Relevance of a Hypersaline Sodium-Rich Naturally Sparkling Mineral Water to the Protection against Metabolic Syndrome Induction in Fructose-Fed Sprague-Dawley Rats: A Biochemical, Metabolic, and Redox Approach

The Metabolic Syndrome increases the risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Increased fructose consumption and/or mineral deficiency have been associated with Metabolic Syndrome development. This study aimed to investigate the effects of 8 weeks consumption of a hypersaline sodium-rich naturally sparkling mineral water on 10% fructose-fed Sprague-Dawley rats (Metabolic Syndrome animal model). The ingestion of the mineral water (rich in sodium bicarbonate and with higher potassium, calcium, and magnesium content than the tap water used as control) reduced/prevented not only the fructose-induced increase of heart rate, plasma triacylglycerols, insulin and leptin levels, hepatic catalase activity, and organ weight to body weight ratios (for liver and both kidneys) but also the decrease of hepatic glutathione peroxidase activity and oxidized glutathione content. This mineral-rich water seems to have potential to prevent Metabolic Syndrome induction by fructose. We hypothesize that its regular intake in the context of modern diets, which have a general acidic character interfering with mineral homeostasis and are poor in micronutrients, namely potassium, calcium, and magnesium, could add surplus value and attenuate imbalances, thus contributing to metabolic and redox health and, consequently, decreasing the risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

Stable oxygen isotope and flux partitioning demonstrates understory of an oak savanna contributes up to half of ecosystem carbon and water exchange

Semi-arid ecosystems contribute about 40% to global net primary production (GPP) even though water is a major factor limiting carbon uptake. Evapotranspiration (ET) accounts for up to 95% of the water loss and in addition, vegetation can also mitigate drought effects by altering soil water distribution. Hence, partitioning of carbon and water fluxes between the soil and vegetation components is crucial to gain mechanistic understanding of vegetation effects on carbon and water cycling. However, the possible impact of herbaceous vegetation in savanna type ecosystems is often overlooked. Therefore, we aimed at quantifying understory vegetation effects on the water balance and productivity of a Mediterranean oak savanna. ET and net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) were partitioned based on flux and stable oxygen isotope measurements and also rain infiltration was estimated. The understory vegetation contributed importantly to total ecosystem ET and GPP with a maximum of 43 and 51%, respectively. It reached water-use efficiencies (WUE; ratio of carbon gain by water loss) similar to cork-oak trees. The understory vegetation inhibited soil evaporation (E) and, although E was large during wet periods, it did not diminish WUE during water-limited times. The understory strongly increased soil water infiltration, specifically following major rain events. At the same time, the understory itself was vulnerable to drought, which led to an earlier senescence of the understory growing under trees as compared to open areas, due to competition for water. Thus, beneficial understory effects are dominant and contribute to the resilience of this ecosystem. At the same time the vulnerability of the understory to drought suggests that future climate change scenarios for the Mediterranean basin threaten understory development. This in turn will very likely diminish beneficial understory effects like infiltration and ground water recharge and therefore ecosystem resilience to drought

Antiproliferative Activity Of Flavonoids From Croton Sphaerogynus Baill. (euphorbiaceae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Croton sphaerogynus is a shrub from the Atlantic Rain Forest in southeastern Brazil. A lyophilized crude EtOH extract from leaves of C. sphaerogynus, obtained by maceration at room temperature (seven days), was suspended in methanol and partitioned with hexane. The purified MeOH phase was fractionated over Sephadex LH-20 yielding five fractions (F1-F5) containing flavonoids, as characterized by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS analyses. The antiproliferative activity of the crude EtOH extract, MeOH and hexane phases, and fractions F1-F5 was evaluated on in vitro cell lines NCI-H460 (nonsmall cell lung), MCF-7 (breast cancer), and U251 (glioma). The MeOH phase showed activity (mean log GI(50) 0.54) higher than the hexane phase and EtOH extract (mean log GI(50) 1.13 and 1.19, resp.). F1 exhibited activity against NCI-H460 (nonsmall cell lung) (GI(50) 1.2 mu g/mL), which could be accounted for the presence of flavonoids and/or diterpenes. F4 showed moderate activity (mean log GI(50) 1.05), while F5 showed weak activity (mean log GI(50) 1.36). It is suggested that the antiproliferative activity of the crude EtOH extract and MeOH phase is accounted for a synergistic combination of flavonoids and diterpenes.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)FAPESP [FAPESP 2012/10079-0

The cross-sectional and prospective associations between sleep characteristics and adiposity in toddlers: Results from the GET UP! Study

Background: The associations between sleep characteristics and adiposity in children under three years are not fully understood yet. Objective: The objective of the study is to examine the cross-sectional and prospective associations between sleep characteristics and adiposity in toddlers over a 12-month period. Methods: Participants were 202 toddlers from the GET-UP! Study. Sleep duration, sleep timing, and sleep variability were assessed using 24-hour accelerometry for seven consecutive days. Height and weight were measured, and BMI z scores were calculated. Linear mixed models were performed to examine the cross-sectional and prospective associations between sleep characteristics and adiposity, with adjustments for clustering effects and demographic factors. Results: Total sleep duration was negatively associated with higher adiposity cross-sectionally (B = −0.12; 95% CI: −0.23, −0.01;.033) but not prospectively (B = 0.01; 95% CI: −0.13, 0.10;.843). Nap duration was prospectively associated with higher levels of adiposity (B = 0.41; 95% CI: 0.14, 0.68;.003). Sleep variability and sleep timing were not associated with concurrent or subsequent adiposity. Conclusion: Although sleep duration is an important factor associated with obesity in toddlerhood, the potential effects of different types of sleep duration may vary. While longer total sleep duration may protect children from increasing adiposity, longer nap duration seems to be risk factor. As evidence in this age group is scarce, more research is needed to confirm this finding

Importance of Raising Awareness in People in Charge of Old Age Homes About Metabolic Bone Diseases and Their Prevention for the Elderly

Introduction: vitamin deficiency, lack of sun exposure, and a sedentary lifestyle are factors that make the elderly susceptibleto comorbidities, such as metabolic bone diseases. Thus, people in charge of nursing homes must be aware of such habits infavor of a better quality of life for the elderly. The present study aimed to analyze the habits adopted by nursing homes inRibeirão Preto, state of São Paulo, as well as to bring knowledge to professionals about the importance of maintaining suchhabits for a healthy life.Methods and Results: when administering questionnaires to those in charge about the institutional habits, together with the explanation of an informative folder, it was noticeable that concerning food and exposure to sunlight, most homes were doing very well, with some divergences just in terms of physical exercise. However, in the promotion of knowledge about the prevention of metabolic bone diseases, both for those in charge and for the residents, the result was not satisfactory.Conclusion: in this way, it was possible to study the knowledge of the team involved on this subject and especially to make them aware of the importance of maintaining such habits for a good quality of life for the elderly.Fil: Brito Bordini, Sofia. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Maki Sato, Cindy. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Meciano Pereira dos Santos, Lucas. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Sassoli Fazan, Valéria Paula. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Feldman, Sara. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Laboratorio de Biología Osteoarticular, Ingeniería Tisular y Terapias Emergentes; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Mardegan Issa, Joao Paulo. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasi

Antiproliferative activity of flavonoids from croton Sphaerogynus baill. (euphorbiaceae)

Croton sphaerogynus is a shrub from the Atlantic Rain Forest in southeastern Brazil. A lyophilized crude EtOH extract from leaves of C. sphaerogynus, obtained by maceration at room temperature (seven days), was suspended in methanol and partitioned with hexane. The purified MeOH phase was fractionated over Sephadex LH-20 yielding five fractions (F1-F5) containing flavonoids, as characterized by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS analyses. The antiproliferative activity of the crude EtOH extract, MeOH and hexane phases, and fractions F1-F5 was evaluated on in vitro cell lines NCI-H460 (nonsmall cell lung), MCF-7 (breast cancer), and U251 (glioma). The MeOH phase showed activity (mean log GI(50) 0.54) higher than the hexane phase and EtOH extract (mean log GI(50) 1.13 and 1.19, resp.). F1 exhibited activity against NCI-H460 (nonsmall cell lung) (GI(50) 1.2 mu g/mL), which could be accounted for the presence of flavonoids and/or diterpenes. F4 showed moderate activity (mean log GI(50) 1.05), while F5 showed weak activity (mean log GI(50) 1.36). It is suggested that the antiproliferative activity of the crude EtOH extract and MeOH phase is accounted for a synergistic combination of flavonoids and diterpenes2015COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPsem informação2012/10079-

Resistividade elétrica em filmes finos de ferro crescidos sobre Si (III)

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A hierarquia das evidências em cirurgia da mão nas revistas ortopédicas nacionais

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: There is no systematic assessment of the quality of scientific production in the specialty of hand surgery in our setting. This study aimed to systematically assess the status of evidence generation relating to hand surgery and to evaluate the reproducibility of the classification method based on an evidence pyramid. DESIGN AND SETTING: Secondary study conducted at Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) and Faculdade Estadual de Medicina de Marília (Famema). METHODS: Two researchers independently conducted an electronic database search for hand surgery studies published between 2000 and 2009 in the two main Brazilian orthopedic journals (Acta Ortopédica Brasileira and Revista Brasileira de Ortopedia). The studies identified were subsequently classified according to methodological design (systematic review of the literature, randomized clinical trial, cohort study, case-control study, case series and other studies) and evidence level (I to V). RESULTS: A total of 1,150 articles were evaluated, and 83 (7.2%) were included in the final analysis. Studies with evidence level IV (case series) accounted for 41 (49%) of the published papers. Studies with evidence level V (other studies) accounted for 12 (14.5%) of the papers. Only two studies (2.4%) were ranked as level I or II. The inter-rater reproducibility was excellent (k = 0.94). CONCLUSIONS: Hand surgery articles corresponded to less than one tenth of Brazilian orthopedic production. Studies with evidence level IV were the commonest type. The reproducibility of the classification stratified by evidence level was almost perfect.CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: Não há uma avaliação sistemática da qualidade da produção científica na especialidade de cirurgia da mão em nosso meio. Este estudo objetiva analisar o status da geração de evidências em cirurgia da mão, por meio de avaliação sistematizada, além de avaliar a reprodutibilidade da classificação baseada na pirâmide das evidências. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo secundário realizado pela Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) e Faculdade Estadual de Medicina de Marília (Famema). MÉTODOS: De forma independente, dois pesquisadores promoveram uma busca eletrônica dos trabalhos envolvendo cirurgia da mão, no período de 2000-2009, para duas principais revistas na literatura ortopédica nacional (Acta Ortopédica Brasileira e Revista Brasileira de Ortopedia). Os trabalhos identificados foram subsequentemente classificados pelo tipo de delineamento metodológico (revisões sistemáticas da literatura, estudos clínicos randomizados, estudos de coorte, estudos caso-controle, séries de casos e outros estudos) e nível de evidência (I a V). RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 1.150 artigos, sendo 83 (7,2%) considerados para a análise final. Estudos com nível de evidência IV (séries de caso) correspondem a 41 (49%) das publicações. Estudos nível de evidência V (outros estudos), corresponderam a 12 (14,5%) da amostra. Apenas dois estudos (2,4%) foram identificados como nível I ou II. A reprodutibilidade interobservadores foi excelente (k = 0.94). CONCLUSÕES: Os artigos de cirurgia da mão correspondem a menos de um décimo da produção ortopédica nacional. Estudos nível de evidência IV foram os mais encontrados na literatura nacional. A classificação estratificada por níveis de evidência apresenta reprodutibilidade quase perfeita.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de MedicinaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Department of Orthopedics and TraumatologyFaculdade Estadual de Medicina de MaríliaFaculdade Estadual de Medicina de Marília Department of Orthopedics and TraumatologyUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESP, EPMUNIFESP, Department of Orthopedics and TraumatologyUNIFESPSciEL

Transversal study about acute acromioclavicular lesions

The objective of the present transversal study is to check how Brazilian orthopedists treat these injuries, their criteria for choosing the treatment, results and complications. METHODS: During the 6th Brazilian Congress of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (CBOC) and the 38th Brazilian Congress of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (CBOT) 507 questionnaires were distributed (148 CBOC and 359 CBOT), with 478 being considered for analysis. RESULTS: Regarding type-I and -II ACIs, most of the respondents use traditional non-surgical methods. On the other hand, for type-IV, V and VI injuries, 475 (99.4%) of the respondents indicate surgical methods. Concerning type-III injuries, there is no consensus in the selection between traditional and surgical treatment for 386 (80.7%) respondents, with the most important factor for selecting a given treatment method being the patient's level of sports practice and age. CONCLUSION: There is no consensus regarding type-III ACIs, and the selection of the best treatment method is made according to patient's individual characteristics. However, current literature shows a trend towards non-operative methods.OBJETIVO: O objetivo do presente estudo transversal é verificar como o ortopedista brasileiro interpreta as lesões acromioclaviculares quanto aos critérios para a indicação do tratamento cirúrgico ou não, seus métodos preferidos, as complicações mais frequentes e os resultados obtidos. MÉTODOS: Durante o 6º Congresso Brasileiro de Cirurgia do Ombro e Cotovelo (CBOC) e o 38º Congresso Brasileiro de Ortopedia e Traumatologia (CBOT) foram distribuídos 507 questionários, sendo considerados 478 para análise. RESULTADOS: Em relação ao tratamento das LAC tipo I e II, a maioria dos entrevistados utilizam métodos não cirúrgicos. Em contraposição nas LAC IV, V e VI 475 (99,4%) dos entrevistados tratam essas lesões cirurgicamente. Nas LAC tipo III não existe uma definição na escolha do tratamento cirúrgico ou não cirúrgico para 386 (80,7%) entrevistados, sendo que o fator mais importante para tomada de decisão para a maioria dos entrevistados é a atividade esportiva do paciente e a idade. CONCLUSÃO: Nas LAC tipo III não há consenso, sendo o tratamento determinado conforme as características do paciente, contudo na literatura atual há uma tendência para o tratamento não cirúrgico destas lesões.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Ortopedia e TraumatologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de Ortopedia e TraumatologiaSciEL

Revenue Management Pricing in Douro Hotels

The Douro Palace Hotel management wants to develop a software that helps them with the dynamic pricing of the hotel rooms. Revenue Management software is widely used for data analysis of demand and prices. However the hotel barely follows the software recommendations for pricing decisions, mainly due to the lack of understanding of the rationale and the inherent d