative) - carne pálida, mole e exudativa - ou quando por depleção de glicogênio no músculo ocorre a carne DFD (dark, firm and dry) - carne dura, firme e seca. O presente trabalho objetiva determinar se as condições observadas nas carcaças têm relação com causas microbianas e/ou infecciosas e avaliar se estas condições apresentam riscos para a saúde do consumidor
The Type and the Position of HNF1A Mutation Modulate Age at Diagnosis of Diabetes in Patients with Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY)-3
OBJECTIVE—The clinical expression of maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY)-3 is highly variable. This may be due to environmental and/or genetic factors, including molecular characteristics of the hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-α (HNF1A) gene mutation.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We analyzed the mutations identified in 356 unrelated MODY3 patients, including 118 novel mutations, and searched for correlations between the genotype and age at diagnosis of diabetes.
RESULTS—Missense mutations prevailed in the dimerization and DNA-binding domains (74%), while truncating mutations were predominant in the transactivation domain (62%). The majority (83%) of the mutations were located in exons 1- 6, thus affecting the three HNF1A isoforms. Age at diagnosis of diabetes was lower in patients with truncating mutations than in those with missense mutations (18 vs. 22 years, P = 0.005). Missense mutations affecting the dimerization/DNA-binding domains were associated with a lower age at diagnosis than those affecting the transactivation domain (20 vs. 30 years, P = 10−4). Patients with missense mutations affecting the three isoforms were younger at diagnosis than those with missense mutations involving one or two isoforms (P = 0.03).
CONCLUSIONS—These data show that part of the variability of the clinical expression in MODY3 patients may be explained by the type and the location of HNF1A mutations. These findings should be considered in studies for the search of additional modifier genetic factors
Synthesis of localized 2D-layers of silicon nanoparticles embedded in a SiO2 layer by a stencil-masked ultra-low energy ion implantation process
We propose an original approach called “stencil-masked ion implantation process” to perform a spatially localized synthesis of a limited number of Si nanoparticles (nps) within a thin SiO2 layer. This process consists in implanting silicon ions at ultra-low energy through a stencil mask containing a periodic array of opened windows (from 50 nm to 2 um). After the stencil removal, a thermal annealing is used to synthesize small and spherical embedded nps. AFM observations show that the stencil windows are perfectly transferred into the substrate without any clogging or blurring effect. The samples exhibit a 3 nm localized swelling of the regions rich in Si nps. Moreover, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy shows that due to the quantum confinement only the implanted regions containing the Si nps are emitting light
Functional analysis of the C-reactive protein (CRP) gene -717A>G polymorphism associated with coronary heart disease
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Atherosclerosis underlies the major pathophysiological mechanisms of coronary heart disease (CHD), and inflammation contributes to all phases of atherosclerosis. C-reactive protein (CRP), a sensitive, but nonspecific marker of inflammation has been shown to play proatherogenic roles in the process of atherosclerosis. Our previous report showed that rs2794521 (-717A>G), located in the promoter of the CRP gene, was independently associated with CHD in Chinese subjects. In the present study, we tried to investigate the biological significance of this genetic variation <it>in vitro</it>.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The influence of G to A substitution at the site of rs2794521 on the transcriptional activity of the promoter of the CRP gene was assessed by luciferase reporter assay, and protein binding to the site of rs2794521 was detected by EMSA assay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The G to A exchange at the site of rs2794521 resulted in an increased transcriptional activity of the promoter of CRP gene, and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) protein factor bound drastically differently to the A and G alleles at the site of rs2794521.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results provided functional evidence supporting the association of the SNP rs2794521 of the CRP gene with CHD probably through regulating the expression level of CRP by different variations of rs2794521.</p
Prevalence and characteristics of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease in a prospective registry
Rationale
Progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (PF-ILD) is characterized by progressive
physiologic, symptomatic, and/or radiographic worsening. The real-world prevalence and
characteristics of PF-ILD remain uncertain.
Methods
Patients were enrolled from the Canadian Registry for Pulmonary Fibrosis between 2015-2020.
PF-ILD was defined as a relative forced vital capacity (FVC) decline ≥10%, death, lung
transplantation, or any 2 of: relative FVC decline ≥5 and <10%, worsening respiratory
symptoms, or worsening fibrosis on computed tomography of the chest, all within 24 months of
diagnosis. Time-to-event analysis compared progression between key diagnostic subgroups.
Characteristics associated with progression were determined by multivariable regression.
Results
Of 2,746 patients with fibrotic ILD (mean age 65±12 years, 51% female), 1,376 (50%) met PFILD criteria in the first 24 months of follow-up. PF-ILD occurred in 427 (59%) patients with
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 125 (58%) with fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP),
281 (51%) with unclassifiable ILD (U-ILD), and 402 (45%) with connective tissue diseaseassociated ILD (CTD-ILD). Compared to IPF, time to progression was similar in patients with
HP (hazard ratio [HR] 0.96, 95% confidence interval, CI 0.79-1.17), but was delayed in patients
with U-ILD (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.71-0.96) and CTD-ILD (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.56-0.74).
Background treatment varied across diagnostic subtypes with 66% of IPF patients receiving
antifibrotic therapy, while immunomodulatory therapy was utilized in 49%, 61%, and 37% of
patients with CHP, CTD-ILD, and U-ILD respectively. Increasing age, male sex,
gastroesophageal reflux disease, and lower baseline pulmonary function were independently
associated with progression.
Interpretation
Progression is common in patients with fibrotic ILD, and is similarly prevalent in HP and IPF.
Routinely collected variables help identify patients at risk for progression and may guide
therapeutic strategie
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