Método não ionizante de rastreamento da escoliose idiopática do adolescente em escolares / Non-ionizing method of screening adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in schoolchildren

Resumo Escoliose idiopática do adolescente (EIA) atinge de 2% a 4% de jovens no Brasil. Repetidas exposições aos exames radiológicos, no acompanhamento desta deformidade, podem ser danosos à saúde. O objetivo deste estudo é apresentar um protocolo de fotogrametria, como método não ionizante para quantificação da escoliose, e relacioná-lo ao método radiológico de Cobb. Dezesseis indivíduos portadores de escoliose idiopática (21,4 ± 6,1 anos de idade e 19,8±0,2 de índice de massa corporal) foram submetidos à radiografia posteroanterior do tronco, de pé e, posteriormente, fotografia do tronco posterior, após receberem marcadores anatômicos nos processos espinhosos das vértebras C7 até L5. As imagens foram encaminhadas para análise independente de dois examinadores treinados na quantificação da escoliose para o tipo de imagem recebida. A média angular torácica de Cobb e de fotogrametria foram 36,14° e 36,43°, respectivamente. A diferença média entre os métodos foi de 4,1°. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante (p-valor < 5%) entre eles. A fotogrametria, por ser não ionizante, ter baixo custo e ser portátil, poderá representar uma alternativa ao método radiológico. Novos estudos são necessários no aprimoramento das técnicas não ionizantes no rastreamento da EIA.

Abstract Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) affects 2% to 4% of young people in Brazil. Repeated exposures to radiation used in the monitoring of the deformity can be harmful to the health. This study aimed to present a photogrammetry protocol as a non-ionizing method to quantify scoliosis and relate it to the Cobb radiological method. Sixteen individuals with idiopathic scoliosis (age: 21.4 ± 6.1 years, body mass index: 19.8 ± 0.2 kg/m2) underwent standing posteroanterior X-ray examination of the trunk. Additionally, markers were placed on the spinal processes of the C7 to L5 vertebrae, and posterior trunk photographs were taken. All images were sent for independent analysis by two examiners who were trained in the quantification of scoliosis. The average of the thoracic curvature evaluated through the photogrammetry and Cobb methods were 36.43° and 36.14°, respectively. With an average difference of 4.1°, the methods were not statistically different (p < 0.05). As a non-ionizing method that is low cost and portable, photogrammetry may represent a suitable alternative to the radiological method. Further studies are needed for the improvement of non-ionizing techniques in AIS screening.

Development and characterization of hyaluronic acid-lysine nanoparticles with potential as innovative dermal filling

ABSTRACT Skin aging causes changes such as wrinkles and flaccidity leading to a large demand for aesthetic procedures, including dermal filling. A key agent in dermal filling is hyaluronic acid (HA), which is a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan. However, it is a hydrophilic macromolecule that experiences great difficulty in crossing the skin barrier causing most commercial formulations containing it to be injectable, which in turn brings risks since they involve an invasive technique. In that sense, the aim of this study was to develop and characterize nanoparticles obtained from ionic interaction between HA and lysine (Lys) for use as a potential agent of dermal filling for topical application, increasing and improving its applicability and safety. To this end, nanoparticles were obtained by dripping of Lys over HA under magnetic stirring. A nanometric size was confirmed and a suitable surface charge was obtained by zeta potential. Nanoparticles were almost spherical in shape with a smooth surface. Interaction between raw materials for preparing nanoparticles was studied by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy and an ionic interaction was confirmed. These physicochemical features suggest that obtained nanoparticles can be further used as a topical dermal filling.

11-3 Biophysical skin effects of extemporaneous peloids from “Hervideros De Cofrentes Spa” natural mineral water according to their maturity time / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

  The main objective of the present study was to determine the in situ biomechanical behaviour of skin in response to the use of three muds manufactured with a hyperosmotic Spring “Hervederos de Cofrentes” water, Valencia, Spain. The impact of the osmotic muds on the biomechanical behaviour of human skin, its pH, blood flow, barrier function and dermal density was quantified in healthy volunteers using several non-invasive approaches. Materials and Method: This study was designed to assess the skin response to daily use for 10 and 20 days on volar forearms of 33 healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 40 years (23.3 ± 4.4) when applied 3 extemporaneous peloides with 0 (P0), 30 (P3) and 60 (P6) days of maturation.   Peloids daily placed on volar forearm on panellist and variables were determined at baseline before starting treatment (day 0), and 10 and 20 days after the start of treatment. Day zero values are considered normal skin pattern.   After a descriptive statistical analysis (mean and standard deviation), a paired Student’s t-test was used to compare data. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. Results and Conclusions: Our results also suggest a direct relationship between the actions of the muds used and the following changes in the in vivo characteristics of human skin.   P3 peloid gradually decreases blood flow (p<0.05) whitout affetation TEWL and there is a general increase in pH with the implementation of treatment. Increases skin firmness (p<0, 05) and elasticity (p<0.05).   All peloids P0, P3 and P6 had an increase in dermal density (p<0.05), and was recorded reaching significance after 10 days of treatment and increased resistance towards repeated suction (reduced fatigue) after 10 days of treatment too, rising gradually up to 20 days was observed (p<0.05).   As an overall conclusion, our findings indicate that the skin treatment proposed, P3 peloid mainly, decrease blood flow without modifying the barrier function of the skin, does not change TEWL, and clearly improves its biomechanical properties, improving skin density, skin firmness, increasing the elasticity and decreasing the fatigue of the skin, up minimally modifying the pH.   All these circumstances make it very compatible with scaly process type psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, ichthyosis or cutaneous process that curse with an increase in skin cell turn-over.

11-2 Biophysical effects after cutaneous application of dermatological products made from sediment of mineral waters Lanjarón-Capuchina by skin bioengineering methods / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

  The study was designed to distinguish the skin response after the continuous application (three months) of two different osmotic dermatologic products: a Moisturizing Emulsion and a Facial Mask, both elaborated from Lanjarón-Capuchina mineral water« dry residue: 19.871 mg/l; chloride (Cl-): 8.867 mg/l; sodium (Na2+): 3.941 mg/l; calcium (Ca2+): 1.423 mg/l; magnesium (Mg2+): 235 mg/l; sulphate (SO42-): 448 mg/l; bicarbonate (HCO3-): 1.732 mg/l and iron (Fe2+): 28 mg/l ». Objectives: The main objective of the present study was to determine the in situ biomechanical behaviour of skin in response to the use of two dermatologic products manufactured from the sediments (saline muds) of Capuchina water. The impact of the osmotic products on the biomechanical behaviour of human skin, its pH, sebum output, barrier function and dermal density was quantified in healthy volunteers using several non-invasive approaches. Material and Method: Experimental data were obtained in 38 healthy women aged 32 to 58 years (41.4±5.9 years) with no prior skin problems of any relevance. Written informed consent was obtained from each participant.   Subjects were instructed to apply the moisturizing cream (Emulsión Hidratante del Balneario de Lanjarón) to the face each day after a cleaning routine in the morning and evening. Once a week, the participants applied the face mask (Máscara Facial del Balneario de Lanjarón) for 20 minutes.   The biological response was registered by means of five non invasive techniques: Cutometer, Sebumeter, pH-meter, Reviscometer and Tewameter (TEWL).   Formerly safety tests were performed on cosmetic. Results: The results suggest that skin response may be modified and/or controlled, significantly reducing skin sebum (6%), TEWL (21%) and skin fatigue due to repeted suction (30%) after 15 days of treatment and stabilized after approximately 60 days.   On the other hand, a considerable increase of total skin elasticity Ua/Uf (19%), skin resistance to maximum extension Uf (5%), and dermal redensification evaluated by means of the Reviscometer (6%) was observed.   The pH and cutaneous viscoelasticity (Uv/Ue) determinations have resulted irrelevant and not significant. Conclusions: We can conclude that: 1. Dermatological products prepared with Lanjarón-Capuchina sediment are safe and healthy for the skin. 2. Sebum without affecting the skin barrier function is regulated. 3. After 30 days of treatment significantly reduces transepidermal water loss. That is, the skin barrier function is enhanced. 4. Skin pH is not affected after treatment implantation. 5. There is a significant increase in dermal density, which begins to occur after a month of treatment. 6. Increased skin resistance to suction (firmness) from 15 days occurs and rises slightly to 90 days. 7. Considerably increases the elasticity of the skin, which at 30 days of treatment is estimated at 20%, remaining at these values until the end of the study. 8. By repeated skin suction, skin fatigue considerably decreased, 30% from baseline.   Overall treatment application normalizes the amount of sebum, without greatly altering the ecology and skin barrier function, clearly favouring the biomechanical properties of the skin, especially the parameters that are modified by time.

Estudo da pressão arterial pelo método indireto oscilométrico (petmap®) em cães domésticos não anestesiados / Study of blood pressure by the indirect oscillometric method (petmap®) in domestic unanesthetized dogs

O estudo das pressões arteriais sistólica, média, diastólica e da frequência cardíaca, pelo método indireto oscilométrico (petmap®), foi realizado em 150 cães atendidos pelo Serviço de Clínica Médica de Pequenos Animais da FMVZ - Unesp/Botucatu. Investigou-se a influência de fatores como presença do proprietário, estado de saúde, diagnóstico de doença renal, raça, idade, sexo, decúbito, contenção, fluidoterapia, condição corpórea, temperamento, atividade física, dieta e atitude associados ou não à elevação da pressão arterial. Dos 150 cães, 34% encontravam-se sob a categoria de risco mínimo para o desenvolvimento de lesões hipertensivas, 14,6% com hipertensão branda, 22,6% com hipertensão moderada e 28,66%, com hipertensão grave. Houve influência, dos fatores analisados, na elevação da pressão arterial de acordo com a categoria de risco.

The study of systolic, mean, diastolic and heart rate by the oscillometric indirect method (PetMapTM) was performed in 150 dogs attended by the Small Animal Service of Medicine of FMVZ - Unesp/Botucatu. The influence of factors such as presence of the owner, health status, diagnosis of kidney disease, race, age, sex, recumbency, containment, fluid, body condition, temperament, physical activity, diet and attitude associated or not with elevated blood pressure was investigated. Of the 150 dogs, 34% were under the category of minimal risk for the development of hypertensive lesions, 14.6% with mild hypertension, 22.6% with moderate hypertension and 28.66% with severe hypertension. The analyzed factors influenced the elevation of blood pressure according to risk category.

Refinement of the Collagen Induced Arthritis Model in Rats by Infrared Thermography.

Aims: Collagen induced arthritis in rats is an important model for human rheumatoid arthritis. This study was designed to improve and refine this model by use of infrared thermography by measuring surface temperature of hind feet. Our hypothesis is that the local temperature on the feet correlates with other clinical parameters such as clinical score and edema and may serve as a method for quantification of the degree of inflammation. Study design: Experimental animal study. Place and Duration of Study: Institute of Biomedicine, University of Aarhus, Denmark between February and March 2010. Methodology: Arthritis was induced with collagen immunization in sixteen Lewis rats. Four of the animals were treated with dexamethasone to function as negative controls. Clinical scores were based on the magnitude of paw edema. The mean temperature of the hind feet (region covering the metatarsus and tarsus) was normalized with a reference area on the back of the same rat. The temperature index were compared with the clinical score index, edema index, and bodyweight of the rats Results: The mean hind feet temperatures increased with increasing clinical severity in the acute stage of the disease. There were positive correlation between temperature and clinical scores. Conclusion: The thermographic response appeared prior to the clinical signs, suggesting that thermography may be used as a predictive sign for the development of disease. This technique could be a non-invasive, objective, rapid, and reproducible method for evaluation of the degree of inflammation and effect of therapeutic interventions.

Extraction of high-quality host DNA from feces and regurgitated seeds: a useful tool for vertebrate ecological studies

DNA extraction methods for genotyping non-invasive samples have led to great advances in molecular research for ecological studies, and have been particularly useful for analyzing threatened species. However, scarce amounts of fragmented DNA and the presence of Taq polymerase inhibitors in non-invasive samples are potential problems for subsequent PCR amplifications. In this study we describe a novel technique for extracting DNA from alimentary tract cells found on external surfaces of feces and regurgitated seeds. The presence of contaminants and inhibitors is minimized and samples are preserved intact for use in other ecological research (e.g. trophic studies). The amplification efficiency and purity of the extracted DNA from feces were significantly higher than in commonly used extraction procedures. Moreover, DNA of two bird species was identified from seeds expelled by regurgitation. Therefore, this method may be suitable for future ecological studies of birds, and other vertebrate groups.

Preliminary results of fetal DNA determination in maternal serum by nested PCR

Background: Prenatal diagnosis has become a standard part of obstetrics care. Genetic diagnoses are established prenatally through the sampling of fetal genetic material. So that the presence of fetal DNA in maternal plasma has led to exciting possibilities of non-invasive prenatal diagnosis. Objectives:In order to provide a reliable non-invasive method for diagnostic of the sex linked disorders. Subjects and method: Fetal gender was determined in 10 pregnant women in which 6 male fetus and 4 female fetus. They are between 34 and 36 weeks of gestation using DNA extracted from 1.6ml of each maternal serum. Maternal serum was put into vacutainer SST before delivery while two pregnant women were implemented by caesarean section at Hanoi Hospital for Obstetricts and Gynecology. Results:The 198bp SRY gene-specific sequence on Y chromosome, 261 bp ATL1 gene specific sequence on X chromosome were amplified in nested PCR. The results were confirmed by examination of newborn child after delivery.The mean level of using DNA extracted from maternal serum was 8.73 \xb1 2.36 ng/\xb5l. The mean level extracted fromperipheral blood was 66.2 \xb1 7.07 ng/\xb5l. Conclusion: The 198 bpSRY specific sequence we detected in 6 serum sample from pregnant women with male fetus. In the remaining cases bearing female foetuses only the 261 bp ATL1 gene sequence was detected. The result was completely concordant with the examination of the newborn child after delivery.