Wrist ultrasound analysis of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis

In the present study, we evaluated 42 wrists using the semi-quantitative scales power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS) and gray scale ultrasound (GSUS) with scores ranging from 0 to 3 and correlated the results with clinical, laboratory and radiographic data. Twenty-one patients (17 women and 4 men) with rheumatoid arthritis according to criteria of the American College of Rheumatology were enrolled in the study from September 2008 to July 2009 at Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). The average disease duration was 14 months. The patients were 66.6% Caucasians and 33.3% non-Caucasians, with a mean age of 42 and 41 years, respectively. A dorsal longitudinal scan was performed by ultrasound on the radiocarpal and midcarpal joints using GE LOGIQ XP-linear ultrasound and a high frequency (8-10 MHz) transducer. All patients were X-rayed, and the Larsen score was determined for the joints, with grades ranging from 0 to V. This study showed significant correlations between clinical, sonographic and laboratory data: GSUS and swollen right wrist (r = 0.546), GSUS of right wrist and swelling of left wrist (r = 0.511), PDUS of right wrist and pain in left wrist (r = 0.436), PDUS of right wrist and C-reactive protein (r = 0.466). Ultrasound can be considered a useful tool in the diagnosis of synovitis in early rheumatoid arthritis mainly when the anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide and rheumatoid factor are negative, and can lead to an early change in the therapeutic decision44

Abacate: Características, Benefícios à Saúde E Aplicações

This study aimed to present a literature review about the characteristics, applications, and potential of avocado (Persea americana). Avocado is considered one of the main tropical fruits, as it contains fat-soluble vitamins which are less common in other fruits, besides high levels of protein, potassium and unsaturated fatty acids. Avocado pulp contains variable oil content, and is widely used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry, and in the production of commercial oils similar to olive oil. This fruit has been recognized for its health benefits, especially due to the compounds present in the lipidic fraction, such as omega fatty acids, phytosterols, tocopherols and squalene. Studies have shown the benefits of avocado associated to a balanced diet, especially in reducing cholesterol and preventing cardiovascular diseases. The processed avocado pulp is an alternative to utilize fruits, which can be used in various value-added food products. Fluid extract of the avocado leaves is widely used in pharmaceutical products, mainly due to the diuretic characteristic of the present compounds in plant leaves. With the increasing research supporting the nutritional characteristics and benefits of avocado, the tendency is to increase the production and exploitation of this raw material in Brazil, as also observed in other countries. © 2016, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. All rights reserved.46474775

First record of Salacia tetracythara Lamouroux, 1816 (Hydrozoa, Sertulariidae) as an alien hydroid for the Atlantic Ocean

We present here the first record of Salacia tetracythara as an alien species for the Atlantic Ocean, specifically the coast of the state of Sergipe, northeast Brazil. The species was found attached to an artificial experimental plate installed in the rainy period (July-October 2017), in an estuarine region of the Sergipe River near the Sergipe Harbour. Salacia tetracythara is characterized by a small triangular space below each hydrotheca and two types of microbasic mastigophore nematocysts that differ in shape, size, and location. The species was described from Australia and has been recorded only for tropical to temperate regions of the Indo-Pacific. Salacia tetracythara seems to be a recent introduction into the Atlantic Ocean and, its introduction probably derived from ship transport between the Sergipe Harbour and regions of Oceania and/or Asia. Further investigation should be conducted to determine whether the species is established in the region and how far inside the estuary it has gone.Postprin

Partitioned trace distances

New quantum distance is introduced as a half-sum of several singular values of difference between two density operators. This is, up to factor, the metric induced by so-called Ky Fan norm. The partitioned trace distances enjoy similar properties to the standard trace distance, including the unitary invariance, the strong convexity and the close relations to the classical distances. The partitioned distances cannot increase under quantum operations of certain kind including bistochastic maps. All the basic properties are re-formulated as majorization relations. Possible applications to quantum information processing are briefly discussed.Comment: 8 pages, no figures. Significant changes are made. New section on majorization is added. Theorem 4.1 is extended. The bibliography is enlarged

Confiabilidade da declaração de causa básica de mortes infantis em região metropolitana do sudeste do Brasil

The quality of official information on underlying causes of infant deaths was studied on the basis of data collected for a popullation-based study of the surveillance of infant mortality in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, Brazil in 1989. The survey included the analysis of a sample of infant deaths carried out by comparing the underlying causes of death as coded on death certificates to those recorded by a group of doctors who abstracted information from hospital records. We verified that 11.7% of neonatal deaths did not have the underlying cause of death confirmed by the investigation (kappa=0.61), and neither did 44.0% of post-neonatal deaths (kappa=0.47). It is believed that this major disagreement among post-neonatal deaths is due to the close correlation observed among the major causes of death within this group (pneumonia, diarrhoea and malnutrition). For example, associated malnutrition was observed in 76.9% of those cases in which diarrhoea was coded as the underlying cause of death. It was concluded that the quality of the death certificates is not satisfactory. However, the composition of the main groups of causes presented no significant alteration after investigation and may be used in public health surveillance, especially if we regard pneumonia, diarrhoea and malnutrition as a group with the same determinants. Unfortunately, this group still accounts for a great number of otherwise avoidable deaths in Brazil.A partir de dados coletados para um estudo sobre a mortalidade infantil na região metropolitana de Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil, foi selecionada uma amostra aleatória de óbitos infantis ocorridos em 1989, para avaliar a concordância da causa básica de morte registrada na declaração de óbito e a obtida após revisão detalhada do prontuário hospitalar da criança. Verificou-se que 11,7% dos óbitos neonatais não tiveram a causa básica registrada no atestado, confirmada pela investigação nos prontuários médicos (kappa = 0,61), o mesmo ocorrendo em 44,0% dos pós-neonatais (kappa = 0,47). Esta maior discordância no grupo pós-neonatal provavelmente se deveu a maior dificuldade de definição das causas contribuintes e da causa básica dos óbitos por diarréias, pneumonias e desnutrição, principais causas de mortalidade nesse grupo. Em relação aos óbitos por desnutrição e diarréia, observou-se associação entre ambas em 76,9% das vezes em que a diarréia foi selecionada como causa básica, mostrando que essas patologias podem ser destacadas como um mesmo grupamento em saúde pública. As discordâcias encontradas demonstram que os médicos ainda dão pouca importância ao seu papel como agentes geradores de informação de saúde. Os dados da declaração de óbito fornecem indicação razoável das principais causas de mortes infantis, principalmente quando se considera o grupamento diarréia-pneumonia-desnutrição, composto de patologias evitáveis e ainda de grande relevância como causa de mortalidade infantil na região

A survey for maintenance of virulent newcastle disease virus-free area in poultry production in Brazil

In 2003, Brazil was recognized as a pathogenic Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) strain-free country for commercial poultry. This research was conducted in Brazil between December 2003 and March 2005 to verify the maintenance of this virulent NDV-free status. Serum samples from 5,455 flocks for commercial poultry farms were collected, comprising 81,825 broiler chickens. The farms were located in nine states of the country, grouped in three geographic regions. Serological evidence of NDV infection was detected in 28.8% of the surveyed farms. However, all fifteen viruses isolated and identified as Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) were characterized as nonpathogenic strains, based on the Intracerebral Pathogenicity Index. These results showed that Brazil preserves the virulent NDV-free status for commercial flocks.368375Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Prevalence of newcastle disease virus in broiler chickens (Gallus gallus) in Brazil

This study was carried out during 2002/2003, aiming to determine the prevalence of virulent Newcastle disease virus strains (NDV) in Brazilian commercial poultry farms. Clinical samples were obtained from the Southeastern, Southern and Central-Western regions, which comprise the main area of the Brazilian poultry production. Serum samples and tracheal and cloacal swabs of 23,745 broiler chickens from 1,583 flocks, including both vaccinated chickens and those with no vaccination information, were tested for NDV using a diagnostic ELISA kit. The seropositivity was 39.1%, and the isolation percentage by flock varied from 1.0 to 7.6%, and by region from 6.5 to 58.4%. Higher isolation rates (74.3-83.3%) were obtained after three passages in embryonated chicken eggs. All isolates preliminarily identified as NDV were characterized as nonpathogenic strains, as their Intracerebral Pathogenicity Index (ICPI) was below 0.7. Based on results of this study, Brazil can claim a virulent NDV-free status for commercial flocks.349357Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Recuperação da vegetação de caatinga após impacto em Assaré - CE

Recuperação da vegetação de caatinga apósimpacto em Assaré - C

Fitofiosionomia de uma caatinga no município de Milagres, CE

Fitofiosionomia de uma caatinga nomunicípio de Milagres, C