Hormone replacement therapy increases levels of antibodies against heat shock protein 65 and certain species of oxidized low density lipoprotein

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) reduces cardiovascular risks, although the initiation of therapy may be associated with transient adverse ischemic and thrombotic events. Antibodies against heat shock protein (Hsp) and oxidized low density lipoprotein (LDL) have been found in atherosclerotic lesions and plasma of patients with coronary artery disease and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of HRT on the immune response by measuring plasma levels of antibodies against Hsp 65 and LDL with a low and high degree of copper-mediated oxidative modification of 20 postmenopausal women before and 90 days after receiving orally 0.625 mg equine conjugate estrogen plus 2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate per day. HRT significantly increased antibodies against Hsp 65 (0.316 ± 0.03 vs 0.558 ± 0.11) and against LDL with a low degree of oxidative modification (0.100 ± 0.01 vs 0.217 ± 0.02) (P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively, ANOVA). The hormone-mediated immune response may trigger an inflammatory response within the vessel wall and potentially increase plaque burden. Whether or not this immune response is temporary or sustained and deleterious requires further investigation.Universidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina Instituto do CoraçãoUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de BiofísicaUniversidade de São Paulo Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas IV Departamento de Imunologia and Instituto de Medicina Tropical da Universidade de São PauloUNIFESP, Depto. de BiofísicaSciEL

Naphthotriazole derivatives : synthesis and fluorescence properties

Eight fluorescent compounds containing a naphthotriazole moiety substituted at position 2 by a (vinylsulfonyl)aryl group or its precursors, containing hydroxyl or sulphonic groups or N-methylglycine, were prepared and characterized. The products were recovered in moderate yields after column chromatography or recrystallization and identified by proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Double resonance, heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence and heteronuclear multiple bond correlation experiments were carried out for complete assignment of proton and carbon signals. Absorption and emission spectra were obtained, in acetonitrile, for all the compounds and the fluorescence quantum yields determined. All compounds are promising fluorescent probes due to their high fluorescence quantum yields.Research grant VZ MSMT-0021627501, Czech RepublicFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - REEQ/ 630/QUI/2005; REDE/1517/RMN/2005FEDER - REEQ/ 630/QUI/2005; REDE/1517/RMN/200

Using stated preference methods to assess environmental impacts of forest biomass power plants in Portugal

As a renewable energy source, the use of forest biomass for electricity generation is advantageous in comparison with fossil fuels, however the activity of forest biomass power plants causes adverse impacts, affecting particularly neighbouring communities. The main objective of this study is to estimate the effects of the activity of forest biomass power plants on the welfare of two groups of stakeholders, namely local residents and the general population and we apply two stated preference methods: contingent valuation and discrete choice experiments, respectively. The former method was applied to estimate the minimum compensation residents of neighbouring communities of two forest biomass power plants in Portugal would be willing to accept. The latter method was applied among the general population to estimate their willingness to pay to avoid specific environmental impacts. The results show that the presence of the selected facilities affects individuals’ well-being. On the other hand, in the discrete choice experiments conducted among the general population all impacts considered were significant determinants of respondents’ welfare levels. The results of this study stress the importance of performing an equity analysis of the welfare effects on different groups of stakeholders from the installation of forest biomass power plants, as their effects on welfare are location and impact specific. Policy makers should take into account the views of all stakeholders either directly or indirectly involved when deciding crucial issues regarding the sitting of new forest biomass power plants, in order to achieve an efficient and equitable outcome

The complete genome sequence of Chromobacterium violaceum reveals remarkable and exploitable bacterial adaptability

Chromobacterium violaceum is one of millions of species of free-living microorganisms that populate the soil and water in the extant areas of tropical biodiversity around the world. Its complete genome sequence reveals (i) extensive alternative pathways for energy generation, (ii) ≈500 ORFs for transport-related proteins, (iii) complex and extensive systems for stress adaptation and motility, and (iv) wide-spread utilization of quorum sensing for control of inducible systems, all of which underpin the versatility and adaptability of the organism. The genome also contains extensive but incomplete arrays of ORFs coding for proteins associated with mammalian pathogenicity, possibly involved in the occasional but often fatal cases of human C. violaceum infection. There is, in addition, a series of previously unknown but important enzymes and secondary metabolites including paraquat-inducible proteins, drug and heavy-metal-resistance proteins, multiple chitinases, and proteins for the detoxification of xenobiotics that may have biotechnological applications

Sensitivity Analysis of the MOHID-Land Hydrological Model: A Case Study of the Ulla River Basin

Hydrological models are increasingly used for studying watershed behavior and its response to past and future events. The main objective of this study was to conduct a sensitivity analysis of the MOHID-Land model and identify the most relevant parameters/processes influencing river flow generation. MOHID-Land is a complex, physically based, three-dimensional model used for catchment-scale applications. A reference simulation was implemented in the Ulla River watershed, northwestern Spain. The sensitivity analysis focused on sixteen parameters/processes influencing water dynamics at that scale. River flow generation was influenced by the resolution of the simulation grid, soil water infiltration, and crop evapotranspiration. Baseflow was affected by soil hydraulic properties, the depth of the soil profile, and the dimensions of the river cross-sections. Peak flows were mostly constrained by Manning&rsquo;s coefficient in the river network, as well as the dimensions of the river cross-sections. The MOHID-Land model was then used to simulate daily streamflow during a 10-year period (2008&minus;2017). Model simulations were compared against measured data at four hydrometric stations characterizing the natural flow regime of the Ulla River, resulting in coefficients of determination (R2) from 0.56 to 0.85; ratios of the standard deviation of the root mean square error to observation (RSR) between 0.4 and 0.67, and Nash and Sutcliffe model efficiency (NSE) values ranging from 0.55 to 0.84. The MOHID-Land model thus has the capacity to reproduce watershed behavior at a daily scale with reliable accuracy, constituting a powerful tool to improve water governance at the watershed scale

Teste ergométrico: valor prognóstico em pacientes idosos com doença aterosclerótica coronariana estável Exercise stress test: prognostic value for elderly patients with stable coronary atherosclerosis

OBJETIVO: Estudar o valor prognóstico das variáveis do teste ergométrico em pacientes idosos com doença aterosclerótica coronariana e isquemia induzida pelo esforço. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 64 pacientes idosos (61 homens, idade de 73 &plusmn; 5 anos) com doença aterosclerótica coronariana, comprovada por coronariografia, clinicamente estável, fração de ejeção de ventrículo esquerdo maior ou igual a 0,40 e isquemia miocárdica durante o teste ergométrico. A cada seis meses, os pacientes foram avaliados para eventos cardíacos (morte, infarto do miocárdio, angina instável, angioplastia e revascularização do miocárdio). RESULTADOS: Após seguimento médio de 48 meses, 23 (36%) pacientes sofreram eventos cardíacos. Não houve diferença clínica e angiográfica entre os pacientes que sofreram o evento e os que não o sofreram. Pela análise multivariada, a presença de dor precordial durante o teste ergométrico (risco relativo de 2,668 e p = 0,031) e a freqüência cardíaca no início da isquemia (risco relativo de 0,966 e p = 0,009) foram associadas a eventos cardíacos. CONCLUSÃO: Nessa população idosa, a presença de dor precordial durante o teste ergométrico e a freqüência cardíaca no início da isquemia foram associadas a eventos cardíacos. Essas variáveis podem ser úteis para avaliação do risco de pacientes com doença aterosclerótica coronariana estável.<br>OBJECTIVE: To study the prognostic value of exercise stress test variables in elderly patients with coronary atherosclerosis and exercise-induced ischemia. METHODS: Sixty-four elderly patients (61 men, 73 &plusmn; 5 years old) with coronary atherosclerosis, verified by cardiac catheterization, that were clinically stable, had a left ventricle ejection fraction greater than or equal to 0.40 and developed myocardial ischemia during the exercise stress test were studied. The patients were evaluated every six months for cardiac events (death, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, angioplasty and myocardial revascularization). RESULTS: After a mean follow-up period of 48 months, 23 (36%) patients suffered cardiac events. There was no clinical or angiographical differences among the patients that suffered cardiac events and those that did not. Using multivariate analysis, the presence of chest pain during the exercise stress test (relative risk 2.668, p = 0.031) and the heart rate at the onset of ischemia (relative risk 0.966, p = 0.009) were associated with cardiac events. CONCLUSION: In this elderly population, the presence of chest pain during the exercise stress test and the heart rate at the onset of ischemia were associated with cardiac events. These variables could be useful for risk evaluation in patients with stable coronary atherosclerosis

Avaliação da atenção à saúde através da investigação de óbitos infantis

Foram investigados todos os óbitos de crianças menores de um ano residentes no Distrito Sanitário de Pau da Lima, Município de Salvador, Brasil, no ano de 1991, através de consultas aos respectivos prontuários hospitalares e visitas domiciliares. O estudo visava a aferir a efetividade dos serviços de saúde por meio da verificação de óbitos potencialmente evitáveis e o grau de adequação dos cuidados médicos prestados às crianças. De um total de 47 óbitos, observou-se que mais da metade dos mesmos ocorreu por causas vulneráveis à ação oportuna dos serviços de saúde, e que 21,3% dos óbitos ocorreram em via pública e domicílios. Houve 76,6% de perdas de informação nas entrevistas com as mães, atribuídas a problemas de preenchimento incompleto ou incorreto da Declaração de óbito, e por mudanças de endereço. A pesquisa dos prontuários nas unidades de saúde registrou perda de 58,3%, revelando o baixo grau de organização das estatísticas hospitalares; prevaleceram atendimentos classificados como pouco adequados e inadequados, principalmente nos itens exame físico e tratamento. Apesar das limitações operacionais do estudo, os resultados apontam problemas de acesso, efetividade e adequação do processo de assistência à saúde

Equilíbrio nutricional e distúrbios fisiológicos em manga 'Tommy Atkins' Nutritional balance and physiological disorders in mango 'Tommy Atkins'

Com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito do equilíbrio nutricional sobre a incidência de distúrbios fisiológicos em manga 'Tommy Atkins' cultivada no Vale do São Francisco, realizou-se um ensaio com frutos coletados no estádio de maturação fisiológica, classificados em frutos sem sintomas e com sintomas de distúrbio fisiológico. Os frutos das duas classes foram separados em casca, polpa e caroço, e levados para secagem em estufa a 65 &deg;C. Este material foi submetido a mineralização para a determinação das concentrações de N, K, Ca, Mg e B. Antes da desidratação, uma parte da polpa foi separada para as determinações do teor de sólidos solúveis totais (SST) e da acidez total titulável (ATT). Os resultados permitem concluir que, tanto as concentrações elevadas de Ca e Mg, como as baixas relações N/Ca e K/Ca, tanto na polpa quanto na casca, foram eficientes na prevenção de distúrbios fisiológicos nos frutos de mangueira; a concentração de nutrientes obtida na casca pode refletir melhor a condição da fisiopatia do que a concentração dos nutrientes na polpa dos frutos; os valores de SST e a relação SST/ATT determinada nos frutos com sintomas foram muito mais elevados do que nos frutos sem sintomas, devido a uma sobrematuração desordenada dos tecidos da polpa.<br>With the objective of evaluating the effect of the nutritional balance on the incidence of physiological disorders in mango cv. Tommy Atkins, grown in São Francisco River Valley, a trial was carried out with fruits harvested at physiological ripening stage, classified as fruits without and with physiological disorder symptoms. From all of them, skin, flesh and pit were separated and dried in a stove at 65ºC. This material was mineralized in order to determine N, K, Ca, Mg and B contents. Before dehydration, part of the flesh was taken for estimation of the total soluble solids (TSS) and total titrable acidity (TTA). The results allow to conclude that: high concentrations of Ca and Mg , as well as low ratios N/Ca and K/Ca, both in the flesh and in the skin, were efficient to prevent physiological disorders in mango fruits; the nutrient concentration in the skin may show better the condition of physiological disorders than the nutrient concentration in fruit flesh; and the TSS values and TSS/TTA ratio in fruits with symptoms were much higher than in fruits without symptoms, due to over ripening of flesh tissues