ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: What are the opportunities to innovate in a skin care product? There are certainly many opportunities and many technologies involved. In this work, we assumed the role of identifying and categorizing these opportunities to develop a comprehensive and intelligible classification system, which could be used as a tool to support decision-making in different professional contexts. METHODS: Initially, we employed the Delphi method to identify, discuss and standardize the opportunities to innovate in a skin care product. Finally, we used the classification system obtained in the previous phase to label patent applications, therefore, testing the suitability and utility of the system. RESULTS: At the end of the process, we achieved a 10-category classification system for opportunities to innovate in skin care products, and we also illustrated how this system could be used. CONCLUSION: The resultant classification system offers a normalized terminology for cosmetic scientists interested in dealing with the particularities of incremental and radical innovations in skin care products.
Subject(s)
Skin Care , Delphi Technique , HumansABSTRACT
Avaliaram-se dois protocolos para a produção de plasma rico em plaquetas (PRP) com o sangue de 20 cães adultos. Foram coletados três frascos de sangue em que um deles foi usado para produção do PRP por meio do protocolo A - centrifugação única a 1200rpm/10min -, o outro para fabricação do PRP pelo protocolo B - primeira centrifugação a 1200rpm/10min e a segunda centrifugação a 1600rpm/10min - e o terceiro para realização da contagem plaquetária no sangue total, que serviu de parâmetro para os valores alcançados no PRP. O protocolo no qual foi possível alcançar maior concentração plaquetária foi testado em outros 20 cães para avaliar sua reprodutibilidade. Constatou-se que o protocolo B resultou em maior plaquetometria em 100 por cento das amostras e concluiu-se ser ele eficiente para a produção do PRP em cães.
The objective of this paper was to analyze two protocols for the production of platelet rich plasma (PRP) in dogs. Peripheral blood of 20 adult dogs was collected into three tubes. The first was processed through protocol A - single centrifugation at 1200rpm for 10min - , the second was submitted to protocol B - a first centrifugation at 1200rpm for 10min and a second centrifugation at 1600rpm for 10min - and the third was used to perform platelet count in whole blood, which served as a parameter for values obtained in PRP. The protocol in which it was possible to achieve a higher platelet count was tested in other 20 dogs to evaluate its reproducibility. Protocol B resulted in a superior platelet count in 100 percent of the samples, concluding that the referred protocol is effective for PRP production in dogs.
Subject(s)
Animals , Dogs , Blood , Clinical Protocols , Platelet-Rich Plasma , Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
Ionizing radiation has been successfully employed to modify the immunological properties of biomolecules. Very promising results were obtained when crude animal venoms, as well as isolated toxins, were treated with 60Co gamma rays, yielding toxoids with good immunogenicity. The achievement of modified antigens with lower toxicity and preserved or improved immunogenicity can be very useful. Ionizing radiation has already been proven to be a powerful tool to attenuate snake venom toxicity without affecting, and even increasing, their immunogenic properties. However, little is known about the modifications that irradiated molecules undergo and even less about the immunological response that such antigens elicit. In the present work, we investigated the immunological behavior of bothropstoxin-1, a K49 phospholipase, before and after irradiation. Structural modifications of the toxin were analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Isogenic mice were immunized with either the native or the irradiated toxin. The circulating antibodies were isotyped and titrated by ELISA. According to our data, irradiation promoted structural modifications in the toxin characterized by higher molecular weight forms of proteins (aggregates and oligomers). The results also indicated that irradiated toxins were immunogenic and antibodies elicited by them were able to recognize the native toxin in ELISA. These findings suggest that irradiation of toxic proteins can promote significant modifications in their structures; however they still retain many of the original antigenic and immunological properties of native proteins. Also, our data indicate that irradiated proteins induce higher titers of IgG2a and IgG2b, suggesting that Th1 cells are predominantly involved in the immune response.
Subject(s)
Animals , Mice , Bothrops , Gamma Rays/therapeutic use , Crotalid Venoms/radiation effects , Crotalid Venoms/immunology , Crotalid Venoms/toxicityABSTRACT
Pemphigus is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder of the skin. Nitric oxide (NO) is an inflammatory mediator linked to a variety of physiological and pathophysiological phenomena that include skin tumors, psoriasis, urticaria, and atopic dermatitis. Inflammatory cells present in pemphigus lesions are important sources of NO production. We investigated whether NO is involved in pemphigus. A prospective cohort study was conducted at the Dermatology Service of the Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio of the Federal University of Ceará. All patients seen at the outpatient clinic between August 2000 and July 2001, with a clinically and histologically confirmed diagnosis of pemphigus were included. The median age was 42.5 years (range: 12-69 years) with a male to female ratio of 3:2. Total serum nitrite levels, used as a marker for NO production, were determined by the Griess reaction. Skin biopsies from pemphigus and breast surgery (control) patients were used for the detection of the inducible NO synthase (iNOS) by immunohistochemistry. Twenty-two (22) patients with pemphigus and eight (8) controls who did not differ in demographic characteristics were included. Total serum nitrite levels were significantly higher (>7 micromol/L) in pemphigus patients compared to controls (<6 micromol/L), regardless of the severity of the clinical activity of pemphigus (P < 0.0001). All pemphigus biopsies presented increased immunostaining for iNOS that was not detected in normal skin samples. These data are the first to demonstrate that pemphigus patients display increased serum NO levels that are associated with increased iNOS expression in the affected skin.
Subject(s)
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/metabolism , Nitric Oxide/metabolism , Pemphigus/enzymology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Biomarkers/blood , Case-Control Studies , Child , Cohort Studies , Ethylenediamines , Female , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Male , Middle Aged , Nitrates/blood , Nitrites/blood , Pemphigus/etiology , Prospective Studies , Severity of Illness Index , SulfanilamidesABSTRACT
Pemphigus is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder of the skin. Nitric oxide (NO) is an inflammatory mediator linked to a variety of physiological and pathophysiological phenomena that include skin tumors, psoriasis, urticaria, and atopic dermatitis. Inflammatory cells present in pemphigus lesions are important sources of NO production. We investigated whether NO is involved in pemphigus. A prospective cohort study was conducted at the Dermatology Service of the Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio of the Federal University of Ceará. All patients seen at the outpatient clinic between August 2000 and July 2001, with a clinically and histologically confirmed diagnosis of pemphigus were included. The median age was 42.5 years (range: 12-69 years) with a male to female ratio of 3:2. Total serum nitrite levels, used as a marker for NO production, were determined by the Griess reaction. Skin biopsies from pemphigus and breast surgery (control) patients were used for the detection of the inducible NO synthase (iNOS) by immunohistochemistry. Twenty-two (22) patients with pemphigus and eight (8) controls who did not differ in demographic characteristics were included. Total serum nitrite levels were significantly higher (>7 æmol/L) in pemphigus patients compared to controls (<6 æmol/L), regardless of the severity of the clinical activity of pemphigus (P < 0.0001). All pemphigus biopsies presented increased immunostaining for iNOS that was not detected in normal skin samples. These data are the first to demonstrate that pemphigus patients display increased serum NO levels that are associated with increased iNOS expression in the affected skin.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/metabolism , Nitric Oxide/metabolism , Pemphigus/enzymology , Biomarkers/blood , Case-Control Studies , Cohort Studies , Ethylenediamines , Immunohistochemistry , Nitrates/blood , Nitrites/blood , Prospective Studies , Pemphigus/etiology , Severity of Illness Index , SulfanilamidesABSTRACT
Among persons who do regular exercises, many include abdominal exercises in their customary routine. For this, there are a growing variety of movements being created for strengthening the abdominal muscles. This work aims to know, through electromyography analysis, the action potencies of the supra and infra umbilical of the Rectus Abdominis and Rectus Femoris muscles during the execution of abdominal exercises with and without the addition of weights. Lying on the backside, seven flexing movements of the trunk--one without weight, three with 2 Kg on the neck, elbow and chest and three with 4 Kg on the same points--were executed. Nine female university students between 18 and 23 years old participated in the study. Surface electrodes were fixed to the supra and infra umbilical areas of the Rectus Abdominis and Rectus Femoris muscles. The results showed that the utilization of weights in the abdominal exercises did not appear to be effective for the Rectus Abdominis muscle since greater action potencies were only verified in the Rectus Femoris muscle. We concluded that the differences observed in the RMS were not relevant to the point of indicating the utilization of weights to improve abdominal exercises because greater action potencies were only observed in the Rectus Femoris muscle.
Subject(s)
Action Potentials/physiology , Exercise/physiology , Muscle Contraction/physiology , Rectus Abdominis/physiology , Weight-Bearing/physiology , Adolescent , Adult , Electromyography , Female , Humans , Reference Values , Supine Position/physiologyABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the overall experience of our institution with percutaneous occlusion of the patent ductus arteriosus. METHODS: Since December/92, 150 patients underwent 178 procedures (85-Rashkind technique; 87-Gianturco coils; 6-Duct Occlud). Median age was 6.5 years (1 to 57). Mean minimum ductal diameter was 3.05 +/- 1.24 mm (1 to 8). Clinical and echocardiographic evaluations were performed periodically. RESULTS: Adequate implantation was achieved in 143 (95.3%) patients. Prevalence of immediate residual shunting was 52.1%, falling to 15.9% during follow-up. This figure decreased to 5.2% after new additional procedures. Umbrella and coil embolization occurred in 1 and 12 procedures, respectively. Hemolysis and mild stenosis of left pulmonary artery were observed in one patient each. There was no mortality. CONCLUSION: This therapeutic modality is safe and efficacious with good follow-up results.
Subject(s)
Ductus Arteriosus, Patent/therapy , Embolization, Therapeutic/methods , Prostheses and Implants , Child, Preschool , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Infant , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Foram estudados 2.980 casos de alcoolismo no PSM de Juiz de Fora (MG); todos os casos apresentando sinais de ingesta recente de bebida alcoolica, motivo pelo qual procuraram assistencia medica. A hipertensao arterial (HA) foi encontrada em 68 individuos (2,28%), perfazendo 56 homens e 12 mulheres; 19 brancos, 40 pretos e 9 mulatos. A maioria da populacao estudada era jovem (15-35 anos), o mais jovem hipertenso com 15 anos e o mais velho com 65 anos. A HA foi mais frequente nos individuos pretos entre 26 e 45 anos (p< 0,05). 41,17% apresentaram-se hipertensos com alcoolismo tipo agudo e 58,83% hipertensos com alcoolismo tipo cronico. Conclui-se que a HA na populacao alcoolatra estudada coincide com a maior frequencia da HA essencial que incide sobre a raca masculina jovem
