Current practices in managing acutely disturbed patients at three hospitals in Rio de Janeiro-Brazil: a prevalence study

The medical management of aggressive and violent behaviour is a critical situation for which there is little evidence. In order to prepare for a randomised trial, due to start in the psychiatric emergency rooms of Rio de Janeiro in 2001, a survey of current practice was necessary. A seven day survey of pharmacological management of aggressive people with psychosis in the emergency rooms of all four public psychiatric hospitals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In one hospital data were not available. Of the 764 people with psychosis attending these ERs, 74 were given IM medication for rapid tranquillisation (9.7%, 2.1/week/100,000). A haloperidol-promethazine mix (with or without other drugs) was used for the majority of patients (83%). The haloperidol-promethazine mix, given intramuscularly for rapid tranquilization, is prevalent in Rio, where it is considered both safe and efficient. However, scientific evaluation of all pharmacological approaches to rapid tranquilization of psychotic people is inadequate or incomplete and a randomized trial of IM haloperidol-promethazine is overdue

Addendum to “Absorption of a massive scalar field by a charged black hole”

In [1] we studied the absorption cross section of a scalar field of mass m impinging on a static black hole of mass M and charge Q. We presented numerical results using the partial-wave method, and analytical results in the high- and low-frequency limit. Our low-frequency approximation was only valid if the (dimensionless) field velocity v exceeds vc=2πMm. In this addendum we give the complementary result for v≲vc, and we consider the possible physical relevance of this regime

Qualidade Físico-química E Sensorial De Genótipos De Banana

Despite the diversity of banana varieties in Brazil, only a few cultivars have the proper agronomic traits and fruit quality for commercial exploitation. This study aimed at evaluating the physicochemical traits and sensorial acceptance of banana genotypes, in order to identify those with potential for commercial growing. Six improved banana genotypes were assessed (BRS Maravilha, PC 0101, FHIA 18, TM 2803, YB 4203 and BRS Caipira), as well as three commercial cultivars (Grand Naine, Pacovan and Prata Anã). Analyses of peel and pulp color, peel thickness, pulp yield, moisture, pH, soluble solids, titratable acidity, total carotenoids and sensorial acceptance were performed. The BRS Maravilha, FHIA 18, YB 4203 and BRS Caipira genotypes presented physicochemical traits similar to the Grand Naine, Pacovan and Prata Anã commercial cultivars. The BRS Maravilha and TM 2803 genotypes had sensorial acceptance similar to the Prata Anã and Grand Naine cultivars, and are therefore promising for commercial growing, with the advantage of being resistant to the black Sigatoka and Panama disease. © 2016, Universidade Federal De Goias (UFG). All Rights Reserved.461899

Relationship between polymorphism of growth hormone and precocity traits in Nellore heifers

Avaliaram-se as relações entre o polimorfismo do gene do hormônio do crescimento (GH) e as características de precocidade, em novilhas da raça Nelore. Amostras de sangue periférico foram obtidas de 181 animais de três rebanhos distintos do estado da Bahia, nas quais foi realizada a extração de DNA e a amplificação por PCR, seguidas por digestão com enzima de restrição AluI. Os fragmentos resultantes da digestão enzimática foram analisados em gel de agarose 2% para determinação dos respectivos genótipos. A frequência do alelo Leu nas amostras analisadas foi estimada em 100%. Em decorrência da alta incidência de homozigose para o alelo Leu, sugere-se que o restriction fragment lenght polymorphism AluI do gene GH não possa ser considerado como marcador molecular para precocidade sexual em novilhas Nelore nesses rebanhos.The relationships between polymorphism of growth hormone gene (GH) and precocity traits in Nellore heifers were evaluated. A total of 181 animals from three different farms of Bahia state, Brazil, were blood sampled. The DNA of each animal was extracted, amplified by PCR, and digested by "AluI" restriction enzyme, and the resultant fragments were analyzed in 2% agarose gel for genotype identification. The frequency of Leu allele in the analyzed samples was estimated in 100%. Due to the high incidence of homozygose for the Leu allele, it is suggested that the restriction fragment lenght polymorphism AluI of GH gene can not be considered as a molecular marker for sexual precocity in Nellore heifers of those herds.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia (FAPESB)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Binding affinities and activation of Asp712Ala and Cys100Ser mutated kinin B1 receptor forms suggest a bimodal scheme for the molecule of bound-DABK

AbstractMutant forms of kinin B1 receptor (B1R) and analogs of the full agonist des-Arg9-bradykinin (DABK) were investigated aiming to verify the importance of selected receptor residues and of each agonist-peptide residue in the specific binding and activation. Linked by a specific disulfide bond (Cys100–Cys650), the N-terminal (Nt) and the EC3 loop C-terminal (Ct) segments of angiotensin II (AngII) receptor 1 (AT1R) have been identified to form an extracellular site for binding the agonist Nt segment (Asp1 and Arg2 residues). Asp712 residue at the receptor EC3 loop binds the peptide Arg2 residue. By homology, a similar site might be considered for DABK binding to B1R since this receptor contains the same structural elements for composing the site in AT1R, namely the disulfide bond and the EC3 loop Asp712 residue. DABK, Alan-DABK analogs (n=Ala1-, Ala2-, Ala3-, Ala4-, Ala5-, Ala6-, Ala7-, Ala8-DABK), and other analogs were selected to binding wild-type, Asp712Ala and Cys100Ser mutated B1R receptors. The results obtained suggested that the same bimodal scheme adopted for AngII-AT1R system may be applied to DABK binding to B1R. The most crucial similarity in the two cases is that the Nt segments of peptides equally bind to the homologous Asp712 residue of both AT1R and B1R extracellular sites. Confirming this preliminary supposition, mutation of residues located at the B1R extracellular site as EC3 loop Asp712 and Cys100 caused the same modifications in biological assays observed in AT1R submitted to homologous mutations, such as significant weakening of agonist binding and reduction of post-receptor-activation processes. These findings provided enough support for defining a site that determines the specific binding of DABK to B1R receptors

Diversifying institutional food procurement – opportunities and barriers for integrating biodiversity for food and nutrition in Brazil

The Brazilian Food Procurement Program (PAA) and the National School Feeding Program (PNAE) were identified by the GEF-funded Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition Project (BFN)1 as policy instruments with the greatest potential for diversifying institutional food procurement and improving di- ets while supporting family farming. This paper discusses the opportunities identified for mainstream- ing biodiversity through PAA and PNAE, targeted activities undertaken as well as two case studies. The first case study presents findings linked to the implementation of the PNAE in quilombola communi- ties in Goiás, while the second describes results of the inclusion of Juçara fruits (Euterpe edulis Mart.) in school meals in São Paulo. The paper concludes by highlighting some of the key barriers to better biodiversity mainstreaming and institutional food procurement together with some recommendations

Does hepatocellular carcinoma in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis exist in cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients?

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has been associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often arising in histologically advanced disease when steatohepatitis is not active (cryptogenic cirrhosis). Our objective was to characterize patients with HCC and active, histologically defined steatohepatitis. Among 394 patients with HCC detected by ultrasound imaging over 8 years and staged by the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) criteria, we identified 7 cases (1.7%) with HCC occurring in the setting of active biopsy-proven NASH. All were negative for other liver diseases such as hepatitis C, hepatitis B, autoimmune hepatitis, Wilson disease, and hemochromatosis. The patients (4 males and 3 females, age 63 ± 13 years) were either overweight (4) or obese (3); 57% were diabetic and 28.5% had dyslipidemia. Cirrhosis was present in 6 of 7 patients, but 1 patient had well-differentiated HCC in the setting of NASH without cirrhosis (fibrosis stage 1) based on repeated liver biopsies, the absence of portal hypertension by clinical and radiographic evaluations and by direct surgical inspection. Among the cirrhotic patients, 71.4% were clinically staged as Child A and 14.2% as Child B. Tumor size ranged from 1.0 to 5.2 cm and 5 of 7 patients were classified as early stage; 46% of all nodules were hyper-echoic and 57% were <3 cm. HCC was well differentiated in 1/6 and moderately differentiated in 5/6. Alpha-fetoprotein was <100 ng/mL in all patients. HCC in patients with active steatohepatitis is often multifocal, may precede clinically advanced disease and occurs without diagnostic levels of alpha-fetoprotein. Importantly, HCC may occur in NASH in the absence of cirrhosis. More aggressive screening of NASH patients may be warranted

NEW SEISMIC SOURCE ZONE MODEL FOR PORTUGAL AND AZORES

The development of seismogenic source models is one of the first steps in seismic hazard assessment. In seismic hazard terminology, seismic source zones (SSZ) are polygons (or volumes) that delineate areas with homogeneous characteristics of seismicity. The importance of using knowledge on geology, seismicity and tectonics in the definition of source zones has been recognized for a long time [1]. However, the definition of SSZ tends to be subjective and controversial. Using SSZ based on broad geology, by spreading the seismicity clusters throughout the areal extent of a zone, provides a way to account for possible long-term non-stationary seismicity behavior [2,3]. This approach effectively increases seismicity rates in regions with no significant historical or instrumental seismicity, while decreasing seismicity rates in regions that display higher rates of seismicity. In contrast, the use of SSZ based on concentrations of seismicity or spatial smoothing results in stationary behavior [4]. In the FP7 Project SHARE (Seismic Hazard Harmonization in Europe), seismic hazard will be assessed with a logic tree approach that allows for three types of branches for seismicity models: a) smoothed seismicity, b) SSZ, c) SSZ and faults. In this context, a large-scale zonation model for use in the smoothed seismicity branch, and a new consensus SSZ model for Portugal and Azores have been developed. The new models were achieved with the participation of regional experts by combining and adapting existing models and incorporating new regional knowledge of the earthquake potential. The main criteria used for delineating the SSZ include distribution of seismicity, broad geological architecture, crustal characteristics (oceanic versus continental, tectonically active versus stable, etc.), historical catalogue completeness, and the characteristics of active or potentially-active faults. This model will be integrated into an Iberian model of SSZ to be used in the Project SHARE seismic hazard assessment