Cognitive performance of young and elderly subjects on the free word recall memory test: effect of presentation order on recall order

The influence of aging on memory has been extensively studied, but the importance of short-term memory and recall sequence has not. The objective of the current study was to examine the recall order of words presented on lists and to determine if age affects recall sequence. Physically and psychologically healthy male subjects were divided into two groups according to age, i.e., 23 young subjects (20 to 30 years) and 50 elderly subjects (60 to 70 years) submitted to the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised and the free word recall test. The order of word presentation significantly affected the 3rd and 4th words recalled (P < 0.01; F = 14.6). In addition, there was interaction between the presentation order and the type of list presented (P < 0.05; F = 9.7). Also, both groups recalled the last words presented from each list (words 13-15) significantly more times 3rd and 4th than words presented in all remaining positions (P < 0.01). The order of word presentation also significantly affected the 5th and 6th words recalled (P = 0.05; F = 7.5) and there was a significant interaction between the order of presentation and the type of list presented (P < 0.01; F = 20.8). The more developed the cognitive functions, resulting mainly from formal education, the greater the cognitive reserve, helping to minimize the effects of aging on the long-term memory (episodic declarative).Associação Fundo de Incentivo à Psicofarmacologia Instituto do SonoUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de PsicobiologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de PsicobiologiaSciEL

Generic Pareto local search metaheuristic for optimization of targeted offers in a bi-objective direct marketing campaign

Cross-selling campaigns seek to offer the right products to the set of customers with the goal of maximizing expected profit, while, at the same time, respecting the purchasing constraints set by investors. In this context, a bi-objective version of this NP-Hard problem is approached in this paper, aiming at maximizing both the promotion campaign total profit and the risk-adjusted return, which is estimated with the reward-to-variability ratio known as Sharpe ratio. Given the combinatorial nature of the problem and the large volume of data, heuristic methods are the most common used techniques. A Greedy Randomized Neighborhood Structure is also designed, including the characteristics of a neighborhood exploration strategy together with a Greedy Randomized Constructive technique, which is embedded in a multi-objective local search metaheuristic. The latter combines the power of neighborhood exploration by using a Pareto Local Search with Variable Neighborhood Search. Sets of non-dominated solutions obtained by the proposed method are described and analyzed for a number of problem instances

Cytotoxic Effects Of Zoledronic Acid On Human Epithelial Cells And Gingival Fibroblasts

Bisphosphonate-induced osteonecrosis has been related to the cytotoxicity of these drugs on oral mucosa cells. A previous study showed that 5 μM of zoledronic acid (ZA), a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate, is the highest concentration of this drug found in the oral cavity of patients under treatment. Therefore, in order to simulate an osteonecrosis clinical condition, the aim of this study was to evaluate the highest concentration of ZA applied on human epithelial cells (HaCaT) and gingival fibroblasts. For this purpose, cells (3x104 cells/cm2) were seeded in wells for 48 h using complete culture medium (cDMEM). After 48 h incubation, the cDMEM was replaced by fresh serum-free culture medium (DMEM-FBS) in which the cells were maintained for additional 24 h. Then, 5 μM ZA were added to the DMEM-FBS and the cells incubated in contact with the drug for 48 h. After this period, the number of viable cells (trypan blue), cell viability (MTT assay), total protein (TP) production and cell morphology (SEM analysis) were assessed. Data were analyzed statistically by Mann-Whitney, ANOVA and Tukey's test (α=0.05). ZA caused a significant reduction in the number of viable cells and decreased the metabolic activity of both cell lines. However, decrease of TP production occurred only in the epithelial cell cultures. Morphological alterations were observed in both cell types treated with ZA. In conclusion, ZA (5 μM) was cytotoxic to human epithelial cells and gingival fibroblast cultures, which could be associated, clinically, with the development of bisphosphonateinduced osteonecrosis.246551558Civitelli, R., Napoli, N., Armamento-Villareal, R., Use of intravenous bisphosphonates in osteoporosis (2007) Curr Osteoporos Rep, 5, pp. 8-13Cohen, S.B., An update on bisphosphonates (2004) Curr Rheumatol Rep, 6, pp. 59-65Rogers, M.J., Watts, D.J., Russel, R.G., Overview of bisphosphonates (1997) Cancer, 80, pp. 1652-1660Rogers, M.J., Gordon, S., Benford, H.L., Coxon, F.P., Luckman, S.P., Monkkonen, J., Cellular and molecular mechanisms of action of bisphosphonates (2000) Cancer Supl, 88, pp. 2961-2978Lawson, M.A., Xia, Z., Barnett, B.L., Triffitt, J.T., Phipps, R.J., Dunford, J.E., Differences between bisphosphonates in binding affinities for hydroxyapatite (2010) J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 92, pp. 149-155Allen, M.R., Burr, D.B., The pathogenesis of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: So many hypotheses, so few data (2009) J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 67, pp. 61-70Otto, S., Pautke, C., Opelz, C., Wesphal, I., Drosse, I., Swager, J., Osteonecrosis of the jaw: Effects of bisphosphonate type, local concentration, and acidic milieu on the pathomechanism (2010) J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 68, pp. 2837-2845Reid, I.R., Booland, M.J., Is bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw caused by soft tissue toxicity? (2007) Bone, 41, pp. 318-320Scheper, M.A., Badros, A., Chausparat, R., Cullen, K.J., Meiller, T.F., Effect of zoledronic acid on oral fibroblasts and epithelial cells: A potential mechanism of bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis (2009) Br J Haematol, 144, pp. 667-676Scheper, M.A., Badros, A., Salama, A.R., Wartburton, G., Cullen, K.J., Weikel, D.S., A novel bioassay model to determine clinically significant bisphosphonate levels (2009) Support Care Cancer, 17, pp. 1553-1557Ruggiero, S.L., Mehrotra, B., Rosenberg, T.J., Engroff, S.L., Osteonecrosis of the jaws associated with the use of bisphosphonates: A review of 63 cases (2004) J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 62, pp. 527-534Walter, C., Klein, M.O., Pabst, A., Al-Nawas, B., Duscher, H., Ziebart, T., Influence of bisphosphonates on endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and osteogenic cells (2010) Clin Oral Investig, 14, pp. 35-41Kumar, S.K.S., Gorur, A., Schaauddin, C., Shuler, C.F., Costerton, J.W., Sedghizadeh, P.P., The role of microbial biofilms in osteonecrosis of the jaw associated with bisphosphonate therapy (2010) Curr Osteoporos Rep, 8, pp. 40-48Aas, J.A., Paster, B.J., Stokes, L.N., Olsen, I., Dewhirst, F.E., Defining the normal bacterial flora of the oral cavity (2005) J Clin Microbiol, 43, pp. 5721-5732Basso, F.G., Pansani, T.N., Turrioni, A.P.S., Bagnato, V.S., Hebling, J., de Souza Costa, C.A., In vitro wound healing improvement by low-level laser therapy application in cultured gingival fibroblasts (2012) Int J Dent, , [Epub ahead of print. DOI: 10.1155/2012/719452]Wiegand, C., Hipler, U., Methods for the measurement of cell and tissue compatibility including tissue regeneration process (2008) GMS Krankenhhyg Interdiszip, 3, pp. 1863-5245Basso, F.G., Oliveira, C.F., Kurachi, C., Hebling, J., de Souza Costa, C.A., Biostimulatory effect of low-level laser therapy on keratinocytes in vitro (2013) Lasers Med Sci, 28, pp. 367-374De Souza Costa, C.A., Duarte, P.T., de Souza, P.P., Giro, E.M., Hebling, J., Cytotoxic effects and pulpal response caused by a mineral trioxide aggregate formulation and calcium hydroxide (2008) Am J Dent, 21, pp. 255-261Oliveira, C.F., Basso, F.G., Lins, E.C.C., Kurachi, C., Hebling, J., Bagnato, V.S., Increased viability of odontoblast-like cells subjected to low-level laser irradiation (2010) Laser Phys, 20, pp. 1659-1666Read, S.M., Northcote, D.H., Minimization of variation in the response to different proteins of the Coomassie blue G dye-binding assay for protein (1981) Anal Biochem, 116, pp. 53-64Oliveira, C.F., Basso, F.G., Lins, E.C., Kurachi, C., Hebling, J., Bagnato, V.S., In vitro effect of low-level laser on odontoblast-like cells (2011) Laser Phys Lett, 8, pp. 155-163Simon, M.J.K., Niehoff, P., Kimming, B., Wiltfang, J., Açil, Y., Expression profile and synthesis of different collagen types I, II III and V of human gingival fibroblasts, osteoblasts, ans SaOs-2 cells after bisphosphonate treatment (2010) Clin Oral Investig, 14, pp. 51-58Migliorati, C.A., Siegel, M.A., Elting, L.S., Bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis: A long-term complication of bisphosphonate treatment (2006) Lancet Oncol, 7, pp. 508-514Werner, S., Krieg, T., Smola, H., Keratinocyte-fibroblast interactions in wound healing (2007) J Investigative Dermatol, 127, pp. 998-1008Ravosa, M.J., Ning, J., Liu, Y., Stack, M.S., Bisphosphonate effects on the behavior of oral epithelial cells and oral fibroblasts (2011) Arch Oral Biol, 56, pp. 491-49

Modelos acoplados do IPCC-AR4 e o gradiente meridional de temperatua da superficie do mar no atlântico tropical : relaçoes com a precipitaçao no norte do nordeste do Brasil

Este artigo mostra como três modelos acoplados do Intergovernmental on Panel Climate Change - (IPCC-AR4), o FGOALS1. 0G &#8211; LASG do Institute of Atmospheric Physics of China, o GISSER da National Aeronautics Space Admnistration (NASA) e o GFDL_CM2 da National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), simularam a variabilidade do gradiente meridional de Temperatura da Superfície do Mar (TSM), entre os meses de fevereiro a maio, no Atlântico Tropical (1901-1999). A precipitação durante a estação chuvosa (fevereiro a maio) no setor norte do Nordeste do Brasil (NEB) foi também analisada pelos três modelos e comparada com as observações. Os modelos GISSER e FGOALS1.0G mostraram melhor desempenho na simulação do sinal do gradiente meridional de TSM no Atlântico Tropical para o período de 1901 a 1999. Destaca-se que os modelos apresentaram um melhor desempenho na simulação da tendência decadal, conseguindo explicar entre 50% a 80% da variabilidade do gradiente, com a TSM do setor sul sendo mais bem simulada

In Vitro Effect Of Low-level Laser Therapy On Typical Oral Microbial Biofilms

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of specific parameters of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on biofilms formed by Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans or an association of both species. Single and dual-species biofilms - SSB and DSB - were exposed to laser doses of 5, 10 or 20 J/cm 2 from a near infrared InGaAsP diode laser prototype (LASERTable; 780 ± 3 nm, 0.04 W). After irradiation, the analysis of biobilm viability (MTT assay), biofilm growth (cfu/mL) and cell morphology (SEM) showed that LLLT reduced cell viability as well as the growth of biofilms. The response of S. mutans (SSB) to irradiation was similar for all laser doses and the biofilm growth was dose dependent. However, when associated with C. albicans (DSB), S. mutans was resistant to LLLT. For C. albicans, the association with S. mutans (DSB) caused a significant decrease in biofilm growth in a dose-dependent fashion. The morphology of the microorganisms in the SSB was not altered by LLLT, while the association of microbial species (DSB) promoted a reduction in the formation of C. albicans hyphae. LLLT had an inhibitory effect on the microorganisms, and this capacity can be altered according to the interactions between different microbial species.226502510Marques, M.M., Pereira, A.N., Fujihara, N.A., Nogueira, F.N., Eduardo, C.P., Effect of low-power laser irradiation on protein synthesis and ultrastructure of human gingival fibroblasts (2004) Lasers Surg Med, 34, pp. 260-265Damante, C.A., de Micheli, G., Miyagi, S.P.H., Feist, I.S., Marques, M.M., Effect of laser phototherapy on the release of fibroblast growth factors by human gingival fibroblasts (2009) Lasers Med Sci, 24, pp. 885-891Moritz, A., Schoop, U., Goharkhay, K., Schauer, P., Doertbudak, O., Wernisch, J., Treatment of periodontal pockets with a diode laser (1998) Lasers Surg Med, 22, pp. 302-311Nussbaum, E.L., Lilge, L., Mazzulli, T., Effects of 630-, 660-, 810-, and 905-nm laser irradiation delivering radiant exposure of 1-50 J/cm 2 on three species of bacteria in vitro (2002) J Clin Laser Med Surg, 20, pp. 325-333Nussbaum, E.L., Lilge, L., Mazzulli, T., Effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) of 810 nm upon in vitro growth of bacteria: Relevance of irradiance and radiant exposure (2003) J Clin Laser Med Surg, 21, pp. 283-290Lino, M.D.M.C., Carvalho, F.B., Oliveira, L.R., Magalhães, E.B., Pinheiro, A.L.B., Ramalho, L.M.P., Laser phototherapy as a treatment for radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis (2011) Braz Dent J, 22, pp. 162-165Maver-Biscanin, M., Mravak-Stipetic, M., Jerolimov, V., Biscanin, A., Fungicidal effect of diode laser irradiation in patients with denture stomatitis (2004) Lasers Surg Med, 35, pp. 259-262Dworkin, M., Endogenous photosensitization in a carotinoidless mutant of Rhodopseudomonas speroides (1958) J Gen Physiol, 43, pp. 1099-1112Rosenberg, B., Kemeny, G., Switzer, R.C., Hamilton, T.C., Quantitative evidence for protein denaturation as the cause of thermal death (1971) Nature, 232, pp. 471-473Krespi, Y.P., Kizhner, V., Nistico, L., Hall-Stoodley, L., Stoodley, P., Laser disruption and killing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilms (2011) Am J Otolaryngol, 32, pp. 198-202Shirtliff, M.E., Peters, B.M., Jabra-Rizk, M.A., Cross-kingdom interactions: Candida albicans and bacteria (2009) FEMS Microbiol Lett, 299, pp. 1-8Pereira-Cenci, T., Deng, D.M., Kraneveld, E.A., Manders, E.M.M., del Bel, C.A.A., ten Cate, J.M., The effect of Streptococcus mutans and Candida glabrata on Candida albicans biofilms formed on different surfaces (2008) Arch Oral Biol, 53, pp. 755-764Marsh, P.D., Microbial ecology of dental plaque and its significance in health and disease (1994) Adv Dent Res, 8, pp. 263-271Karkowska-Kuleta, J., Rapala-Kozik, M., Kozik, A., Fungi pathogenic to humans: Molecular bases of virulence of Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus fumigatus (2009) Acta Biochim Pol, 56, pp. 211-224Thein, Z.M., Samaranayake, Y.H., Samaranayake, L.P., Dietary sugars, serum and the biocide chlorhexidine digluconate modify the population and structural dynamics of mixed Candida albicans and Escherichia coli biofilms (2007) APMIS, 115, pp. 1241-1251Kwieciński, J., Eick, S., Wójcik, K., Effects of tea tre (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil on Staphylococcus aureus in biofilms and stationary phase (2009) Int J Antimicrob Agents, 33, pp. 343-347Wang, Z.C., Fan, L.Y., Jiang, J.Q., Cai, W., Ding, Y., Study on the counting of Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis, Haemophilus actinomycetemcomitans by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium colorimetric method (2010) Hua Xi Kou Qiang Yi Xue Za Zhi, 28, pp. 306-310Nguyen, P.T.M., Abranches, J., Phan, T., Marquis, R.E., Repressed respiration of oral Streptococci grow in biofilms (2002) Curr Microbiol, 44, pp. 262-266Singleton, S., Treloar, R., Warren, P., Watson, G.K., Hodgson, R., Allison, C., Methods for microscopic characterization of oral biofilms: Analysis of colonization, microstructure, and molecular transport phenomena (1997) Adv Dent Res, 11, pp. 133-149Jarosz, L.M., Deng, D.M., van der Mei, H.C., Crielaard, W., Krom, B.P., Streptococcus mutans competence-stimulating peptide inhibits Candida albicans hypha formation (2009) Eukaryot Cell, 8, pp. 1658-1664Dortbudak, O., Haas, R., Bernhart, T., Mailath-Pokorny, G., Lethal photosensitization for decontamination of implant surface in the treatment of peri-implantitis (2001) Clin Oral Implant Res, 12, pp. 104-10

β-Lactam antibiotics and vancomycin inhibit the growth of planktonic and biofilm Candida spp.: An additional benefit of antibiotic-lock therapy?

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of cefepime, meropenem, piperacillin/tazobactam (TZP) and vancomycin on strains of Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis in planktonic and biofilm forms. Twenty azole-derivative-resistant strains of C. albicans (n=10) and C. tropicalis (n=10) were tested. The susceptibility of planktonic Candida spp. to the antibacterial agents was investigated by broth microdilution. The XTT reduction assay was performed to evaluate the viability of growing and mature biofilms following exposure to these drugs. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranged from 0.5mg/mL to 2mg/mL for cefepime, TZP and vancomycin and from 0.5mg/mL to 1mg/mL for meropenem and the drugs also caused statistically significant reductions in biofilm cellular activity both in growing and mature biofilm. Since all of the tested drugs are commonly used in patients with hospital-acquired infections and in those with catheter-related infections under antibiotic-lock therapy, it may be possible to obtain an additional benefit from antibiotic-lock therapy with these drugs, namely the control of Candida biofilm formation

Quantum Theory in Accelerated Frames of Reference

The observational basis of quantum theory in accelerated systems is studied. The extension of Lorentz invariance to accelerated systems via the hypothesis of locality is discussed and the limitations of this hypothesis are pointed out. The nonlocal theory of accelerated observers is briefly described. Moreover, the main observational aspects of Dirac's equation in noninertial frames of reference are presented. The Galilean invariance of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics and the mass superselection rule are examined in the light of the invariance of physical laws under inhomogeneous Lorentz transformations.Comment: 25 pages, no figures, contribution to Springer Lecture Notes in Physics (Proc. SR 2005, Potsdam, Germany, February 13 - 18, 2005