Estudo e conceção de um sistema de encaixe rápido e simples para próteses de membros inferiores

A variedade dos sistemas de suspensão, ou sistemas de encaixe, entre o membro residual e a prótese passam por mecanismos de pino de bloqueio, vácuo, sucção, magnéticos e híbridos. Cada tipo de mecanismo apresenta um conjunto de vantagens e desvantagens que o torna mais adequado para determinados tipos de situações. Contudo, o descontentamento demonstrado por parte dos pacientes amputados em relação às suspensões utilizadas incide principalmente na dificuldade em estabelecer uma boa suspensão, quer pela pouca destreza manual demonstrada pelo paciente, quer pela dificuldade de montagem do próprio mecanismo [1]. Surge assim a necessidade para o estudo e a conceção de um novo sistema de encaixe. No estudo realizado foram utilizadas várias ferramentas de auxílio ao projeto (como a árvore de objetivos, o diagrama de funções, o mapa morfológico) que permitiram a obtenção de diferentes soluções alternativas, de entre as quais foi selecionada uma que apresenta um sistema de encaixe que proporciona uma ligação rápida, simples e ergonómica.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

HIF-1α-independent hypoxia-induced rapid PTK6 stabilization is associated with increased motility and invasion

This article has been made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.PTK6/Brk is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase overexpressed in cancer. Here we demonstrate that cytosolic PTK6 is rapidly and robustly induced in response to hypoxic conditions in a HIF-1-independent manner. Furthermore, a proportion of hypoxic PTK6 subsequently re-localized to the cell membrane. We observed that the rapid stabilization of PTK6 is associated with a decrease in PTK6 ubiquitylation and we have identified c-Cbl as a putative PTK6 E3 ligase in normoxia. The consequences of hypoxia-induced PTK6 stabilization and subcellular re-localization to the plasma membrane include increased cell motility and invasion, suggesting PTK6 targeting as a therapeutic approach to reduce hypoxia-regulated metastatic potential. This could have particular significance for breast cancer patients with triple negative disease.A Breast Cancer Campaign pilot grant awarded to E.M.H. supported this study. I.M.P. is supported by University of Hull HEFCE funding, and Royal Society and Breast Cancer Campaign pilot grants. S.A.E. is supported by ICR HEFCE funding and Cancer Research UK program grant C309/A11566. A.H. is supported by Brunel University HEFCE funding. E.M.H. is supported by a Cancer Research UK grant

Selection of the most adequate suspension system for lower limb amputees: evaluation parameters

A proper suspension system influence the overall satisfaction of a lower limb ¬amputee on the daily basis. The present study aimed to establish the main parameters needed to evaluate and support the advantages of the new proposed suspension system by reviewing the literature related with amputee’s satisfaction. Eleven studies were select and detailed analyzed. Most of the mentioned studies used Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire (PEQ) as a method to classify the amputee’s satisfaction in different domains. Several studies pointed out pistoning and easy donning and doffing as the main parameters that addresses the amputee’s satisfaction with the currently available suspension systems. Amputees had a general preference for suspension systems that have an easy donning and doffing. However, the current studies do not explore the impact of the amputee’s characteristics on their satisfaction with the suspension system. The authors believe that amputee’s characteristics such as age, activity level, duration of prosthetic use, skin quality of the residual limb and hand functionality can influence the selection of the suspension system. Further research is still needed to objectively define the clinical parameters for the selection of the most adequate suspension system. Therefore the research should be carried out using a homogenous study group to perceive the advantages, drawbacks and problems using different suspension systems and, consequently, to understand the full potential of the suspension system proposed by the authors.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Development of an easy and effective attachment system for lower limb prosthesis

This study aimed to introduce a new suspension system that is capable of increasing the amputee’s satisfaction in terms of locking the residual limb inside the prosthetic socket. This paper describes the design and development phases carried out to optimize the final solution. The design system was based on the amputee’s needs and the requirements of prosthetic suspension systems. The final solution is a combination of a guiding and fixation system, to overcome some of the reported problems with the current systems, presenting a new simple suspension method that improves the donning and doffing of prosthesis. The new suspension system is a good alternative system to improve the life quality of amputees with lower activity level on the daily basis and, consequently, ease their rehabilitation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Drawbacks of dialysis procedures for removal of EDTA

9 p.-3 fig.Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is a chelating agent commonly used in protein purification, both to eliminate contaminating divalent cations and to inhibit protease activity. For a number of subsequent applications EDTA needs to be exhaustively removed. Most purification methods rely in extensive dialysis and/or gel filtration in order to exchange or remove protein buffer components, including metal chelators. We report here that dialysis protocols,even as extensive as those typically employed for protein refolding, may not effectively remove EDTA, which is reduced only by approximately two-fold and it also persists after spin-column gel filtration, as determined by NMR and by colorimetric methods. Remarkably, the most efficient removal was achieved by ultrafiltration, after which EDTA became virtually undetectable. These results highlight a potentially widespread source of experimental variability affecting free divalent cation concentrations in protein applications.This work has been funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklowdowska-Curie grant agreement number 675132 (http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/198275_en.html), and by grants from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO/FEDER, http://www.mineco.gob.es/ portal/site/mineco/idi) SAF2015-68590R to DPS and CTQ2015-64597-C2-2-P to FJC.Peer reviewe

Produção de frutos de pedra-ume-caá em função de condições meteorológicas em Manaus-AM.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o comportamento da produção de frutos de pedra-ume-caá, espécie medicinal amazônica, em função das variações das condições meteorológicas em Manaus-AM

Sexual dimorphism, female fertility, and diet of Physalaemus feioi (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from southeastern Brazil

Physalaemus feioi é uma rã da América do Sul, endêmica da Mata Atlântica, registrada nos estados de Minas Gerais e São Paulo. Avaliamos o dimorfismo sexual, a fertilidade nas fêmeas e dieta dessa espécie em duas localidades do estado de Minas Gerais, incluindo a localidade-tipo da espécie. Coletamos 73 indivíduos (16 fêmeas adultas e 57 machos adultos) por meio de busca ativa. O número de oócitos encontrados para P. feioi (x̅ = 1385 ± 498,13) foi alto quando comparado com outras espécies do gênero como P. maculiventris, P. signifer, P. cuvieri e P. ephippifer mas este semelha o número de oócitos de P. centralis, P. kroyeri e P. marmoratus. As presas com maior índice de importância foram Coleoptera (IIR = 24,26) e Formicidae (IIR = 16,46). Não houve diferenças entre machos e fêmeas quanto ao número de presas ingeridas e nem o volume do conteúdo estomacal. Em resumo, Physalaemus feioi teve semelhanças com outras espécies do gênero em relação ao dimorfismo sexual, fecundidade e hábitos alimentares.Physalaemus feioi is a South American frog endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest that occurs in the states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo. We evaluated sexual dimorphism, female fertility, and diet of P. feioi from two locations in the state of Minas Gerais, including the type locality of the species. We collected 73 individuals (16 adult females and 57 adult males). The number of oocytes of P. feioi (x̅ = 1385 ±498.13) was higher than in other species of the genus, such as P. maculiventris, P. signifer, P. cuvieri, and P. ephippifer, but it resembles that of P. centralis, P. kroyeri, and P. marmoratus. The prey items with the highest index of importance were Coleoptera (IIR = 24.26) and Formicidae (IIR = 16.46). We found no sex differences regarding the number of ingested prey and the volume of the stomach contents. In summary, Physalaemus feioi was similar to other species of the genus regarding sexual dimorphism, fecundity, and feeding habits

Treatment of patients with aortic atherosclerotic disease with paclitaxel-associated lipid nanoparticles

OBJECTIVE: The toxicity of anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agents can be reduced by associating these compounds, such as the anti-proliferative agent paclitaxel, with a cholesterol-rich nanoemulsion (LDE) that mimics the lipid composition of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). When injected into circulation, the LDE concentrates the carried drugs in neoplastic tissues and atherosclerotic lesions. In rabbits, atherosclerotic lesion size was reduced by 65% following LDE-paclitaxel treatment. The current study aimed to test the effectiveness of LDE-paclitaxel on inpatients with aortic atherosclerosis. METHODS: This study tested a 175 mg/m2 body surface area dose of LDE-paclitaxel (intravenous administration, 3/3 weeks for 6 cycles) in patients with aortic atherosclerosis who were aged between 69 and 86 yrs. A control group of 9 untreated patients with aortic atherosclerosis (72-83 yrs) was also observed. RESULTS: The LDE-paclitaxel treatment elicited no important clinical or laboratory toxicities. Images were acquired via multiple detector computer tomography angiography (64-slice scanner) before treatment and at 1-2 months after treatment. The images showed that the mean plaque volume in the aortic artery wall was reduced in 4 of the 8 patients, while in 3 patients it remained unchanged and in one patient it increased. In the control group, images were acquired twice with an interval of 6-8 months. None of the patients in this group exhibited a reduction in plaque volume; in contrast, the plaque volume increased in three patients and remained stable in four patients. During the study period, one death unrelated to the treatment occurred in the LDE-paclitaxel group and one death occurred in the control group. CONCLUSION: Treatment with LDE-paclitaxel was tolerated by patients with cardiovascular disease and showed the potential to reduce atherosclerotic lesion size

Influencia de la distribución de parición anual y el aprovechamiento del pasto en los resultados alcanzados en vaquerías de la cuenca lechera de Jimagüayú, Camagüey. II. Indicadores económicos y de eficiencia productiva

Annual calving distribution impact upon economic and productive-efficiency indicators was determined on 22 commercial dairy farms affiliated to Triángulo Uno Livestock Enterprise. To this end, farms were divided into four groups based on calving percentages every three-month intervals all year round. Efficiency was measured by physical and financial indicators. Dairy farms from Group 4 showed the best results (P < 0,05) in milk production efficiency (0,26 t milk/t forage), productive efficiency (1 237 kg milk/ha), and economic efficiency ($0,61/kg milk). These farms reached 65$ 0,52/kg milk) under restricted grazing as well as higher calving percentages associated with the highest grass growing period.Con el objetivo de determinar la influencia de la distribución anual de parición en los indicadores económicos y de eficiencia productiva en vaquerías comerciales, se utilizaron los datos de 22 vaquerías de la Empresa Pecuaria Triángulo 1, en cuatro grupos según por cientos de partos ocurridos en los cuatro trimestres del año. Se tuvo en cuenta los indicadores físicos y contables para los análisis de eficiencia. Los mejores resultados (P ≤ 0,05) en la eficiencia láctea (0,26 t leche/t forraje), eficiencia productiva (1 237 kg leche/ha) y económica ($0,61/kg de leche) se alcanzaron en las unidades del grupo 4, con el 65$ 0,52/ kg de leche) en condiciones de restricción alimentaria, con alto por ciento de parición en el período de mayor crecimiento de la hierba