Health-related quality of life impact of a triple combination of olmesartan medoxomil, amlodipine besylate and hydrochlorotiazide in subjects with hypertension

Background A post-hoc analysis was performed on the data from a 54 weeks phase III study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00923091) to measure changes in the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of 2,690 patients aged ≥18 with moderate-to-severe hypertension who received one of six doses of olmesartan/amlodipine/hydrochlorothiazide (OLM/AML/HCTZ), using the MINICHAL and EQ-5D instruments. Methods Descriptive statistics were used to assess blood pressure and HRQoL scores over the study period. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to identify those factors that could possibly have influenced HRQoL. Linear regression was used to assess the relationship between changes in blood pressure and HRQoL scores. Results Patients’ baseline MINICHAL mood and somatic domains scores were 5.5 and 2.6. Over the study period HRQoL improved as both MINICHAL scores decreased by 31-33%. Patients’ baseline EQ-5D index and VAS scores were 0.9 and 73.4 respectively, increasing by 6% and 12% over the study period. Patients’ QALY gain over the 54 weeks study period was estimated to be 0.029 QALYs. The ANCOVA showed that changes in patients’ HRQoL was likely to have been influenced by patients’ achievement of blood pressure control, the amount of concomitant medication and patients’ last used dosage strength of antihypertensive. Linear regression showed that blood pressure improvement may have been associated with improved HRQoL. Conclusions This study showed that OLM/AML/HCTZ reduced blood pressure and significantly increased blood pressure control whilst improving patients’ HRQoL. Achieving blood pressure control, amount of concomitant medication and dosage strength of antihypertensive impacted on patients’ HRQoL

Gradient test for generalised linear models with random effects

This work develops the gradient test for parameter selection in generalised linear models with random effects. Asymptotically, the test statistic has a chi-squared distribution and the statistic has a compelling feature: it does not require computation of the Fisher information matrix. Performance of the test is verified through Monte Carlo simulations of size and power, and also compared to the likelihood ratio, Wald and Rao tests. The gradient test provides the best results overall when compared to the traditional tests, especially for smaller sample sizes

First record of epicadus trituberculatus (Taczanowski, 1872) (araneae, thomisidae, stephanopinae) in the Brazilian Northeast

We present the first record of Epicadus trituberculatus (Taczanowski, 1872) from the Northeast Region of Brazil. The new record is based on six specimens observed in two areas of montane semi-deciduous tropical forest located in two municipalities: Guaramiranga and Pacatuba, Ceará state, Brazil. Of the six specimens observed we collected manually only three to preserve as voucher material. In Brazil, E. trituberculatus has a wide distribution range, which extends from the Atlantic Forest, Amazon, and Cerrado biomes and the Pampa ecoregion. With the new record there are currently six known species of Epicadus in northeastern Brazil155937940CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPnão temnão temnão temThis study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil(CAPES), Finance Code 001 (G.A. Villanueva-Bonilla). We were also financially supported by the Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia dos Hymenoptera Para-sitoides (HYMPAR/Sudeste – CNPq/FAPESP/CAPES), and FUNCAP– BPI proc. BP3- 00139-00186.01.00/18 (research grants to J.F. Sobczak

Micro-universes and Situated Critical Theory: Postcolonial and Feminist Dialogues in a Comparative Study of Indo-English and Lusophone Women Writers

This dissertation studies six texts written by women (three Indo-English novels, a novel and an anthology of short stories from Cape Verde and a novel from Mozambique). The three Lusophone texts (literature written in Portuguese, though it is not Portuguese literature) are compared to the Indo-English texts in order to assess different evolutions in the sense of national identity in these postcolonial contexts, concerning: . post-independence senses of history and identity, . revision of colonial mythologies, . self-assertion in relation to the colonial past and current neo-colonial threats, . social critique concerning the crisis or weaknesses of the postcolonial state, . alternative agendas to manage a functional sense of self in dialogue with situated, and complex, historical and political contexts. In the chosen texts, the represented frames of collective identity are felt as oppressive forces or problematic references, with damaging consequences in the development of individual identities. As the reader follows individual characters in their process of self-definition, a sense of post-independence crisis is exposed, and a stern social critique carried out, reflecting on past and present international relations, as well. The particular perspective offered by women writers represents "the nation" as a set of particular socio-cultural discourses, entwined with patterns of family organisation, the definition of dominant mentalities concerning gender roles and the perpetuation of normative life styles. While analysing the postcolonial condition of their societies, these writers have also created a set of women characters, situated in different postcolonial contexts, cultures and social classes, which are models of dissent, suggesting alternative feminist agendas, suitable to each of these situated societies. The study of the work of these writers proved the necessity of diverse feminist theories and agendas, sensitive to differences between women, integrated in historical geo-cultural universes. Furthermore, the developed approach demonstrated the worth of a feminist study to discuss and revise models of collective identity criss-crossing with the critical assessment of current postcolonial societies. Finally, this research tried to promote Lusophone literatures (by comparing them to such an established case as Indo-English literature) and map a small genealogy of women s writing in world literatures

Influence of chlorhexidine and zinc oxide in calcium hydroxide pastes on pH changes in external root surface

The objective of this study was to assess the influence of chlorhexidine (liquid and gel) and zinc oxide in calcium hydroxide (CH) pastes on root pH in simulated external resorption. One hundred human anterior teeth with a single root canal were selected. After decoronation and root canal instrumentation, the specimens were divided into 4 experimental groups and 1 control group (without intracanal paste): CH + saline (CH+S), CH + 2% chlorhexidine liquid (CH+ CHX), CH + 2% chlorhexidine gel (CH+ CHXg), and CH + 2% chlorhexidine gel + zinc oxide (CH+ CHXg+ZnO). pH was measured using a microelectrode at 3 and 24 h, and 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after inserting intracanal pastes. Data were analyzed statistically using an ANOVA and Tukey's test (p < 0.05). The CH+CHXg+ZnO group had the highest pH values throughout (p < 0.05). The CH+S and CH+ CHX groups had the highest pH values after 1 week and the CH+ CHXg group after 2 weeks. CH+ CHXg maintained the highest pH until the fourth week compared with CH+ CHX (p < 0.05). The control group remained at a neutral pH at all evaluated times. It can be concluded that chlorhexidine solution or gel maintained the alkaline pH of CH, and chlorhexidine gel allowed a slower decrease in pH over time. CH+ CHXg+ZnO showed the highest pH values and was an effective intracanal medication for maintaining alkaline root pH in the area of resorption3

COMPILATION OF ACTIVE FAULT DATA IN PORTUGAL FOR USE IN SEISMIC HAZARD ANALYSIS

To estimate where future earthquakes are likely to occur, it is essential to combine information about past earthquakes with knowledge about the location and seismogenic properties of active faults. For this reason, robust probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) integrates seismicity and active fault data. Existing seismic hazard assessments for Portugal rely exclusively on seismicity data and do not incorporate data on active faults. Project SHARE (Seismic Hazard Harmonization in Europe) is an EC-funded initiative (FP7) that aims to evaluate European seismic hazards using an integrated, standardized approach. In the context of SHARE, we are developing a fully-parameterized active fault database for Portugal that incorporates existing compilations, updated according to the most recent publications. The seismogenic source model derived for SHARE will be the first model for Portugal to include fault data and follow an internationally standardized approach. This model can be used to improve both seismic hazard and risk analyses and will be combined with the Spanish database for use in Iberian- and European-scale assessments

Inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase activity in rat cerebral cortex and human skeletal muscle by d-2-hydroxyglutaric acid in vitro

Abstractl-2-Hydroxyglutaric (LGA) and d-2-hydroxyglutaric (DGA) acids are the characteristic metabolites accumulating in the neurometabolic disorders known as l-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria and d-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria, respectively. Although these disorders are predominantly characterized by severe neurological symptoms, the neurotoxic mechanisms of brain damage are virtually unknown. In this study we have evaluated the role of LGA and DGA at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 5.0 mM on various parameters of energy metabolism in cerebral cortex slices and homogenates of 30-day-old Wistar rats, namely glucose uptake, CO2 production and the respiratory chain enzyme activities of complexes I to IV. DGA significantly decreased glucose utilization (2.5 and 5.0 mM) by brain homogenates and CO2 production (5 mM) by brain homogenates and slices, whereas LGA had no effect on either measurement. Furthermore, DGA significantly inhibited cytochrome c oxidase activity (complex IV) (EC 1.9.3.1) in a dose-dependent manner (35–95%) at doses as low as 0.5 mM, without compromising the other respiratory chain enzyme activities. In contrast, LGA did not interfere with these activities. Our results suggest that the strong inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase activity by increased levels of DGA could be related to the neurodegeneration of patients affected by d-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria