Evidence for the ‘Good Genes’ Model: Association of MHC Class II DRB Alleles with Ectoparasitism and Reproductive State in the Neotropical Lesser Bulldog Bat, Noctilio albiventris

The adaptive immune system has a major impact on parasite resistance and life history strategies. Immunological defence is costly both in terms of immediate activation and long-term maintenance. The ‘good genes’ model predicts that males with genotypes that promote a good disease resistance have the ability to allocate more resources to reproductive effort which favours the transmission of good alleles into future generations. Our study shows a correlation between immune gene constitution (Major Histocompatibility Complex, MHC class II DRB), ectoparasite loads (ticks and bat flies) and the reproductive state in a neotropical bat, Noctilio albiventris. Infestation rates with ectoparasites were linked to specific Noal-DRB alleles, differed among roosts, increased with body size and co-varied with reproductive state particularly in males. Non-reproductive adult males were more infested with ectoparasites than reproductively active males, and they had more often an allele (Noal-DRB*02) associated with a higher tick infestation than reproductively active males or subadults. We conclude that the individual immune gene constitution affects ectoparasite susceptibility, and contributes to fitness relevant trade-offs in male N. albiventris as suggested by the ‘good genes’ model

Use of Nafion (R) membranes for the construction of optical sensors for pH measurements

The behaviour of Nafion (R) polymeric membranes containing acid-base dyes, bromothymol blue (BB) and methyl violet (MV), were studied aiming at constructing an optical sensor for pH measurement. BB revealed to be inadequate for developing sensing phases due to the electrostatic repulsion between negative groups of their molecules and the negative charge of the sulfonate group of the Nation (R), which causes leaching of the dye from the membrane. On the other hand, MV showed to be suitable due to the presence of positive groups in its structure. The membrane prepared from a methanolic solution whose Nafion (R)/dye molar ratio was 20 presented the best analytical properties, changing its color from green to violet in the pH range from 0.6 to 3.0. The membrane can be prepared with good reproducibility, presenting durability of ca. 6 months and response time of 22 s, making possible its use for pH determination in flow analysis systems.28593293

Simultaneous determination of copper, mercury and zinc in water with a tailored fluorescent bipyridine ligand entrapped in silica sol-gel

A novel fluorescent ligand, (4-[(E)-2-(4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridin-4-yl)vinyl]phenol) (abbreviated BSOH), has been designed and prepared for simultaneous determination of heavy metals in water. Its photophysical and photochemical properties in the absence and in the presence of Cd(II), Cu(II), Hg(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) were determined, and the respective complexation constants (7.4 x 10(3)-2.8 x 10(8) l mol(-1)) and stoichiometries were extracted thereof. The Stern-Volmer emission intensity and lifetime plots indicate an efficient static quenching of the indicator dye with the heavy metals. The BSOH fluorescent reagent has been successfully immobilised in a silica sol-gel matrix for automation of the analytical method, and the sensing phase demonstrated a reversible response to Cu(II), Hg(II) and Zn(II) but not to Cd(II) and Ni(II). Characterisation of the sensor showed that its response to those heavy metals is linear in the 2.5 to 50 mu mol l(-1) range, with a response time (t (90)) on the order of 100 min, providing detection limits of 9.0 x 10(-7), 4.7 x 10(-7) and 2.9 x 10(-7) mol l (-1) for Zn(II), Cu(II) and Hg(II), respectively. Due to the stability of the immobilised ligand, which presented no leaching from the sol-gel matrix, the simultaneous determination of the three cations in water was feasible by employing multivariate calibration techniques coupled to fluorescence quenching measurements. The sensor was validated with recovery tests by addition of Cu(II) and Hg(II) ions to spring waters, providing results with standard errors lower than 4.1 mu mol l (-1).398418583127313

Fluorescent ion-imprinted polymers for selective Cu(II) optosensing

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of a fluorescent ion-imprinted polymer (IIP) for selective determination of copper ions in aqueous samples. The IIP has been prepared using a novel functional monomer, 4-[(E)-2-(4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridin-4-yl)vinyl]phenyl methacrylate (abbreviated as BSOMe) that has been spectroscopically characterized in methanolic solution, in the absence and in the presence of several metal ions, including Cd(II), Cu(II), Hg(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II). The stability constant (2.04 x 10(8) mol(-2) l(2)) and stoichiometry (L2M) of the BSOMe complex with Cu(II) were extracted thereof. Cu(II)-IIPs were prepared by radical polymerization using stoichiometric amounts of the fluorescent monomer and the template metal ion. The resulting cross-linked network did not show any leaching of the immobilized ligand allowing determination of Cu(II) in aqueous samples by fluorescence quenching measurements. Several parameters affecting optosensor performance have been optimized, including sample pH, ionic strength, or polymer regeneration for online analysis of water samples. The synthesized Cu(II)-IIP exhibits a detection limit of 0.04 mu mol l(-1) for the determination of Cu(II) in water samples with a reproducibility of 3%, exhibiting an excellent selectivity towards the template ion over other metal ions with the same charge and close ionic radius. The IIP-based optosensor has been repeatedly used and regenerated for more than 50 cycles without a significant decrease in the luminescent properties and binding affinity of the sensing phase.4021032533260Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Spanish Ministry of EducationMinistry of Science and Innovation [PHB2005-0030-PC, CTQ2009-14565-C03]Complutense University [GR58-08-910072]Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)CAPES [CAPES/DGU 125/06]Ministry of Science and Innovation [PHB2005-0030-PC, CTQ2009-14565-C03]Complutense University [GR58-08-910072

A problemática do cuidador familiar do portador de acidente vascular cerebral La problemática del cuidador familiar con el portador de accidente cerebral vascular The problematic aspects of the family caregiver of people who suffered strokes

Objetivou-se identificar a problemática da família de pessoas acometidas de acidente vascular cerebral hospitalizadas e discutir as dificuldades do cuidador familiar para o cuidado no âmbito domiciliar. A amostra constou de 154 famílias de pacientes internados em um hospital da rede pública de saúde, Fortaleza-CE. Conforme os resultados denotam, a maioria dos cuidadores são mulheres, 104 (67,5%); 122 casos (79,2%) apresentam comprometimento familiar e alterações na vida diária em 115 dos acompanhantes (74,7%); 150 (97,4%) não receberam orientações acerca dos cuidados, mas 143 (92,9%) sentem-se seguros para acompanhá-los. O sentimento predominante foi a tristeza, 125 (81,2%), e as dúvidas principais foram: alimentação, 64 (41,6%), administração de medicamentos, 49 (29,9%), e possíveis complicações clínicas após a alta, 49 (29,9%). Estes resultados alertam para o papel do enfermeiro como educador, não somente na prevenção das doenças crônico-degenerativas, mas, também, na orientação aos cuidadores familiares sobre os cuidados dispensados após a alta hospitalar.<br>El objetivo fue identificar la problemática de la familia de personas acometidas de accidente vascular cerebral hospitalizadas y discutir las dificultades del cuidador familiar en el ámbito domiciliar. La muestra fue constituida por 154 familias de pacientes internados en un hospital de la red pública de salud, en Fortaleza, CE. Conforme los resultados denotan, la mayoría de los cuidadores son mujeres, 104 (67,5%), 122 casos (79,2%) presentan comprometimiento familiar y alteraciones en la vida diaria en 115 de los acompañantes (74,7%); 150 (97,4%) no recibieron orientaciones acerca de los cuidados; sin embargo 143 (92,9%) se sienten seguros para acompañarlos. El sentimiento predominante fue la tristeza, 125 (81,2%), y las dudas principales fueron: alimentación, 64 (41,6%), administración de medicamentos, 49 (29,9%), y posibles complicaciones clínicas después del alta hospitalaria, 49 (29,9%). Estos resultados alertan sobre el papel del enfermero como educador, en la prevención de las enfermedades crónico degenerativas, y también la orientación dada a los cuidadores familiares sobre los cuidados a ser realizados después del alta hospitalaria.<br>The purpose of this study was to identify the problematic aspects of the families of people who were hospitalized because of strokes, and discuss the difficulties of the family caregiver toward household care. The sample consisted of 154 families of patients admitted in a public hospital in Fortaleza, Ceará state, Brazil. The results showed that most caregivers are women, 104 (67.5%); 122 cases (79.2%) showed family commitment and changes in the daily life of 115 accompanying partners (74.7%); 150 (97.4%) were not instructed about the care, but 143 (92.9%) felt safe to provide care. The predominant feeling was sadness, in 125 (81.2%) of the subjects, and the main doubts were: eating habits, 64 (41.6%); administering medication, 49 (29.9%); and possible clinical complications after discharge, 49 (29.9%). These results are worth noting for the nurse's role as an educator, not only regarding the prevention of chronic-degenerative diseases, but also concerning delivering instructions to family caregivers about providing care after hospital discharge

Uso regular de serviços odontológicos entre adultos: padrões de utilização e tipos de serviços.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o uso regular de serviços odontológicos entre adultos, identificando grupos nos quais esse comportamento é mais freqüente. O estudo foi realizado em Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, com desenho transversal de base populacional, envolvendo 2.961 indivíduos, que responderam um questionário estruturado. A prevalência de uso regular encontrada foi de 32,8%. Estiveram positivamente associadas ao uso de forma regular as seguintes características: ser do sexo feminino, ter idade < 60 anos, não ter companheiro, ter alta escolaridade, ter maior nível econômico, usar serviços privados, ter autopercepção de saúde bucal boa/ótima, não ter autopercepção de necessidade de tratamento, ter recebido orientação sobre prevenção e ter manifestado opinião favorável ao profissional. O uso regular foi pouco freqüente, especialmente entre os menos favorecidos (15%). Restringindo a análise apenas para usuários do serviço público, observou-se maior utilização regular entre os mais escolarizados. Os serviços de saúde, em especial o público, devem trabalhar a fim de incrementar o uso regular e preventivo