O que é um estudo clínico randomizado?

O estudo clínico randomizado (ECR) é uma das ferramentas mais poderosas para a obtenção de evidências para o cuidado à saúde. Apesar de algumas possíveis variações, baseiam-se na comparação entre duas ou mais intervenções, as quais são controladas pelos pesquisadores e aplicadas de forma aleatória em um grupo de participantes. O objetivo deste artigo foi descrever aspectos relativos à validades externa e interna dos ECRs, bem como apresentar bases de dados para sua obtenção e ferramentas para avaliação de qualidade.The randomized clinical trial (RCT) is one of the most powerful tools for the obtainment of evidence for healthcare. Despite some possible variations, they are based on the comparison between two or more interventions, which are controlled by researchers and randomly applied on a group of participants. The aim of this study was to describe aspects of external and internal validity of RCTs, as well as to present  databases for their obtainment and quality assessment tools

Modafinil induces rapid-onset behavioral sensitization and cross-sensitization with cocaine in mice: implications for the addictive potential of modafinil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)There is substantial controversy about the addictive potential of modafinil, a wake promoting drug used to treat narcolepsy, proposed as pharmacotherapy for cocaine abuse, and used indiscriminately by healthy individuals due to its positive effects on arousal and cognition. The rapid-onset type of behavioral sensitization (i.e., a type of sensitization that develops within a few hours from the drug priming administration) has been emerged as a valuable tool to study binge-like patterns of drug abuse and the neuroplastic changes that occur quickly after drug administration that ultimately lead to drug abuse. Our aim was to investigate the possible development of rapid-onset behavioral sensitization to modafinil and bidirectional rapid-onset cross sensitization with cocaine in male Swiss mice. A priming injection of a high dose of modafinil (64 mg/kg) induced rapid-onset behavioral sensitization to challenge injections of modafinil at the doses of 16, 32, and 64 mg/kg, administered 4 h later. Furthermore, rapid-onset cross-sensitization was developed between modafinil and cocaine (64 mg/kg modafinil and 20 mg/kg cocaine), in a bidirectional way. These results were not due to residual levels of modafinil as the behavioral effects of the priming injection of modafinil were no longer present and modafinil plasma concentration was reduced at 4 h post-administration. Taken together, the present findings provide preclinical evidence that modafinil can be reinforcing per se and can enhance the reinforcing effects of stimulants like cocaine within hours after administration.There is substantial controversy about the addictive potential of modafinil, a wake promoting drug used to treat narcolepsy, proposed as pharmacotherapy for cocaine abuse, and used indiscriminately by healthy individuals due to its positive effects on aro7FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOCAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIORFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)2014/24277-4sem informaçãosem informaçã

UVES analysis of red giants in the bulge globular cluster NGC 6522

Context. NGC 6522 is a moderately metal-poor bulge globular cluster ([Fe/H] ~ −1.0), and it is a well-studied representative among a number of moderately metal-poor blue horizontal branch clusters located in the bulge. The NGC 6522 abundance pattern can give hints on the earliest chemical enrichment in the central Galaxy. Aims. The aim of this study is to derive abundances of the light elements C and N; alpha elements O, Mg, Si, Ca, and Ti; odd-Z elements Na and Al; neutron-capture elements Y, Zr, Ba, La, and Nd; and the r-process element Eu. We verify if there are first- and second-generation stars: we find clear evidence of Na–Al, Na–N, and Mg–Al correlations, while we cannot identify the Na–O anti-correlation from our data. Methods. High-resolution spectra of six red giants in the bulge globular cluster NGC 6522 were obtained at the 8m VLT UT2-Kueyen telescope with both the UVES and GIRAFFE spectrographs in FLAMES+UVES configuration. In light of Gaia data, it turned out that two of them are non-members, but these were also analysed. Spectroscopic parameters were derived through the excitation and ionisation equilibrium of Fe I and Fe II lines from UVES spectra. The abundances were obtained with spectrum synthesis. Comparisons of abundances derived from UVES and GIRAFFE spectra were carried out. Results. The present analysis combined with previous UVES results gives a mean radial velocity of vrhel = −15.62±7.7 km s−1 and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = −1.05 ± 0.20 for NGC 6522. Mean abundances of alpha elements for the present four member stars are enhanced with [O/Fe] = +0.38, [Mg/Fe] = ≈+0.28, [Si/Fe] ≈ +0.19, and [Ca/Fe] ≈ +0.13, together with the iron-peak element [Ti/Fe] ≈ +0.13, and the r-process element [Eu/Fe] = +0.40. The neutron-capture elements Y, Zr, Ba, and La show enhancements in the +0.08 < [Y/Fe] < +0.90, 0.11 < [Zr/Fe] < +0.50, 0.00 < [Ba/Fe] < +0.63, 0.00 < [La/Fe] < +0.45, and −0.10 < [Nd/Fe] < +0.70 ranges. We also discuss the spread in heavy-element abundances

Effects of Ibuprofen intake in muscle damage, body temperature and muscle power in Paralympic powerlifting athletes

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of ingesting ibuprofen on post-workout recovery of muscle damage, body temperature and muscle power indicators in Paralympic powerlifting athletes. The study was carried out with eight Paralympic powerlifting athletes (aged 27.0 ± 5.3 years and 79.9 ± 25.5 kg of body mass) competing at the national level, with a minimum training experience of 12 months, who all submitted to two experimental conditions: Ibuprofen (2 × 00 mg) and control. The maximal isometric force of the upper limbs and rate of force development, thermography, and serum biochemical analyzes of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were measured before, after, 24 h after and 48 h after the intervention. Maximal isometric force only decreased in the placebo condition, which increased back to baseline levels, while no substantial decline in baseline force was seen in the ibuprofen condition, although no effect for exercise condition was detected. After the exercise, the rate of force development decreased significantly for both conditions and did not exceed baseline levels again after 48 h. Muscle temperature decreased significantly at 48-h post-exercise in the placebo condition, when compared with the previous day of measurement; and deltoid muscle temperature at 48-h post-exercise was higher with the ibuprofen condition. Although the results indicate some positive effects of ibuprofen use, they do not enable a clear statement regarding its positive effects on muscle function and muscle damage. Ibuprofen seems to have caused a delay in the anti-inflammatory response following exercise.publishedVersio

Systematic detection of putative tumor suppressor genes through the combined use of exome and transcriptome sequencing

Abstract Background To identify potential tumor suppressor genes, genome-wide data from exome and transcriptome sequencing were combined to search for genes with loss of heterozygosity and allele-specific expression. The analysis was conducted on the breast cancer cell line HCC1954, and a lymphoblast cell line from the same individual, HCC1954BL. Results By comparing exome sequences from the two cell lines, we identified loss of heterozygosity events at 403 genes in HCC1954 and at one gene in HCC1954BL. The combination of exome and transcriptome sequence data also revealed 86 and 50 genes with allele specific expression events in HCC1954 and HCC1954BL, which comprise 5.4% and 2.6% of genes surveyed, respectively. Many of these genes identified by loss of heterozygosity and allele-specific expression are known or putative tumor suppressor genes, such as BRCA1, MSH3 and SETX, which participate in DNA repair pathways. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that the combined application of high throughput sequencing to exome and allele-specific transcriptome analysis can reveal genes with known tumor suppressor characteristics, and a shortlist of novel candidates for the study of tumor suppressor activities

MRI T2 mapping assessment of T2 relaxation time in desmoid tumors as a quantitative imaging biomarker of tumor response: preliminary results

ObjectivesBecause size-based imaging criteria poorly capture biologic response in desmoid-type fibromatosis (DF), changes in MRI T2 signal intensity are frequently used as a response surrogate, but remain qualitative. We hypothesized that absolute quantification of DF T2 relaxation time derived from parametric T2 maps would be a feasible and effective imaging biomarker of disease activity.MethodsThis IRB-approved retrospective study included 11 patients with DF, managed by observation or systemic therapy, assessed by 3T MRI. Tumor maximum diameter, volume, and T2-weighted signal intensity were derived from manual tumor segmentations. Tumor:muscle T2 signal ratios were recorded. Two readers measured tumor T2 relaxation times using a commercial T2 scanning sequence, manual ROI delineation and commercial calculation software enabling estimation of reader reliability. Objective response rates based on RECIST1.1 and best responses were compared between size-based and signal-based parameters.ResultsMedian patient age was 52.6 years; 8 subjects were female (73%). Nine patients with longitudinal assessments were followed for an average of 314 days. Median baseline tumor diameter was 7.2 cm (range 4.4 - 18.2 cm). Median baseline T2 was 65.1 ms (range 40.4 - 94.8 ms, n=11); median at last follow-up was 44.3 ms (-32% from baseline; range 29.3 - 94.7 ms, n=9). T2 relaxation times correlated with tumor:muscle T2 signal ratios, Spearman p=0.78 (p&lt;0.001). T2 mapping showed high inter-reader reliability, ICC=0.84. The best response as a percentage change in T2 values was statistically significant (mean -17.9%, p=0.05, paired t-test) while change in diameter was not (mean -8.9%, p=0.12).ConclusionsAnalysis of T2 relaxation time maps of DF may offer a feasible quantitative biomarker for assessing the extent of response to treatment. This approach may have high inter-reader reliability

The VISCACHA survey - I. Overview and first results

TheVISCACHA (VIsible Soar photometry of star Clusters in tApii and Coxi HuguA) Survey is an ongoing project based on deep photometric observations of Magellanic Cloud star clusters, collected using the SOuthern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) telescope together with the SOAR Adaptive Module Imager. Since 2015 more than 200 h of telescope time were used to observe about 130 stellar clusters, most of them with low mass (M < 104MΘ) and/or located in the outermost regions of the Large Magellanic Cloud and the Small Magellanic Cloud.With this high-quality data set, we homogeneously determine physical properties from statistical analysis of colour-magnitude diagrams, radial density profiles, luminosity functions, and mass functions. Ages, metallicities, reddening, distances, present-day masses, mass function slopes, and structural parameters for these clusters are derived and used as a proxy to investigate the interplay between the environment in theMagellanic Clouds and the evolution of such systems. In this first paper we present the VISCACHA Survey and its initial results, concerning the SMC clusters AM3, K37, HW20, and NGC 796 and the LMC ones KMHK228, OHSC3, SL576, SL61, and SL897, chosen to compose a representative subset of our cluster sample. The project's long-term goals and legacy to the community are also addressed.Fil: Maia, Francisco F. S.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Dias, Bruno. Universidad Andrés Bello; Chile. European Southern Observatory Santiago; ChileFil: Santos, Joao F. C.. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: De Kerber, Leandro. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Bica, Eduardo. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Piatti, Andres Eduardo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Barbuy, Beatriz. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Quint, Bruno. Gemini Observatory; ChileFil: Fraga, Luciano. Laboratório Nacional de Astrofísica; Brasil. Gemini Observatory; ChileFil: Sanmartim, David. Gemini Observatory; ChileFil: Angelo, Mateus S.. Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Hernandez-Jimenez, Jose A.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Santrich, Orlando J. Katime. Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz; BrasilFil: Oliveira, Raphael A. P.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Pérez-Villegas, Angeles. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Souza, Stefano O.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Vieira, Rodrigo G.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Westera, Pieter. Universidade Federal do ABC; Brasi

The VISCACHA survey : III. Star clusters counterpart of the Magellanic Bridge and Counter-Bridge in 8D

Context. The interactions between the Small and Large Magellanic Clouds (SMC and LMC) created the Magellanic Bridge; a stream of gas and stars pulled out of the SMC towards the LMC about 150 Myr ago. The tidal counterpart of this structure, which should include a trailing arm, has been predicted by models but no compelling observational evidence has confirmed the Counter-Bridge so far. Aims. The main goal of this work is to find the stellar counterpart of the Magellanic Bridge and Counter-Bridge. We use star clusters in the SMC outskirts as they provide a 6D phase-space vector, age, and metallicity which help characterise the outskirts of the SMC. Methods. Distances, ages, and photometric metallicities were derived from fitting isochrones to the colour-magnitude diagrams from the VISCACHA survey. Radial velocities and spectroscopic metallicities were derived from the spectroscopic follow-up using GMOS in the CaII triplet region. Results. Among the seven clusters analysed in this work, five belong to the Magellanic Bridge, one belongs to the Counter-Bridge, and the other belongs to the transition region. Conclusions. The existence of the tidal counterpart of the Magellanic Bridge is evidenced by star clusters. The stellar component of the Magellanic Bridge and Counter-Bridge are confirmed in the SMC outskirts. These results are an important constraint for models that seek to reconstruct the history of the orbit and interactions between the LMC and SMC as well as constrain their future interaction including with the Milky Way