Incidence of cardiovascular risk factors in female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a 3-year follow-up cohort.

Objectives To evaluate the incidence and variability of traditional coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors in a cohort of lupus patients and to investigate if prednisone use predicts an increase in the number of risk factors. Methods A total of 151 women, 37.8 ± 11.1 (mean ± SD) years old at baseline, were reevaluated after a median period of 39 (interquartile range 36.5-42.0) months. The cumulative incidence of traditional risk factors, the incidence rate (with 95% confidence interval) of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypertriglyceridemia, and the frequency of the risk factors' disappearance were calculated. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and Framingham risk score (FRS) were computed. Logistic regression was used to investigate if maximum or cumulative prednisone dose used during follow-up predicted an increase in the cardiometabolic risk factors' number. Results The cumulative incidence of risk factors varied from 39.1% (abdominal obesity) to zero (smoking), and the incidence rate varied from 133.2 (87.8-178.6) per 1000 person-years (dyslipidemia) to 10.4 (1.3-19.5) per 1000 person-years (diabetes). The cumulative incidence for MetS was 18.8%, and 11.7% of 143 patients with low FRS at baseline (T1) were classified in the high-risk category at the end of the study (T2). Dyslipidemia was the most variable risk factor, with 43.5% disappearance at T2. The maximum prednisone dose used during follow-up was borderline ( p = 0.050) for prediction of an increase in the number of cardiometabolic risk factors in an adjusted model for antimalarial use, modified Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) and age. Conclusion The authors described high incidence and variability of CAD risk factors in female lupus patients, with higher prednisone dose being borderline for an increase in the number of cardiometabolic risk factors.

Descending facilitatory pain pathways mediate ongoing pain and tactile hypersensitivity in a rat model of trigeminal neuropathic pain.

The Chronic Constriction Injury of the Infraorbital Nerve (CCI-ION) is a well-established model to study facial sensory changes related to trigeminal neuropathic pain. CCI-ION induces heat hypersensitivity that resolves within 2-3 weeks and a delayed mechanical hypersensitivity that emerges during the second week post-injury. The role of descending facilitatory pain pathways from the rostro ventromedial medulla (RVM) in mediating the heat and tactile hypersensitivity was examined. CCI-ION induced heat hypersensitivity observed 5days post-surgery was reversed by systemic, but not RVM lidocaine. CCI-ION-induced tactile hypersensitivity observed 15days post-surgery was reversed by systemic lidocaine and attenuated by RVM lidocaine. CCI-ION-induced spontaneous pain was determined using conditioned place preference (CPP) to pain relief at each time-point. At day 5 post-CCI-ION, neither systemic nor RVM lidocaine induced CPP. However, at 15days post-CCI-ION, CPP was observed to the chamber paired with RVM lidocaine, but not systemic lidocaine. These data indicate that CCI-ION induced heat hypersensitivity is not dependent on descending facilitatory pain pathways 5-days post-injury whereas descending facilitatory pain pathways mediate tactile allodynia and spontaneous pain 15days post-CCI-ION. This suggests that CCI-ION induces early peripheral sensitization followed by development of central sensitization that mediates spontaneous pain and contributes to mechanical hypersensitivity.

Spatial repolarization heterogeneity and survival in Chagas disease.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated if cardiac spatial repolarization heterogeneity might be associated with an increased risk of death in patients with chronic Chagas disease. METHODS: Repolarization heterogeneity was assessed using the V-index, a recently introduced metric founded on a biophysical model of the ECG. This metric provides an estimate of the standard deviation of the repolarization times across the heart. We analyzed 113 patients (aged 21- 67 years) enrolled between 1998 and 1999 who had a known serological status showing positive reactions to Trypanosoma cruzi. Fourteen subjects died during a 10-year follow-up period. RESULTS: The V-index was significantly lower in survivor (S) than in non-survivor (NS) subjects (S: 31.2 ± 13.3 ms vs NS: 41.2 ± 18.6 ms, single-tail t-test: p = 0.009, single-tail Wilcoxon rank sum test: p = 0.029). A V-index larger than 36.3 ms was related to a significantly higher risk of death in a univariate Cox proportional-hazards analysis (hazard ratio, HR = 5.34, p = 0.0046). In addition, V-index > 36.3 ms retained its prognostic value in a multivariate Cox proportional-hazards analysis after adjustment for other three clinical variables (left ventricular ejection factor < 0.50, QRS duration > 133 ms, ventricular tachycardia during stress testing or 24 hours Holter) and for T-wave amplitude variability > 30 µV, even using shrinkage, a statistical procedure that protects against over-fitting due to small sample size. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that an increased dispersion of repolarization times in patients with Chagas disease, as measured by the V-index, is significantly correlated with the risk of death in a univariate survival analysis. The V-index captures prognostic information not immediately available from the analysis of other established risk factors.

Reflection from the strong gravity regime in a lensed quasar at redshift z = 0.658.

The co-evolution of a supermassive black hole with its host galaxy through cosmic time is encoded in its spin. At z > 2, supermassive black holes are thought to grow mostly by merger-driven accretion leading to high spin. It is not known, however, whether below z ≈ 1 these black holes continue to grow by coherent accretion or in a chaotic manner, though clear differences are predicted in their spin evolution. An established method of measuring the spin of black holes is through the study of relativistic reflection features from the inner accretion disk. Owing to their greater distances from Earth, there has hitherto been no significant detection of relativistic reflection features in a moderate-redshift quasar. Here we report an analysis of archival X-ray data together with a deep observation of a gravitationally lensed quasar at z = 0.658. The emission originates within three or fewer gravitational radii from the black hole, implying a spin parameter (a measure of how fast the black hole is rotating) of a = 0.87(+0.08)(-0.15) at the 3σ confidence level and a > 0.66 at the 5σ level. The high spin found here is indicative of growth by coherent accretion for this black hole, and suggests that black-hole growth at 0.5 ≤ z ≤ 1 occurs principally by coherent rather than chaotic accretion episodes.

A 200-second quasi-periodicity after the tidal disruption of a star by a dormant black hole.

Supermassive black holes (SMBHs; mass is greater than or approximately 10(5) times that of the Sun) are known to exist at the center of most galaxies with sufficient stellar mass. In the local universe, it is possible to infer their properties from the surrounding stars or gas. However, at high redshifts we require active, continuous accretion to infer the presence of the SMBHs, which often comes in the form of long-term accretion in active galactic nuclei. SMBHs can also capture and tidally disrupt stars orbiting nearby, resulting in bright flares from otherwise quiescent black holes. Here, we report on a ~200-second x-ray quasi-periodicity around a previously dormant SMBH located in the center of a galaxy at redshift z = 0.3534. This result may open the possibility of probing general relativity beyond our local universe.

Cinética de secagem de folhas de Solanum lycocarpum A. St.-Hil. (fruta-de-lobo) / Drying kinetics of leaves of Solanum lycocarpum A. St.-Hil. (wolf apple)

Objetivou-se neste trabalho determinar o tempo de secagem e modelar as curvas de secagem de folhas de fruta-de-lobo (Solanum lycocarpum A. St.-Hil.) secas em temperaturas de 40, 50 e 60ºC, num secador de leito fixo em camada fina com velocidade do ar de 0,81 m s-1, bem como estimar o coeficiente de difusão efetivo e a energia de ativação. Aos dados experimentais foram ajustados oito modelos matemáticos. As magnitudes do coeficiente de determinação (R²), do erro médio relativo (P) e do erro médio estimado (SE) foram utilizadas para verificar o grau de ajuste dos modelos. Concluiu-se que: a) O tempo de secagem diminuiu com o aumento da temperatura; b) os modelos de secagem Logaritmo e de Midilli et al. foram os que melhor se ajustaram aos dados experimentais; c) Os valores do coeficiente de difusão aumentaram de acordo com a elevação da temperatura do ar de secagem e d) O valor da energia de ativação para a folha Solanum lycocarpum A. St.-Hil. foi de 44, 60 kJ mol-1.

The aims of this study were to determine the drying time and the shape of the drying curves of leaves of wolf apple (Solanum lycocarpum A. St.-Hil.) dried at temperatures of 40, 50 and 60ºC in a thin layer fixed-bed dryer at air velocity of 0.81 m s-1, and to estimate the effective diffusion coefficient and activation energy. Eight mathematical models were fit to the experimental data. The magnitude of the coefficient of determination (R²), the mean relative error (P) and the estimated standard error (SE) were used to verify the fitting degree of the models. It was concluded that: a) The drying time decreased with increasing temperatures; b) the drying models of Logarithm and of Midilli et al. best fit to the experimental data; c) The values of the diffusion coefficient increased with the rising temperature of the drying air; d) The value of activation energy for the leaf of Solanum lycocarpum A. St.-Hil. was 44.60 kJ mol-1.

Central substance P NK1 receptors are involved in fever induced by LPS but not by IL-1ß and CCL3/MIP-1α in rats.

Substance P (SP) is a neuropeptide that can modulate inflammatory mediator release through activation of NK(1) receptors (NK(1)R). Some studies have also suggested the involvement of SP in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced fever. However, the precise contribution of this neuropeptide to the pathways activated during fever is unknown. In this study we investigated the effect of a selective NK(1)R antagonist, SR140333B, on the febrile response induced by LPS and cytokines. Our results show that the systemic injection of SR140333B did not modify the fever induced by LPS at a dose that is able to reduce protein extravasation induced by SP in the skin. On the other hand, intracerebroventricular administration of SR140333B significantly reduced the fever induced by peripheral injection of LPS. These data emphasize an important role for SP in the central nervous system during the febrile response to LPS, and are reinforced by the fact that intracerebroventricular injection of SP also induced fever in a dose-dependent manner in captopril-treated rats. Considering that the febrile response can result from the generation of several endogenous pyrogens, among them interleukin (IL)-1ß and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (CCL3/MIP-1α), we also examined the effect of SR140333B on the fever induced by these cytokines which act through prostaglandin-dependent and -independent mechanisms, respectively. Surprisingly, SR140333B did not modify the febrile response to IL-1ß or CCL3/MIP-1α. Altogether these data suggest that the central action of SP is essential for LPS-, but not for IL-1ß- or CCL3/MIP-1α-induced fever.

Broad line emission from iron K- and L-shell transitions in the active galaxy 1H 0707-495.

Since the 1995 discovery of the broad iron K-line emission from the Seyfert galaxy MCG-6-30-15 (ref. 1), broad iron K lines have been found in emission from several other Seyfert galaxies, from accreting stellar-mass black holes and even from accreting neutron stars. The iron K line is prominent in the reflection spectrum created by the hard-X-ray continuum irradiating dense accreting matter. Relativistic distortion of the line makes it sensitive to the strong gravity and spin of the black hole. The accompanying iron L-line emission should be detectable when the iron abundance is high. Here we report the presence of both iron K and iron L emission in the spectrum of the narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy 1H 0707-495. The bright iron L emission has enabled us to detect a reverberation lag of about 30 s between the direct X-ray continuum and its reflection from matter falling into the black hole. The observed reverberation timescale is comparable to the light-crossing time of the innermost radii around a supermassive black hole. The combination of spectral and timing data on 1H 0707-495 provides strong evidence that we are witnessing emission from matter within a gravitational radius, or a fraction of a light minute, from the event horizon of a rapidly spinning, massive black hole.

Efeitos de Beauveria bassiana (Bals) Vuill e Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsc) Sorok sobre fêmeas ingurgitadas de Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) em condições de laboratório / Effects of Beauveria bassiana (Bals) Vuill and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsc) Sorok on engorged females of Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) in laboratory conditions

The in vitro susceptibility of Amblyomma cajennense engorged females to some isolated of the fungus Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae was verified and lethal concentrations (LC 50 and LC 90) were calculated. The females were dived in conidia suspensions for five minutes, and kept in climatically controlled chambers BOD under 27º C and 80 por cento relative humidity. Each bioassay had four treatments in concentrations of 105,106,107 e 108 conidia/ml. A control group was also used. The following characteristics were evaluated: weight and period of oviposition, indexes of reproductive and nutritional efficiency and percentage of microbiological control. A dose dependent negative effect was observed in ticks treated with the suspension. All isolates tested cause a negative effect on in vitro tests of engorged females of A. cajennense, suggesting its potential for microbiological control of tick's species.

Açäo in vitro dos fungos Beauveria bassiana (Bals) Vuill e Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch) Sorok sobre ninfas e adultos de Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) (Acari: Ixodidae) / In vitro of the fungi Beauveria bassiana (Bals) Vuill and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch) Sorok on ninphs and adults of Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) (Acari: Ixodidae)

O trabalho teve por objetivo verificar a mortalidade in vitro de ninfas e adultos de Amblyomma cajennense frente à açäo de isolados dos fungos Beauveria bassiana e Metharhizium anisopliae. Foram avaliados três isolados de M. anisopliae (959, 319 e E9) e dois de B. bassiana (986 e 747). As suspensöes de conídios foram preparadas a partir de fungos produzidos em meio de arroz, e cada bioensaio foi constituído de quatro tratamentos nas concentraçöes 10 elevado a 5, 10 elevado a 6, 10 elevado a 7, 10 elevado a 8 conídios/ml e um grupo-controle. A análise constou da observaçäo do percentual de mortalidade, 15 dias após o tratamento ou após a ecdise de adultos. Foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os tratamentos quanto à mortalidade para todos os isolados e todos os instares. Nos grupos tratados houve aumento considerável na mortalidade à medida que se aumentava a concentraçäo de conídios na suspensäo. Conclui-se que todos os isolados testados causaram mortalidade em testes in vitro sobre esses estádios evolutivos, sugerindo o controle do A. cajennense pela açäo desses fungos

A novel methodology for the investigation of intracellular proteolytic processing in intact cells.

Taking advantage of the unique spectral properties of the fluorescent probe FL-Bodipy, we have developed a new methodology to study processing of exogenous proteins in intact cells. FL-Bodipy was conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA) at a molar ratio of 29 probe molecules to 1 albumin equivalent. The resulting conjugate was 98% self-quenched due to fluorescence resonance energy transfer (homotransfer) between neighboring Bodipy molecules. In vitro proteolytic cleavage of the conjugate led to relaxation of self-quenching and to a significant increase in fluorescence. Flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy indicated that Bodipy-labeled BSA was readily internalized by J774 macrophages and accumulated in intracellular compartments. The kinetics of intracellular degradation of Bodipy-BSA was linear for up to 2 hours and was completely inhibited by a combination of protease inhibitors. Future applications of the methodology reported here may comprise studies of antigen processing and presentation, as well as the investigation of cellular events related to processing and disassembly of intracellular pathogens such as parasites, bacteria and viruses.

Effect of perioperative blood transfusions on survival of patients after radical surgery for colorectal cancer.

The effect of perioperative blood transfusion on the survival of patients with colorectal cancer was evaluated in 128 patients undergoing curative surgery between 1980 and 1988. The following clinical and histopathological variables were also studied: age, sex, duration of symptoms, presence of intestinal obstruction, tumour site, extent of spread through the bowel wall, lymph node involvement, Dukes' stage, grade of differentiation, venous invasion and type of surgical procedure performed. The need for perioperative blood transfusion was unrelated to the stage of disease. In the transfused patients (n = 73) the 5-year recurrence-free survival, calculated by the Kaplan-Meyer technique, was 37% and in the non-transfused (n = 55) was 60% (P = 0.0027, Mantel-Cox). Similar differences were found in the comparison of the groups with (n = 68) and without (n = 60) transfusions on the day of operation. The deleterious effect of transfusion was evident in patients who received only one unit of blood (n = 19)--these had a 5-year survival rate of 45% compared those who had more than one unit of blood (n = 54) (5-year survival rate 35%) (P = 0.0062). With a multivariate analysis, using a Cox proportional hazard model, taking into account all the variables studied, a significant and independent effect on survival was found for lymph node involvement (beta coefficient = 3.97), blood transfusion (beta coefficient = 2.16) and extent of bowel wall spread (beta coefficient = 1.75).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)