Mild cognitive impairment and progression to dementia of Alzheimer's disease

The increase in life expectancy in the Brazilian population raises questions about the preparation of the public health system in identifying elderly patients with signs of cognitive impairment. Currently, as a consequence of the long duration of preclinical phase of Alzheimer's disease, efforts of early detection have been emphasized. Clinical dementia presents an important impact on the individual's caregivers, family, society and economy. Identifying individuals who already have some cognitive impairment, despite remaining functional, as well as analyzing associated comorbidities, constitutes an opportunity to analyze possibilities for future interventions. Dementias are clinical conditions that impose a burden on the health system with its high costs, whereas the identification of individuals with cognitive impairment without dementia can aid patients and their families to plan the future and mitigate costs. This narrative revision can provide general practitioners with more information on the subject.Univ Fed Sao Paulo, UNIFESP, Escola Paulista Med, Psychiat Dept, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Fac Med Botucatu, Dept Internal Med,Geriatr, Botucatu, SP, BrazilFMB Unesp, Botucatu, SP, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, BrazilHosp Santa Marcelina, Neurol Residency Program, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Grp Neurol Cognitiva & Comportamento, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil|Univ Sao Paulo, Ctr Referencia Disturbios Cognit Ceredic, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, UNIFESP, Escola Paulista Med, Psychiat Dept, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Recoverable and Reusable Polymer Microbead-Supported Metal Nanocatalysts for Redox Chemical Transformations

Metal nanoparticles have been widely exploited in catalysis, but their full impact on the environment and human health is still under debate. Here we describe the one-step fabrication of recoverable and reusable polymer microbead-supported metal and metal oxide nanocatalysts for application in batch reactions and flow systems. Au, Ag, and Fe3O4 nanoparticles were prepared directly at the surface of commercial benzylamine-coated spherical polymer beads in water by using low-energy microwave radiation for 5 min. The functionalization of microbead surface with betalamic acid, an antioxidant from plant origin, before irradiation changes the morphology and catalytic properties of the grafted nanoparticles. No leaching of the active phase was observed during the application of these effective and ready-to-use nanocatalysts on the reduction of 4-nitrophenol and oxidation of dihydrorhodamine 123. The supported nanocatalysts were recovered by filtration and/or magnetic separation and reused up to three times without significant drop in catalytic performance. These results can stimulate the controlled and facile synthesis of recoverable microbead-supported magnetic and nonmagnetic nanocatalysts that can be applied under myriad reaction conditions and reused multiple times.Peer reviewe

Organizational Practices for Learning with work accidents

O SHO 2010, Colóquio Internacional de Segurança e Higiene OcupacionaAs estatísticas europeias revelam que os acidentes de trabalho representam ainda um problema social importante para a nossa sociedade (Comissão Europeia, 2004) e, ao mesmo tempo, tem sido reconhecida a necessidade de usar a informação dos acidentes para a prevenção, através da aprendizagem (p. ex., Koornneef, 2000; Toft & Reynolds, 1997). O enfoque na aprendizagem salienta a necessidade de se ter informação disponível, disseminada, discutida, e mudanças implementadas. De acordo com Reason (1997) a aprendizagem decorre ao longo de um ciclo que começa com a observação de um acontecimento e termina com a acção que permite evitar a sua repetição. Até à data foram realizados poucos estudos que tenham abrangido todo o processo e etapas da aprendizagem ao longo do ciclo. O presente estudo visa contribuir para o aumento da compreensão sobre o modo como as empresas estão a usar a informação dos acidentes de trabalho para o desenvolvimento de estratégias e práticas de aprendizagem, tendo em consideração todas as fases do ciclo. Realizaram-se dezassete estudos de caso com organizações portuguesas que operam em diferentes sectores de actividade que foram identificadas como tendo “boas práticas”.Os dados foram recolhidos por meio de entrevistas semi- estruturadas realizadas com pessoas-chave na área da Segurança e/ou Recursos Humanos. Os resultados sugerem que as organizações estudadas têm alguns procedimentos bem definidos para a recolha, registo, codificação e análise de informações de acidentes. Simultaneamente, observa-se que alguns procedimentos são caracterizados pela não-padronização. Palavras-chave: apEuropean statistics show that accidents at work are still a major social problem for our society (European Commission, 2004) and at the same time, it has been recognized the need to use the information for accident prevention through learning (eg., Koornneef, 2000; Toft & Reynolds, 1997). The focus on learning emphasizes the need to have information available, disseminated, discussed, and changes need to be implemented. According to Reason (1997) learning takes place over a cycle that begins with the observation of an event and ends with action to prevent its recurrence. To date few studies have been conducted that have covered the whole process and stages of learning throughout the cycle. This study aims to contribute to increased understanding of how companies are using the information on accidents at work to develop strategies and practices of learning, taking into account all phases of the cycle. Seventeen case studies were conducted within Portuguese organizations from different activity sectors that have been identified as having "good practice". Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with key people in the area of safety and/or Human Resources Management. The results suggest that the organizations studied have some well-defined procedures for the collection, recording, coding and analysis of accidents. Simultaneously, we observed that some procedures are characterized by nonstandardization

Organizational Practices for Learning with work accidents

O SHO 2010, Colóquio Internacional de Segurança e Higiene OcupacionaAs estatísticas europeias revelam que os acidentes de trabalho representam ainda um problema social importante para a nossa sociedade (Comissão Europeia, 2004) e, ao mesmo tempo, tem sido reconhecida a necessidade de usar a informação dos acidentes para a prevenção, através da aprendizagem (p. ex., Koornneef, 2000; Toft & Reynolds, 1997). O enfoque na aprendizagem salienta a necessidade de se ter informação disponível, disseminada, discutida, e mudanças implementadas. De acordo com Reason (1997) a aprendizagem decorre ao longo de um ciclo que começa com a observação de um acontecimento e termina com a acção que permite evitar a sua repetição. Até à data foram realizados poucos estudos que tenham abrangido todo o processo e etapas da aprendizagem ao longo do ciclo. O presente estudo visa contribuir para o aumento da compreensão sobre o modo como as empresas estão a usar a informação dos acidentes de trabalho para o desenvolvimento de estratégias e práticas de aprendizagem, tendo em consideração todas as fases do ciclo. Realizaram-se dezassete estudos de caso com organizações portuguesas que operam em diferentes sectores de actividade que foram identificadas como tendo “boas práticas”.Os dados foram recolhidos por meio de entrevistas semi- estruturadas realizadas com pessoas-chave na área da Segurança e/ou Recursos Humanos. Os resultados sugerem que as organizações estudadas têm alguns procedimentos bem definidos para a recolha, registo, codificação e análise de informações de acidentes. Simultaneamente, observa-se que alguns procedimentos são caracterizados pela não-padronização. Palavras-chave: apEuropean statistics show that accidents at work are still a major social problem for our society (European Commission, 2004) and at the same time, it has been recognized the need to use the information for accident prevention through learning (eg., Koornneef, 2000; Toft & Reynolds, 1997). The focus on learning emphasizes the need to have information available, disseminated, discussed, and changes need to be implemented. According to Reason (1997) learning takes place over a cycle that begins with the observation of an event and ends with action to prevent its recurrence. To date few studies have been conducted that have covered the whole process and stages of learning throughout the cycle. This study aims to contribute to increased understanding of how companies are using the information on accidents at work to develop strategies and practices of learning, taking into account all phases of the cycle. Seventeen case studies were conducted within Portuguese organizations from different activity sectors that have been identified as having "good practice". Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with key people in the area of safety and/or Human Resources Management. The results suggest that the organizations studied have some well-defined procedures for the collection, recording, coding and analysis of accidents. Simultaneously, we observed that some procedures are characterized by nonstandardization

Can Energetic Terahertz Pulses Initiate Surface Catalytic Reactions on the Picosecond Time Scale?

In preparation for picosecond pump-probe experiments at the SwissFELX-ray laser facility, the feasibility of collectively initiating surface chemical reactions using energetic pulses of terahertz radiation is being tested

Spirometry-adjusted fraction of exhaled nitric oxide increases accuracy for assessment of asthma control in children

Spirometry and exhaled nitric oxide are two important complimentary tools to identify and assess asthma control in children. We aimed to determine the ability of a new suggested spirometry-adjusted fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (NO) index in doing that. A random sample of 1602 schoolchildren were screened by a health questionnaire, skin prick tests, spirometry with bronchodilation and exhaled NO. A total of 662 children were included with median (IQR) exhaled NO 11(14) ppb. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves using exhaled NO equations from Malmberg, Kovesi and Buchvald, and spirometry-adjusted fraction of exhaled NO values were applied to identify asthmatic children and uncontrolled asthma. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves failed to identify asthmatic children (all AUC < 0.700). Spirometry-adjusted fraction of exhaled NO/FEV1 (AUC = 0.712; P = .010) and NO/FEF25%-75% (AUC = 0.735 P = .004) had a fair and increased ability to identify uncontrolled disease compared with exhaled NO (AUC = 0.707; P = .011) or the Malmberg equation (AUC = 0.701; P = .014). Sensitivity and specificity identifying non-controlled asthma were 59% and 81%, respectively, for the cut-off value of 9.7 ppb/L for exhaled NO/FEV1 , and 40% and 100% for 15.7 ppb/L/s for exhaled NO/FEF25%-75% . Exhaled NO did not allow to identify childhood asthma. Spirometry-adjusted fraction of exhaled NO performed better-assessing asthma control in children. Thus, although more validation studies are needed, we suggest its use in epidemiological studies to assess asthma control.Health, Comfort and Energy in the Built Environment (HEBE), Grant/Award Number: NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000010; Programa Operacional Regional do Norte, Grant/Award Number: NORTE2020; Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER); Foundation for Science and Technology schoolarships, Grant/Award Number: SFRH/BD/108605/2015 and SFRH/BD/112269/201

Receptor-Specific Mechanisms Regulate Phosphorylation of AKT at Ser473: Role of RICTOR in β1 Integrin-Mediated Cell Survival

A tight control over AKT/PKB activation is essential for cells, and they realise this in part by regulating the phosphorylation of Ser473 in the “hydrophobic motif” of the AKT carboxy-terminal region. The RICTOR-mTOR complex (TORC2) is a major kinase for AKT Ser473 phosphorylation after stimulation by several growth factors, in a reaction proposed to require p21-activated kinase (PAK) as a scaffold. However, other kinases may catalyse this reaction in stimuli-specific manners. Here we characterised the requirement of RICTOR, ILK, and PAK for AKT Ser473 phosphorylation downstream of selected family members of integrins, G protein-coupled receptors, and tyrosine-kinase receptors and analysed the importance of this phosphorylation site for adhesion-mediated survival. siRNA-mediated knockdown in HeLa and MCF7 cells showed that RICTOR-mTOR was required for phosphorylation of AKT Ser473, and for efficient phosphorylation of the downstream AKT targets FOXO1 Thr24 and BAD Ser136, in response to β1 integrin-stimulation. ILK and PAK1/2 were dispensable for these reactions. RICTOR knockdown increased the number of apoptotic MCF7 cells on β1 integrin ligands up to 2-fold after 24 h in serum-free conditions. β1 integrin-stimulation induced phosphorylation of both AKT1 and AKT2 but markedly preferred AKT2. RICTOR-mTOR was required also for LPA-induced AKT Ser473 phosphorylation in MCF7 cells, but, interestingly, not in HeLa cells. PAK was needed for the AKT Ser473 phosphorylation in response to LPA and PDGF, but not to EGF. These results demonstrate that different receptors utilise different enzyme complexes to phosphorylate AKT at Ser473, and that AKT Ser473 phosphorylation significantly contributes to β1 integrin-mediated anchorage-dependent survival of cells

The Complete Spectrum of Yeast Chromosome Instability Genes Identifies Candidate CIN Cancer Genes and Functional Roles for ASTRA Complex Components

Chromosome instability (CIN) is observed in most solid tumors and is linked to somatic mutations in genome integrity maintenance genes. The spectrum of mutations that cause CIN is only partly known and it is not possible to predict a priori all pathways whose disruption might lead to CIN. To address this issue, we generated a catalogue of CIN genes and pathways by screening ∼2,000 reduction-of-function alleles for 90% of essential genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Integrating this with published CIN phenotypes for other yeast genes generated a systematic CIN gene dataset comprised of 692 genes. Enriched gene ontology terms defined cellular CIN pathways that, together with sequence orthologs, created a list of human CIN candidate genes, which we cross-referenced to published somatic mutation databases revealing hundreds of mutated CIN candidate genes. Characterization of some poorly characterized CIN genes revealed short telomeres in mutants of the ASTRA/TTT components TTI1 and ASA1. High-throughput phenotypic profiling links ASA1 to TTT (Tel2-Tti1-Tti2) complex function and to TORC1 signaling via Tor1p stability, consistent with the role of TTT in PI3-kinase related kinase biogenesis. The comprehensive CIN gene list presented here in principle comprises all conserved eukaryotic genome integrity pathways. Deriving human CIN candidate genes from the list allows direct cross-referencing with tumor mutational data and thus candidate mutations potentially driving CIN in tumors. Overall, the CIN gene spectrum reveals new chromosome biology and will help us to understand CIN phenotypes in human disease