Validation of a Portuguese version of the Groningen radiotherapy-induced xerostomia questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to validate and determine at pretest level the reliability of the Portuguese version of the Groningen radiotherapy-induced xerostomia questionnaire. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study employed 37 head and neck cancer patients. Each patient signed an informed consent and responded to the Portuguese version of the questionnaire in the form of an interview. This was repeated again after 2 weeks. A standard single question provided a validity check. Data were analyzed using Cronbach's α to test its reliability and total and interitem correlation, and intraclass correlation to determine its internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Construct validity supported by objective measurements as salivary secretion was also investigated. Significance was set at .05. RESULTS: Cronbach's α was 0.91 and 0.89 for the first and second test administrations, respectively, which indicates that the internal consistency was excellent. The intraclass correlation coefficient value for the test-retest reliability was 0.70. The correlation between the total score of the questionnaire and standard single dry mouth question was 0.72 for the first round, indicating a good correlation. CONCLUSIONS: Demonstrating very good psychometric properties, the Portuguese version of the Groningen radiotherapy-induced xerostomia questionnaire is a valid tool and can be considered a reliable instrument to measure xerostomia in head and neck cancer patients.

Synchrotron microtomography applied to the volumetric analysis of internal structures of Thoropa miliaris tadpoles.

Amphibians are models for studying applied ecological issues such as habitat loss, pollution, disease, and global climate change due to their sensitivity and vulnerability to changes in the environment. Developmental series of amphibians are informative about their biology, and X-ray based 3D reconstruction holds promise for quantifying morphological changes during growth-some with a direct impact on the possibility of an experimental investigation on several of the ecological topics listed above. However, 3D resolution and discrimination of their soft tissues have been difficult with traditional X-ray computed tomography, without time-consuming contrast staining. Tomographic data were initially performed (pre-processing and reconstruction) using the open-source software tool SYRMEP Tomo Project. Data processing and analysis of the reconstructed tomography volumes were conducted using the segmentation semi-automatic settings of the software Avizo Fire 8, which provide information about each investigated tissues, organs or bone elements. Hence, volumetric analyses were carried out to quantify the development of structures in different tadpole developmental stages. Our work shows that synchrotron X-ray microtomography using phase-contrast mode resolves the edges of the internal tissues (as well as overall tadpole morphology), facilitating the segmentation of the investigated tissues. Reconstruction algorithms and segmentation software played an important role in the qualitative and quantitative analysis of each target structure of the Thoropa miliaris tadpole at different stages of development, providing information on volume, shape and length. The use of the synchrotron X-ray microtomography setup of the SYRMEP beamline of Elettra Synchrotron, in phase-contrast mode, allows access to volumetric data for bone formation, eye development, nervous system and notochordal changes during the development (ontogeny) of tadpoles of a cycloramphid frog Thoropa miliaris. As key elements in the normal development of these and any other frog tadpole, the application of such a comparative ontogenetic study, may hold interest to researchers in experimental and environmental disciplines.

COMMITTED EFFECTIVE DOSE DUE TO THE INTAKE OF 40K, 226Ra, 228Ra AND 228Th CONTAINED IN FOODS INCLUDED IN THE DIET OF THE RIO DE JANEIRO CITY POPULATION, BRAZIL.

Annual effective dose due to the consumption of 40K, 226Ra, 228Ra and 228Th was estimated from high-resolution gamma spectrometry, food consumption data for the inhabitants of Rio de Janeiro City and dose coefficients published by the ICRP 119. A total of 31 samples of cereals, grains, vegetables, flours, liquid and perishables were analyzed. 40K was measured in all samples, and bean sample presented highest specific concentration 489.36 ± 23.70 Bq kg-1. The highest specific concentration for 226Ra, 228Ra and 228Th was measured in pumpkin (7.82 ± 1.09 Bq kg-1), carrot (30.18 ± 1.99 Bq kg-1) and beet (2.43 ± 0.48 Bq kg-1), respectively. The highest contribution to annual effective dose came from beans (556.3 µSv), potato (12.5 µSv), carrot (10.3 µSv), banana (4.7 µSv) and beet (3.3 µSv). It was observed that updates of daily food consumption values was the main reason for an up to 10-fold difference between the annual effective dose found in the present study and literature data.

Qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde de adultos após cirurgia defêmur ou quadril / Quality of life related to adults health after hip or femur surgery

Objetivo: identificar mudanças ocorridas na avaliação da qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde(QVRS) de adultos entre o terceiro e sexto mês após cirurgia de fêmur ou quadril. Métodos: abordagemquantitativa, de delineamento longitudinal realizado de junho a novembro de 2013. Aplicadoquestionário de caracterização e o Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Realizadas análises descritivas,teste de Mann-Whitney e Wilcoxon. Adotado p=0,05, como nível de significância. Resultados:participaram 24 adultos. Houve redução das médias de pontuação em cinco dos oito domínios do SF-36, representando piora da QVRS no sexto mês. O domínio Aspecto físico foi o mais afetado. As médiasdo domínio Dor foram maiores e estatisticamente significantes para as mulheres (p=0,04), houvemelhora nas médias de Estado geral de saúde (p=0,01) e Aspecto emocional (p=0,05) no sexto mês.Conclusão: há piora da QVRS nos adultos submetidos a cirurgia de fêmur ou quadril nos seis primeirosmeses após cirurgia.

Objective: identifying changes occurred during the evaluation of health-related quality of life(HRQOL) of adults between the third and the sixth month after surgery. Methods: quantitativeapproach, longitudinal design, conducted from June to November 2013. A characterizationquestionnaire and the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were applied. Descriptive analyses, MannWhitneyand Wilcoxon test were carried out. Significance level p=0.05. Results: 24 adults participated. There was a reduction of average scores in five of the eight domains of the SF-36,representing worsening of HRQOL in the sixth month. The domain Physical aspect was the mostaffected. The averages of Pain domain were higher and statistically significant for women (p=0.04),there was improvement in the general health status (p=0.01) and Emotional aspect (p=0,05) in thesixth month. Conclusion: there is worsening of HRQOL between adults undergoing surgery of hip orfemur during the first six months after discharge the day of surgery.

Ecdysis period of Rhodnius prolixus head investigated using phase contrast synchrotron microtomography.

Microtomography using synchrotron sources is a useful tool in biological imaging research since the phase coherence of synchrotron beams can be exploited to obtain images with high contrast resolution. This work is part of a series of works using phase contrast synchrotron microtomography in the study of Rhodnius prolixus head, the insect vector of Chagas' disease, responsible for about 12,000 deaths per year. The control of insect vector is the most efficient method to prevent this disease and studies have shown that the use of triflumuron, a chitin synthesis inhibitor, disrupted chitin synthesis during larval development and it's an alternative method against insect pests. The aim of this work was to investigate the biological effects of treatments with triflumuron in the ecdysis period (the moulting of the R. prolixus cuticle) using the new imaging beamline IMX at LNLS (Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory). Nymphs of R. prolixus were taken from the Laboratory of Biochemistry and Physiology of Insects, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazil. Doses of 0.05mg of triflumuron were applied directly to the abdomen on half of the insects immediately after feeding. The insects were sacrificed 25days after feeding (intermoulting period) and fixed with glutaraldehyde. The results obtained using phase contrast synchrotron microtomography in R. prolixus showed amazing images of the effects of triflumuron on insects in the ecdysis period, and the formation of the new cuticle on those which were not treated with triflumuron. Both formation and malformation of this insect's cuticle have never been seen before with this technique.

Efeito de dietas contendo plasma sanguíneo desidratado sobre características microbiológicas, imunológicas e histológicas de leitões leves ao desmame / Effect of spray-dried plasma diets on microbiological, immunological and histological parameters of light weight weaned pigs

Foram avaliados os efeitos do plasma sanguíneo desidratado (PSD) sobre desempenho, perfil imunológico, histológico, microbiológico e peso de órgãos de leitões leves, desmamados aos 21 dias de idade. Foram utilizados 24 leitões, com idade média inicial de 21 dias, em delineamento experimental completamente ao acaso. Os tratamentos foram: T1 - animais pesados ao desmame, sem suplementação com PSD; T2 - animais leves ao desmame, suplementados com 10g/animal/dia de PSD; T3 - animais leves ao desmame, suplementados com 20g/animal/dia de PSD; T4 - animais leves ao desmame, sem suplementação com PSD. A adição de 20g de PSD na dieta melhorou o ganho diário de peso, aumentou o peso (g/kg) do baço e o título de IgA no soro entre 21 e 31 dias de idade. A inclusão de 10g de PSD aumentou o comprimento e a largura do linfonodo ileocólico. A inclusão de PSD traz benefícios aos leitões nos primeiros 10 dias pós-desmame, atuando principalmente nos órgãos linfoides e na mucosa intestinal.

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of spray-dried plasma (SDP) on the growth performance, immunological, histological and microbiological profile and weight of organs of light weight weaned pigs. The trial was done using 24 pigs with an initial mean age of 21 days in a completely randomized experimental design. The treatments were: T1 - heavy weight weaned pigs, without SDP supplementation; T2 - light weight weaned pigs, supplemented with 10g/animal/day of SDP; T3 - light weight weaned pigs, supplemented with 20g/animal/day of SDP; T4 - light weight weaned pigs, without SDP supplementation. The inclusion of 20g of SDP in the diet improved the weight gain, spleen weight (g/kg) and serum IgA title between 21 and 31 days of age. The inclusion of 10g of SDP in the diet improved the length and width of the ileocolic lymph node. In the first 10 days after weaning, SDP improved the development of lymphoid organs and the protection of the intestinal mucosa.

Radon in indoor concentrations and indoor concentrations of metal dust particles in museums and other public buildings.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the public and occupational exposure to radon and metal-bearing particles in museums and public buildings located in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. For this study, four buildings were selected: two historic buildings, which currently house an art gallery and an art museum; and two modern buildings, a chapel and a club. Integrated radon concentration measurements were performed using passive radon detectors with solid state nuclear track detector-type Lexan used as nuclear track detector. Air samplers with a cyclone were used to collect the airborne particle samples that were analyzed by the particle-induced X-ray emission technique. The average unattached-radon concentrations in indoor air in the buildings were above 40 Bq/m(3), with the exception of Building D as measured in 2009. The average radon concentrations in indoor air in the four buildings in 2009 were below the recommended reference level by World Health Organization (100 Bq/m(3)); however, in 2011, the average concentrations of radon in Buildings A and C were above this level, though lower than 300 Bq/m(3). The average concentrations of unattached radon were lower than 148 Bq/m(3) (4pCi/L), the USEPA level recommended to take action to reduce the concentrations of radon in indoor air. The unattached-radon average concentrations were also lower than the value recommended by the European Union for new houses. As the unattached-radon concentrations were below the international level recommended to take action to reduce the radon concentration in air, it was concluded that during the period of sampling, there was low risk to human health due to the inhalation of unattached radon in these four buildings.

Atividade antiulcerogênica do extrato aquoso da Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam. ) Kurz / Antiulcerogenic activity of aqueous extract from Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam. ) Kurz

Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Kurz pertence a família Crassulaceae e é conhecida vulgarmente como coirama, folha-da-fortuna, ou folha-do-ar, sendo usada popularmente como antifúngico, no tratamento da hipertensão, em úlceras e em inflamações. O presente estudo objetivou analisar a atividade antiulcerogênica do extrato aquoso das folhas de Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Kurz em modelo de úlcera gástrica induzida por indometacina em Rattus norvegicus, machos (150 a 250 g) com idade de 70 dias. Os animais receberam por via oral: água, extrato aquoso de Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Kurz (1 e 2 g Kg-1 ) ou ranitidina (60 mg Kg-1 ), fármaco com ação gastroprotetora conhecida que atua bloqueando os receptores de histamina H2. Após uma hora dos tratamentos, todos animais receberam indometacina via intraperitoneal. Os resultados demonstraram que o extrato aquoso da Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Kurz possui ação gastroprotetora; na dose de 1 g Kg-1 inibiu 45,49% o índice de ulceração induzido pela indometacina, e, na dose de 2 g Kg-1, inibiu 49,50%. Sugere-se o envolvimento de vários mecanismos na ação gastroprotetora dessa planta e não somente uma possível participação das prostaglandinas nesse efeito. Estudos futuros com diferentes modelos de indução de úlcera gástrica tornam-se necessários para melhor avaliar a atividade antiulcerogênica do extrato aquoso de Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Kurz.

Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Kurz belongs to the family Crassulaceae, is popularly known as "coirama", "folha-da-fortuna", or "folha-do-ar" and has been commonly used as antifungal, in the treatment of hypertension, ulcers and inflammation. The present study aimed to analyze the antiulcerogenic activity of aqueous extract from the leaves of Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Kurz using indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer models in Rattus norvegicus, males (150-250 g) aged 70 days old. The animals received by the oral route: water, aqueous extract from Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Kurz (1 and 2 g Kg-1) or ranitidine (60 mg Kg-1), a drug with known gastroprotective action, blocking histamine H2-receptors. After one hour of treatments, all animals received indomethacin by the intraperitoneal route. Results demonstrated that the aqueous extract from Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Kurz has gastroprotective action; at 1g kg-1 it inhibited 45.49% of the indomethacin-induced ulcer index, while at 2g Kg-1 it inhibited 49.50%. Several mechanisms of actions are suggested to be involved in the gastroprotective action of this plant, besides the possible participation of prostaglandins in this effect. Further studies using different gastric ulcer-induction models are needed to better evaluate the antiulcerogenic activity of aqueous extract from Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Kurz.

3D histomorphometric quantification of trabecular bones by computed microtomography using synchrotron radiation.

Conventional bone histomorphometry is an important method for quantitative evaluation of bone microstructure. X-ray computed microtomography is a non-invasive technique, which can be used to evaluate histomorphometric indices in trabecular bones (BV/TV, BS/BV, Tb.N, Tb.Th, Tb.Sp). In this technique, 3D images are used to quantify the whole sample, differently from the conventional one, in which the quantification is performed in 2D slices and extrapolated for 3D case. In this work, histomorphometric quantification using synchrotron 3D X-ray computed microtomography was performed to quantify the bone structure at different skeletal sites as well as to investigate the effects of bone diseases on quantitative understanding of bone architecture. The images were obtained at Synchrotron Radiation for MEdical Physics (SYRMEP) beamline, at ELETTRA synchrotron radiation facility, Italy. Concerning the obtained results for normal and pathological bones from same skeletal sites and individuals, from our results, a certain declining bone volume fraction was achieved. The results obtained could be used in forming the basis for comparison of the bone microarchitecture and can be a valuable tool for predicting bone fragility.

Coronary fat content evaluated by morphometry in patients with severe atherosclerosis has no relation with serum lipid levels.

The relationship between lipid serum levels and coronary atherosclerotic plaque fat content was studied in 51 necropsy patients. Serum lipids were measured by standard techniques, during life, in the absence of lipid-lowering drugs. Intima, intimal fat and media areas were measured using a computerized system in cryosections of the odd segments of the right, anterior descending and circumflex coronary arteries stained with Sudan-IV. Mean intimal and lipid areas were 5.74 +/- 1.98 and 1.22 +/- 0.55 mm2 (22.12 +/- 8.48%) in 26 cases with high cholesterol (>or=200 mg/dL) and 4.98 +/- 1.94 and 1.16 +/- 0.66 mm2 (22.75 +/- 9.06%) in 25 cases with normal cholesterol (<200 mg/dL; P > 0.05). Patients with high levels of low-density lipoprotein (>or=130 mg/dL, N = 15) had a higher intima/media area ratio than those with normal levels of low-density lipoprotein (<130 mg/dL, N = 13, P < 0.01). No significant difference in the morphometrical variables was found in groups with high or low serum levels of triglycerides (>or=200 mg/dL, N = 13 vs <200 mg/dL, N = 36) or high-density lipoprotein (>or=35 mg/dL, N = 11 vs <35 mg/dL, N = 17). The association between the morphological measurements and serum levels of cholesterol, its fractions, and triglycerides was also tested and the correlation coefficients were low. Although high cholesterol is a risk factor, we show here that in patients with severe atherosclerosis blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels seem to have little influence on coronary lipid content, indicating that other factors may contribute to arterial lipid deposition and plaque formation.

RNA-acting antibiotics: in-vitro selection of RNA aptamers for the design of new bioactive molecules less susceptible to bacterial resistance.

During the last few years, antibiotic multiresistance has been increasing, not only in hospitals, but also, more worryingly, in general medicine. Different ways are being explored to bypass this problem. RNA-acting antibiotics such as aminosides (aminoglycosides) bind to bacterial RNA causing premature termination of proteins and mistranslation in bacteria. It is now possible to study the interactions of such antibiotics with their target by in-vitro selection of RNA molecules that recognize these antibiotics (RNA aptamers, SELEX method). The knowledge of the antibiotic-RNA interactions represents a promising way for the rational design of new bioactive compounds less susceptible to bacterial resistance.

Computed tomography: an evaluation of the effect of adding polymer SBS to asphaltic mixtures used in paving

This work applies the Computed Tomography (CT) technique to the study of asphaltic mixtures to which polymer has been added. An evaluation has been made of the effect of adding Brazilian produced polymer SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene), to the asphaltic mixtures used in paving. Laboratory mechanical tests and non-destructive testing (NDT) of cylindrical specimens have been made. Three mixtures were prepared for the purpose of this study, all containing 5.4% of asphalt RASF (propane deashalting). One of the mixtures contained no polymer, while the other two were made with 7 and 5% of the SBS polymer. Investigations of Brazilian pavements have shown that cracking is the most important defect due to fatigue in the asphaltic contained overlay. Preliminary results of mechanical tests show that the polymer additive favorably enhances performance of the mixtures. It may be noted that adding polymer SBS to the asphaltic mixture used in paving increases the percentage void. Crack growth in specimens of asphaltic mixtures to which polymer has been added displays the same behaviors as that in specimens in which polymer has not been added.