Quality of life and self-esteem in patients submitted to surgical treatment of skin carcinomas: long-term results

BACKGROUND:Cancer is a multifactorial disease and skin carcinomas are the most common type of cancer. Assessing quality of life and self-esteem outcomes in skin cancer patients is important because these are indicators of the results of the treatment, translating how patients face their lives and their personal relationships.OBJECTIVE:To assess the late impact of the surgical treatment of head and/or neck skin carcinomas on quality of life and self-esteem of the patients.METHODS:Fifty patients with head or neck skin carcinomas were enrolled. Their age ranged between 30 and 75 years, 27 were men and 23 were women. Patients were assessed with regard to quality of life and self-esteem, preoperatively and five years postoperatively. Validated instruments were used: the MOS 36-item Short-form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Rosenberg Self-esteem/EPM-UNIFESP Scale. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for the statistical analysis.RESULTS:Twenty-two patients completed the five-year follow-up, 54.5% women and 45.5% men. Compared to the preoperative assessment, patients had an improvement in mental health (p=0.011) and in self-esteem (p=0.002). There was no statistical difference with regard to the other domains of the SF-36.CONCLUSION:Patients submitted to surgical treatment of skin carcinoma improved mental health and self-esteem in the late postsurgical testing.Universidade do Vale do SapucaíUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESPSciEL

FUZZY-SAW E PDCA/MASP PARA APOIO GERENCIAL: UM ESTUDO DE CASO

Este artigo objetiva explorar a união de dois métodos para apoiar a gestão corporativa estratégica: Fuzzy-SAW e PDCA/MASP. Pelo Fuzzy-SAW desenvolve-se um modelo matemático multicritério para se identificar os problemas mais críticos. Para o PDCA/MASP é possível aprofundar os conhecimentos sobre tais problemas, agregando instrumentos para sua mitigação definitiva das causas. Para validar esta proposta pretende-se desenvolver um estudo de caso em empresa consultora na área de telecomunicações, que detém, na atualidade, vários clientes/projetos em sua carteira. Os resultados indicaram a possibilidade de agregação dos dois métodos que, pelo viés corporativo, indicou várias vantagens, tais como direcionamento de recursos na solução de problemas críticos, simples implementação em software, entendimento rápido dos princípios, possibilidade de simulação

Identification and antioxidant activity of the extracts of eugenia uniflora leaves. Characterization of the anti-inflammatory properties of aqueous extract on diabetes expression in an experimental model of spontaneous type 1 diabetes (NOD mice)

FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOMedical and folklore reports suggest that Eugenia uniflora (E. uniflora) is a functional food that contains numerous compounds in its composition, with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-diabetic effects. In the present study, we investigated the best solvents (water, ethanol and methanol/acetone) for extracting bioactive compounds of E. uniflora leaves, assessing total phenols and the antioxidant activity of the extracts by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), 2,2'-Azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assays, identifying hydrolysable tannins and three phenolic compounds (ellagic acid, gallic acid and rutin) present in the leaves. In addition, we evaluated the incidence of diabetes, degree of insulitis, serum insulin, hepatic glutathione and tolerance test glucose in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. Our results suggest that the aqueous extract presents antioxidant activity and high total phenols, which were used as a type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM-1) treatment in NOD mice. We verified that the chronic consumption of aqueous extract reduces the inflammatory infiltrate index in pancreatic islets, maintaining serum insulin levels and hepatic glutathione, and reducing serum lipid peroxidation as well as the risk for diabetes.Medical and folklore reports suggest that Eugenia uniflora (E. uniflora) is a functional food that contains numerous compounds in its composition, with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-diabetic effects. In the present study, we investigated the best solvents (water, ethanol and methanol/acetone) for extracting bioactive compounds of E. uniflora leaves, assessing total phenols and the antioxidant activity of the extracts by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), 2,2′-Azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assays, identifying hydrolysable tannins and three phenolic compounds (ellagic acid, gallic acid and rutin) present in the leaves. In addition, we evaluated the incidence of diabetes, degree of insulitis, serum insulin, hepatic glutathione and tolerance test glucose in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. Our results suggest that the aqueous extract presents antioxidant activity and high total phenols, which were used as a type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM-1) treatment in NOD mice. We verified that the chronic consumption of aqueous extract reduces the inflammatory infiltrate index in pancreatic islets, maintaining serum insulin levels and hepatic glutathione, and reducing serum lipid peroxidation as well as the risk for diabetes44662680FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO2011/06559-

2008 official positions of the Brazilian Society for Clinical Densitometry - SBDens

With the evolution of bone densitometry, differences in technologies, acquisition techniques, reference databases, reporting methods, diagnostic criteria and terminology have developed and the International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) periodically holds Position Development Conferences, the latest in 2007. The Brazilian Society for Clinical Densitometry (SBDens), with support from many Brazilian societies interested in bone health, gathered numerous specialists to discuss the ISCD proposals and to evaluate the validity of the extension of those norms to Brazilian population. The SBDens reunion of consensus made a very utile document to help the understanding and interpretation of bone densitometry and other methods of bone assessment.A evolução dos métodos de avaliação da massa óssea trouxe diferentes tecnologias, modos de aquisição de imagens, bancos de dados de referência, terminologias, critérios diagnósticos fez com que a International Society for Bone Densitometry (ISCD) tomasse a iniciativa de promover reuniões periódicas de consenso, a última em 2007. A Sociedade Brasileira de Densitometria Clínica (SBDens), com apoio de várias sociedades brasileiras ligadas ao estudo da saúde óssea, reuniu diversos especialistas para discutir as propostas da ISCD e validar a aplicação destas normas à população brasileira. A reunião de Posições Oficiais da SBDens produziu um documento extremamente útil para a compreensão e interpretação da densitometria e de outros métodos de avaliação da massa óssea.Sociedade Brasileira de Densitometria ClínicaSociedade Brasileira para o Estudo do Metabolismo Ósseo e MineralUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Hospital Mater DeiSociedade Brasileira de ReumatologiaSociedade Brasileira de OsteoporoseUniversidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina Hospital das ClínicasAssociação Brasileira de Medicina Física e ReabilitaçãoUniversidade Federal do Espírito SantoUNIFESPColégio Brasileiro de RadiologiaSociedade Brasileira de Ortopedia e TraumatologiaUNIFESPSciEL

Rescuing the Brazilian Agave breeding program: morphophysiological and molecular characterization of a new germplasm

Agaves have been a valuable resource in dryland areas for centuries, providing fibers (sisal), food, and beverages. However, the advent of synthetic fibers has led to a decrease in research on Agave, resulting in the cessation of breeding programs in Brazil. With the rise of climate change, there is renewed interest in Agave for its potential as a biofuel feedstock in semiarid regions. Since 2016, we have been collecting Agave accessions throughout the country and retrieving what is left of Brazil’s original breeding program to establish a new germplasm bank. Here, we evaluated 21 of those accessions growing in the field. We used molecular markers and morphophysiological traits to characterize the plants. Based on the Mayahuelin molecular marker, we were able to reconstruct a phylogeny for the Brazilian accessions. The morphophysiological traits explained 34.6% of the phenotypic variation in the dataset, with physiological traits such as leaf water content, effective quantum efficiency of photosystem II (ΦPSII), and specific leaf mass (SLM) as the most significant traits. Specifically, we evaluated nine Agave species and found that the physiological traits, rather than the morphological ones, were the most significant. Leaf water content was negatively correlated with specific leaf mass, which could be used as a marker for selecting cultivars with higher biomass accumulation. Interestingly, ΦPSII and chlorophyll content were negatively correlated, suggesting photochemical adaptations throughout the rosette. Molecular and phenotypic data suggest that A. amaniensis, which is frequently considered a synonym of A. sisalana, is effectively another species. Overall, this study provides valuable information on the physiological traits of Brazilian Agave accessions and is a starting point for selecting more productive and climate-resilient cultivars for biorenewables production

Memória, depressão e ansiedade de ratos Wistar submetidos à desnutrição regional do nordeste brasileiro

As deficiências nutricionais são um grupo de doenças que decorrem do aporte alimentar insuficiente em quantidades de energia e nutrientes corporais. Tais deficiências ao causarem danos físicos e mentais, podem prejudicar o desenvolvimento de funções psicológicas, como a memória, bem como podem estar relacionadas com a constituição de quadros depressivos e de ansiedade. Avaliar diferentes tipos de memória, comportamento de depressão e ansiedade em ratos Wistar, após desnutrição experimental induzida. Dezesseis ratos Wistar, machos e adultos, que ficavam alojados em grupos de quatro animais por gaiolas apropriadas, com livre acesso à comida e água. Foi utilizado um grupo controle e outro experimental com 8 animais cada, sendo a nutrição realizada com base na Dieta Regional do Nordeste para o grupo experimental. Os animais eram submetidos ao teste de Labirinto em cruz elevado e, no dia seguinte, ao teste campo claro-escuro. O grupo experimental recebeu alimentação com a dieta regional durante 70 dias consecutivos antes dos testes. Os resultados demonstram que o grupo controle apresentou tempo médio de realização dos testes compatível para animais saudáveis; e com baixo desvio padrão entre os animais testados. Os animais do grupo experimental demonstraram, seja no teste de labirinto cruzado ou no campo claro-escuro, um aumento do período para um dos braços, assim como, um menor número de cruzamento entre os campos, respectivamente. O espaço de tempo era maior no braço fechado do labirinto, e menor na passagem entre os campos claro-escuro. Também foi observado um menor número de exploração dentro dos campos, o que caracteriza um prejuízo de memória, juntamente com presença de ansiedade e depressão. Ratos Wistar expostos a períodos crônicos, como 70 dias ou mais, sob a desnutrição regional do nordeste brasileiro apresentam comprometimento no processo de formação da memória e aprendizagem, assim como sinais de depressão e ansiedade