Cytokine profile in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study

Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) exhibits an aggressive clinical phenotype and severe complications. This could be due to a pro-inflammatory cytokine milieu. Therefore, we determined plasma levels of Th1 (IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF), Th2 (IL-4), Th17 (IL-17A, IL-6), and Treg (IL-10) cytokines in a cohort of cSLE patients and healthy controls, and we evaluated the association between these cytokines and disease activity. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 51 cSLE patients from two pediatric rheumatology services. Ten cSLE patients participated in a longitudinal follow-up study. Blood samples were collected from the same patient during active and inactive disease. Disease activity was evaluated according to SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K). Cytokines levels were measured by cytometric bead array technique. cSLE patients had higher IL-6 (P<0.001) and IL-10 (P<0.001) levels than healthy controls. Patients with active disease had higher IL-6 and IL-10 levels than patients with inactive disease (P=0.001 and P=0.014, respectively) and the control group (both P<0.001). IL-6 (P=0.022), IL-10 (P=0.013), and IL-17A (P=0.041) levels were significantly higher during active than inactive disease. Linear regression analysis revealed IL-6 (P=0.002, 95%CI=0.006-0.025) and IL-10 (P=0.01 95%CI=0.021-0.150) as independent factors for increased SLEDAI-2K. IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17A are candidate biomarkers for disease activity in cSLE patients. This is the first longitudinal study to support their pivotal role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Reproductive parameters of Santa Inês ewes submitted to short-term treatment with re-used progesterone devices / Características reprodutivas de ovelhas Santa Inês que receberam dispositivos de progesterona reutilizados

The aim of this study was to verify the efficacy of reusing intravaginal progesterone (P4) devices on the reproductive parameters in Santa Inês ewes. Females received intravaginal P4 devices for their first, second or third use for five days plus 300 IU eCG IM and 5mg dinoprost laterovulvar 24h before device removal. Blood was collected at different moments. Transrectal ultrasonography was performed from device removal to ovulation. Part of the ewes were submitted to artificial insemination by laparoscopy (IAL - n=55) with fresh semen, whereas the rest were bred by fertile rams (n=41). On the initial 18 h, ewes that received devices for the first time showed higher P4 concentrations (5.1±1.8 vs 3.5±1.4 vs 2.4±1.1 - P<0.05). However, after the first 48h no difference was observed among all treatments and P4 supraluteal concentrations were detected in all ewes upon device removal. Estrous response, interval from device removal to estrus, rate of ovulating animals, number of ovulations, time from device removal to ovulation and average conception rates after IAL or natural mating were similar among all 3 groups. Intravaginal progesterone devices can be used up to three times without altering reproductive parameters in Santa Inês ewes.

Avaliou-se a eficácia da reutilização de dispositivos intravaginais de progesterona (P4) sobre características reprodutivas em ovelhas Santa Inês. As fêmeas receberam dispositivos intravaginais contendo P4 para o seu primeiro, segundo ou terceiro uso por cinco dias, associado a 300 UI eCG IM e 5mg dinoprost laterovulvar 24h antes da remoção dos dispositivos. Ultrassonografia transretal foi realizada da remoção dos dispositivos até a ovulação. Parte das ovelhas foi submetida à inseminação artificial laparoscópica (IAL- n=55) com sêmen a fresco, enquanto outra parte foi acasalada por machos férteis (n=41). Nas 18 h iniciais, as ovelhas que receberam dispositivos pela primeira vez apresentaram maior concentração de P4 (5.1±1.8 vs 3.5±1.4 vs 2.4±1.1 - P<0.05). Entretanto, após as primeiras 48h nenhuma diferença foi observada entre os tratamentos quanto as concentrações circulantes de progesterona. Foram encontradas concentrações de progesterona supraluteais em todas as ovelhas na retirada dos dispositivos. Estro, intervalo da retirada ao estro, taxa de animais que ovularam, número de ovulações, momento da retirada à ovulação e taxa média de concepção após IAL ou monta natural foram similares entre os tratamentos. Dispositivos intravaginais de progesterona podem ser usados até três vezes sem alterar as características reprodutivas de ovelhas Santa Inês.

Primary identification of an abused child in dental office: a case report.

Although the injuries of child abuse are many and varied, several types of injuries are common to abuse. Many of these injuries are within the scope of dentistry or easily observed by the dental professional in the course of routine dental treatment. The authors present a case of child abuse with multiple bruises. The child had been spanked in the previous night and the morning of the attendance by his mother. This case emphasized that all practitioners should be vigilant when patients present with abnormal injuries which may be the result of abuse and further investigation should be instigated.

Contrast sensitivity to angular frequency gratings is not higher than to Cartesian gratings

When contrast sensitivity functions to Cartesian and angular gratings were compared in previous studies the peak sensitivity to angular stimuli was reported to be 0.21 log units higher. In experiments carried out to repeat this result, we used the same two-alternative forced-choice paradigm, but improved experimental control and precision by increasing contrast resolution from 8 to 12 bits, increasing the screen refresh rate from 30 Hz interlaced to 85 Hz non-interlaced, linearizing the voltage-luminance relation, modulating luminance in frequencies that minimize pixel aliasing, and improving control of the subject's exposure to the stimuli. The contrast sensitivity functions to Cartesian and angular gratings were similar in form and peak sensitivity (2.4 cycles per visual degree (c/deg) and 32 c/360º, respectively) to those reported in a previous study (3 c/deg and 32 c/360º, respectively), but peak sensitivity to angular stimuli was 0.13 log units lower than that to Cartesian stimuli. When the experiment was repeated, this time simulating the experimental control level used in the previous study, no difference between the peak sensitivity to Cartesian and angular stimuli was found. This result agrees with most current models that assume Cartesian filtering at the first visual processing stage. The discrepancy in the results is explained in part by differences in the degree of experimental control.

Seroprevalência da infecçäo pelo HIV-1 em gestantes atendidas no IMIP, Recife - Brasil / Seroprevalence of HIV infection among pregnant women attending in the IMIP, Recife-Brasil

The number of HIV infected heterosexual has been steadily increasing in Brazil. This fact was followed by a decline on the ratio of male/female HIV infection every year. We have examined the seroprevalence of HIV infection among pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic in the Instituto Materno Infantil de Pernambuco (IMIP) at Recife, North-eastern Brazil. This study was performae as an anonymous sentinel surveillance. The collected blood samples were tested for HIV infection by two different types of ELISA, and if positive, further analysis by IIA was submitted. The subjects were arranged in four age groups with the respective proportion: group l (<15 years)-0.9 per cent, group II (15 to 20 years)-31.6 per cent, group III (21 to 34 years)-61.7 per cent and group IV (>35 years)- 5,8 per cent. It was found an HIV-1 seroprevalence of 0.1 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval, -0.l to + 0,3) This percentage represents one single HIV positive woman included in age group III. his low HIV infection seroprevalence is suitable with a low risk population (pregnant women) in a low prevalence area. However, we became concerned with the great propottion of pregnant woman under 21 years (32,5 per cent) and with the implications of how to reinforce effectively HIV preventions of how to reinforce effectively HIV prevention strategies to this population

Epistemologia genética e inteligência artificial: linguagens LISP e LOGO / Genetic epsitemology and artificial intelligence: LISP and LOGO languages

Aborda a utilizaçäo do computador, sob o enfoque da psicologia cognitiva. Procura-se relacionar características de classes de linguagens computacionais com conceitos da epistemologia genética de Jean Piaget, supondo-se que a busca de soluçöes de problemas, com auxílio de computador e com o uso de linguagens como Lisp e Logo, possa favorecer o desenvolvimento de estruturas intelectuais. A reflexäo sobre processos cognitivos, com ajuda de recursos da inteligência artificial, constitui um tema de interesse interdisciplinar, aberto a investigaçöes

Ensaio terapêutico com o emprego da soluçäo de halcinonida a 0,1% em dermatite seborréica do couro cabeludo / Therapeutic trial with the use of halcinonide solution at 0,1% in seborrhea dermatitis of the scalp

Os autores apresentam ensaio clínico terapêutico com uma soluçäo de Halcinonida a 0,1%, ácido salicílico a 2% e cloreto de benzoxônio a 0,1% em veículo alcoólico, nos casos leves e moderados de dermatite seborréica do couro cabeludo, em 100 pacientes de ambos os sexos. A terapêutica, em aplicaçäo única diária, demonstrou excelentes resultados sobre os sintomas da afecçäo (prurido, descamaçäo e eritemia). Näo produziu modificaçäo da condiçäo seborréica inerente à funçäo glandular de cada paciente

Epistemologia genética e inteliggência artificial: inteligências cognitivas na soluçäo de problemas / Genetic epistemology and artifical intelligence: cognitive strategies and problems solving

Neste trabalho procura-se reconstruir processos cognitivos desenvolvidos na busca de soluçäo de problemas. Consiste em um estudo de caso, em que a contruçäo de algoritmos, para determinar caminho e ciclo hamiltonianos, em grafos e dígrafos, é analisada do ponto de vista da epistemologia genética de Jean Piaget. Constitui-se, em síntese, de uma busca no sentido de associar problemas da inteligência artificial e aspectos teóricos de psicologia cognitiva

Incidencia de ocorrencias diversas na Maternidade Prof. Monteiro de Moraes no ano de 1979. / Incidence of various occurences at the Maternity Prof Monteiro de Moraes in the year 1979

Houve 8.172 internamentos na Maternidade Prof. Monteiro de Moraes no ano de 1979.Destes, 6305 foram partos, dos quais, 935 cesareas. Houve 1.230 abortamentos correspondendo tal cifra a 19,5% do numero total de partos. Nos 6.305 partos havidos foram identificadas as seguintes ocorrencias obstetricas com os respectivos percentuais gravidez serotina 464 (7,4%); macrossomia fetal 364 (5,8%); eclampsia 33 (0,5%); apresentacao pelvica 202 (3,2%); descolamento prematuro da placenta normalmente inserida 53 (0,8%); placenta previa 43 (0,7%); rotura de utero 6 (0,09%); infeccao puerperal 113 (1,8%); parto gemelar 63 (1,0%) e 16 casos de prenhez ectopica representando 0,2% do total de gravidezes. O obituario materno foi de 14,87% e o perinatal 40%

Policirurgia: estudo de um caso. / Polysurgery: study of a case

Os autores apresentam o caso de uma paciente do sexo feminino com 20 anos de idade, e historia de policirurgia. Sao discutidos os aspectos psicodinamicos do seu relacionamento familiar e enfatizados os achados psicopatologicos do caso. Foi ressaltada tambem a importancia de visao psicossomatica