Characterization of native and oxidized human low-density lipoproteins by the Z-scan technique

Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Fis, BR-01498 Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Inst Quim, BR-01498 Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, BR-01498 Sao Paulo, BrazilUnifesp, Dept Biophys, Sao Paulo, BrazilUnifesp, Dept Biophys, Sao Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Characterization of native and oxidized human low-density lipoproteins by the Z-scan technique

The nonlinear optical response of human normal and oxidized by Cu2+ low-density lipoproteins particles (LDL), were investigated by the Z-scan technique as a function of temperature and concentration of LDL particles. the Z-scan signals increase linearly with concentration of normal LDL particles, following the usual Beer-Lambert law in a broad range of concentrations. the oxidized LDL particles do not show nonlinear optical response. On the other hand, normal LDL increases its nonlinear optical response as a function of temperature. These behaviors can be attributed to an absorbing element that is modified by the oxidative process. Contrarily. changes in the physical state of the cores and conformation of the ApoB100 protein due to an increase in temperature seems to enhance their nonlinear optical properties. This tendency is not due to aggregation of particles. the main contribution to the nonlinear optical response of normal LDL particles comes from the phospholipid fraction of the particles. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.Univ São Paulo, Inst Phys, Complex Fluids Grp, BR-05315970 São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Inst Chem, Fast Kinet & Photothermal Anal Lab, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Dept Immunol, Lab Immunophysiopathol, São Paulo, BrazilUnifesp, Dept Biophys, São Paulo, BrazilUnifesp, Dept Biophys, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Estudo de 26 casos de Paracoccidioidomicose avaliados no Serviço de Otorrinolaringologia da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) A study of 26 cases of Paracoccidioidomycosis evaluated at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) Otorhinolaryngology Service

A Paracoccidioidomicose (PCM) é uma micose profunda sistêmica causada por um fungo dimorfo, de aspecto microscópico similar a roda de leme de navio, o Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb). A PCM apresenta distribuição geográfica restrita ao continente americano, acomete sobretudo indivíduos do sexo masculino, sem predileção por raça. Seu quadro clínico é bastante variado. OBJETIVO: Realizar análise epidemiológica de 26 casos de PCM avaliados no Setor de Otorrinolaringologia da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - FIOCRUZ. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Clínico retrospectivo. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Estudou-se retrospectivamente 26 prontuários de pacientes com manifestações otorrinolaringológicas da PCM atendidos no período de outubro de 1998 a setembro de 2001. Avaliou-se: sexo, idade, profissão, grau de escolaridade, se etilistas e/ou tabagistas, sintomatologia, local das lesões, presença de co-infecção, exames complementares realizados e opção terapêutica. RESULTADOS: 23 (88,5%) pacientes eram do sexo masculino e 3 (11,5%) do sexo feminino, com idade entre 32 e 72 anos. 11 (42,3%) pacientes eram agricultores e 21 (80,8%) tabagistas e/ou etilistas. Os locais mais comumente atingidos foram a epiglote e a parede nasal lateral. Utilizaram-se derivados sulfamídicos para o tratamento de 14 (53,9%) pacientes e imidazólicos em 12 (46,1%) casos. DISCUSSÃO: Lesões pulmonares podem ser confundidas com tuberculose, devido a suas semelhanças clínicas e radiográficas. A desnutrição pode predispor quadros clínicos de extrema gravidade. CONCLUSÃO: A anamnese detalhada dos pacientes portadores de PCM revela importantes aspectos, como procedência e hábitos pessoais. A atuação interdisciplinar, sobretudo de médicos e dentistas, colabora para um precoce diagnóstico e adequado acompanhamento do doente.<br>Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is an acute systemic mycosis caused by a dimorphous fungus, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb), whose appearance under the microscope is similar to a ship rudder's wheel. Cases of PCM are restricted to the American continent and the disease affects mostly male individuals, with no marked tendency to affect any race in particular. Clinical symptoms are varied. OBJECTIVE: To carry out a thorough epidemiological analysis of 26 cases of PCM evaluated at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) Sector. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical retrospective. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study was carried out on 26 medical charts of patients with otorhinolaryngological manifestations of PCM who were attended to from October 1998 to September 2001. Aspects taken into account: sex, age, occupation, number of years of schooling, smoking and drinking habits, main complaints, parts of the body presenting most lesions, the presence of co-infection, complementary examinations done, prescribed treatment. RESULTS: 23 patients (88.5%) were male and 3 (11,5%) were female, their ages ranging from 32 to 72. 11 patients (42.3%) were farm workers and 21 (80.8%) were heavy smokers and/or drinkers. The most affected parts were the epiglottis and the lateral nasal wall. Sulphonamide derivatives were used to treat 14 patients (53.9%) and imidazoles were used for 12 cases (46.1%). DISCUSSION: Pulmonary lesions may be mistaken for tuberculosis due to clinical and radiological similarities. Malnutrition may lead to clinical conditions of extreme gravity. CONCLUSION: The detailed medical histories of PCM carriers reveal important aspects such us the patients' origins and personal habits. Interdisciplinary actions, especially involving doctors and dentists, contribute to an early diagnosis and adequate treatment and follow-up of patients

Os nexos entre concepção do processo saúde/doença mental e as tecnologias de cuidados Los nexos entre la concepción del proceso salud/enfermedad mental y las tecnologías de cuidado Connections between health/mental illness process comprehension and care technologies

A história da humanidade vem inscrevendo convenções sobre doença e tratamento, numa dialética mediada pelas condições materiais e objetivas onde práticas em saúde podem ser identificadas. No campo da saúde mental, podem ser identificados conceitos de adoecimento psíquico e as terapêuticas operadas nos diferentes períodos de desenvolvimento político e econômico e da organização da sociedade humana, dos primórdios à idade contemporânea. Este artigo propõe uma aproximação dos nexos entre a compreensão do processo saúde-doença mental e as formas de tratar, referidos aos dados contextos históricos onde se inscreveram ou se inscrevem, além de buscar o sentido das práticas e sua significação social atual.<br>La historia de la humanidad inscribiendo convenciones sobre enfermedad y tratamiento, en una dialéctica mediada por las condiciones materiales y objetivas donde prácticas en salud pueden identificarse. En el campo de la salud mental pueden ser identificados conceptos de padecimientos psíquicos y terapéuticos, operados en los diferentes períodos de desarrollo político y económico en la organización de la sociedad humana, desde los primeros tiempos hasta la época contemporánea. Este artículo propone una aproximación de los nexos entre la comprensión del proceso salud-enfermedad mental y las formas de tratarlo, referidos a los contextos históricos dados donde se inscribieron o se inscriben, y buscar el sentido de las prácticas y su actual significado social.<br>The history of humanity has registered conventions about illness and treatment, in a dialectics that is mediated by material and objective conditions, where health practices can be identified. In the field of mental health, conceptions of psychic sickening and therapeutics can be identified in different periods of political and economic development and in the organization of human society, since the origin of times to the contemporary period. This article proposes a connection between health/mental illness process comprehension and treatments, referring to the historical contexts in which they were/are registered and searches for the meaning of practices and their current social meaning