Steelmaking by Injection of Oxygen and Lime Powder Irsid-O .L.P. Process

THE injection of powdered materials, capable of reacting rapidly with a metallic bath has long been considered, and for several years IRSID has pursued a systematic study of "metallurgy by injection of powders".This res-earch has already led to known industrial developments, such as the desulphurisation of pig iron by powdered lime, the treatment of siliceous pig iron in the basic Bessemer converter, and the thermal controlled thermal adjust- ment of the operation in the converter. Numerous technical developments made during these res-earch projects, as well as the acquisition Of new fund-amental data, have led IRSID to expand this technique and to develop a new steelmaking process which can be applied to pig irons of any phosphorus and silicon content

Autologous US-guided PRP injection versus US-guided focal extracorporeal shock wave therapy for chronic lateral epicondylitis: A minimum of 2-year follow-up retrospective comparative study.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of two independent groups of patients treated with ultrasound (US)-guided extracorporeal shock wave (ESW) therapy and with US-guided injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for chronic lateral epicondylitis (LE) with a minimum of 2-year follow-up. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 63 patients treated for chronic LE (31 patients with autologous US-guided PRP injection and 32 patients with US-guided focal ESW therapy) from 2009 to 2014. All the patients were evaluated by means of Roles-Maudsley (RM) score, quick Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) score, visual analogic scale (VAS) and patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation (PRTEE) to retrospectively assess the pain relief, level of activity, the self-reported function and subjective satisfaction at minimum of 2-year follow-up. RESULTS: Both US-guided autologous PRP injection and US-guided focal ESW administration proved effective in chronic LE with significant improvement in the QuickDASH, VAS, RM and PRTEE scores ( p < 0.0001). No adverse effects or complications were recorded in any groups. No differences were found in recurrence rate and final results of the QuickDASH, VAS, RM and PRTEE scores between the two groups ( p > 0.05). The mean time between treatment and symptom resolution was significantly shorter for the PRP treatment ( p = 0.0212); furthermore, the mean time to return to the normal activities was quicker for PRP group ( p = 0.0119). CONCLUSION: Both PRP injection and ESW therapy are feasible and safe options for the treatment of chronic LE with low risk of complications and with good long-term follow-up results. US-guided PRP injection has quick efficacy when compared with US-guided focal ESW therapy

Tools for genetic manipulation of the plant growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum amazonense

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Azospirillum amazonense </it>has potential to be used as agricultural inoculant since it promotes plant growth without causing pollution, unlike industrial fertilizers. Owing to this fact, the study of this species has gained interest. However, a detailed understanding of its genetics and physiology is limited by the absence of appropriate genetic tools for the study of this species.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Conjugation and electrotransformation methods were established utilizing vectors with broad host-replication origins (pVS1 and pBBR1). Two genes of interest - <it>glnK </it>and <it>glnB</it>, encoding PII regulatory proteins - were isolated. Furthermore, <it>glnK</it>-specific <it>A. amazonense </it>mutants were generated utilizing the pK19MOBSACB vector system. Finally, a promoter analysis protocol based on fluorescent protein expression was optimized to aid genetic regulation studies on this bacterium.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this work, genetic tools that can support the study of <it>A. amazonense </it>were described. These methods could provide a better understanding of the genetic mechanisms of this species that underlie its plant growth promotion.</p

Use of adipose derived stem cells in Treacher Collins syndrome

Objective: Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS) is a rare congenital disorder of craniofacial development. TCS occurs with an incidence of 1:50,000, and more than 60% of TCS cases have no previous family history and arise as the result of de novo mutations. The high rate of de novo mutations, together with the extreme variability in the degree to which individuals can be affected, makes the provision of genetic counseling extremely complicated. Consequently, every case of TCS is unique and needs to be assessed individually. Patients with TCS frequently undergo multiple reconstructive surgeries from birth through adulthood, which rarely are fully corrective in the long-term. The nascent field of regenerative medicine offers the promise to improve some of these treatments. In particular, structural fat grafting (SFG) seems to be a good strategy not only to restore the normal volume and contour of the face, but also to provide a source of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) with a multilineage differentiation potential. In this work, we present genetical analyses of ADSC affected by TCS. Materials and methods: ADSCs from were analyzed for their stemness properties and shared many characteristics with those of a healthy subject. Screening of the genome of the TCS patient using array-Comparative Genomic Hybridization allowed us to identify some chromosomal imbalances that are probably associated with TCS. Results: We found that some alterations, involving the TIMELESS gene, were usually associated with embryonic stem cells. Conclusions: With the aim to improve the final results, we need to consider combining knowledge of genetic alterations and expression profiles as a fundamental step before starting with surgical procedures

PARTNESHIP – A STRATEGY FOR HEALTH PROMOTION

Experiência de parceria do Núcleo de Convivência em Situações Crônicas de Saúde (NUCRON), a Associação Catarinenese de Ostomizados (ACO) e do Programa de Assistência ao Ostomizado (PAO). O processo de parceria iniciou em 1989, durante o qual foram conduzidos quatro projetos conjuntos, com enfoques na descoberta das potencialidades dos grupos e na expansão da ACO. A idéia de parceria foi criada para envolver os associados da ACO num processo de desenvolvimento de suas potencialidades individuais e coletivas e, com isso, fortalecer e expandir a ACO.The focus is on the partnership experience of the NUCRON (Nucleus ps Studies on chronical conditions.) ACO (Ostomized Association of the State of Santa Catarina) and the PAO (Program of Ostomized Patient Care). The partnership has been in progress since 1989, period in wich four research projects were conduted. The main partnership purpose was to envolve the ostomized patientes in a process os discovering their own potentialities in order to transform the ACO in a powerful Association

A CHARACTERISTIC OF LINKING RESEARCH PROJECT WITH NURSING CARE ACTIVITIES

Comunicamos uma experiência de processo envolvendo pesquisa, assistência e educação através da parceria do NUCRON, ACO e PAO com o propósito de mobilizar uma organização de grupos de pessoas ostomizadas e de profissionais da saúde para a intercomunicação de suportes para articulação em redes de serviços e associações. Utilizamos vários métodos e técnicas de trabalho tais como: mapeamento, seminários, questionários, reuniões, entrevistas, cursos, discussões em grupos. Os resultados permitiram: 1) visualização da distribuição dos núcleos do Estado de Santa Catarina onde os ostomizados recebem assistência; 2) Ter uma aproximação com a realidade vivenciada pelos ostomizados, e 3) conhecer o grande potencial do grupo de ostomizados e o desejo de implementar as várias decisões assumidas como compromisso o processo.The purpose of this study was to conduct a group organizational process with ostomized patients and health professionals in order to start an intercommunication system between the health service personal and the client association members. This experience has involved a research project, some education activities and a nursing care process. We have utilized various procedures such as: seminars, meetings, interview, questionairs and courses. The resoults showed the health facilities distribution; the ostomized patients reality and their potentialities for implementing the intercommunication process according to their undertaken decisions