First titanosaur dinosaur nesting site from the Late Cretaceous of Brazil.

Titanosaurs were successful herbivorous dinosaurs widely distributed in all continents during the Cretaceous, with the major diversity in South America. The success of titanosaurs was probably due to several physiological and ecological factors, in addition to a series of morphological traits they achieved during their evolutionary history. However, the generalist nesting behaviour using different palaeoenvironments and strategies was key to accomplish that success. Titanosaur nesting sites have been found extensively around the world, with notable records in Spain, France, Romania, India, and, especially, Argentina. Here, we describe the first titanosaur nesting site from the Late Cretaceous of Brazil that represents the most boreal nesting site for South America. Several egg-clutches, partially preserved, isolated eggs and many eggshell fragments were discovered in an Inceptisol palaeosol profile of the mining Lafarge Quarry, at the Ponte Alta District (Uberaba Municipality, Minas Gerais State), corresponding to the Serra da Galga Formation (Bauru Group, Bauru Basin). Although classical mechanical preparation and CT scans have not revealed embryonic remains in ovo, the eggs and eggshell features match those eggs containing titanosaurian embryos found worldwide. The morphology of the egg-clutches and observations of the sedimentary characteristics bolster the hypothesis that these sauropods were burrow-nester dinosaurs, as was already suggested for the group based on other nesting sites. The egg-clutches distributed in two levels along the Lafarge outcrops, together with the geopalaeontological data collected, provide clear evidence for the first colonial nesting and breeding area of titanosaur dinosaurs in Brazil.

A recombinant multiepitope protein for hepatitis B diagnosis.

Hepatitis B is a liver inflammation caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and can be diagnosed in clinical stage by hepatitis B core antibody from IgM class (anti-HBcIgM). Hepatitis B core antibody from IgG class (Anti-HBcIgG) appears quickly after IgM, reaching high titers in chronic hepatitis, and remains even after cure. Since hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) is the first antibody identified and sometimes the only marker detected during the course of infection, it can be used both to indicate HBV acute infection (anti-HBc-IgM) and to identify individuals who have come into contact with the virus (anti-HBc-IgG). In this work we propose a recombinant hepatitis B core multiepitope antigen (rMEHB) to be used for diagnosis of hepatitis B. For this purpose, a synthetic gene coding for rMEHB was designed and cloned into vector pET21a with a 6xHis tag at the C-terminal. Time course induction in E. coli showed an induced protein with an apparent molecular mass of ~21 kDa. Protein purification was performed by a single step with affinity chromatography Ni-NTA. Circular dichroism spectroscopy indicated rMEHB as a thermal stable protein at pH 7.0 and 8.0. In these conditions rMEHB was successfully used to perform an enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) with positive and negative sera.

Prevalência e fatores associados à adiposidade central e periférica em estudantes do ensino fundamental brasileiro / Prevalence and factors associated with peripheral and central adiposity in primary school students in Brazil

The objective was to identify the prevalence of excess central adiposity and peripheral schoolchildren and its relationship with sedentary activities and physical activity level. Cross-sectional study was conducted with 524 elementary school student's city of Bauru (SP). Structured protocol was used, the PAQ-C and measured subscapular skinfolds thickness (PCS) and triciptal (TSF). There were descriptive analyses, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. The PCT and PCS rates were respectively 13.6% and 16.5% in boys and 15.4% and 12.6%. In girls the frequency above three times a week on the computer and its use for more than three hours if associated with elevated PCT, low level of physical activity was associated with elevated PCS in boys, low level of physical activity and use of computer and / or video games for more than three hours/day were associated with higher PCS in boys. The frequency and number of hours in sedentary and low physical activity are important predictors of adiposity among children...

O objetivo foi identificar a prevalência de excesso de adiposidade central e periférica em escolares e sua relação com atividades sedentárias e nível de atividade física. Realizou-se estudo transversal com 524 alunos do ensino fundamental municipal de Bauru (SP). Utilizou-se protocolo estruturado, o PAQ-C e mensuradas as pregas cutâneas subescapular (PCS) e tricipital (PCT). Realizaram-se análise descritiva, bivariada e multivariada por regressão logística. As PCT e PCS elevadas foram, respectivamente, de 13,6% e 16,5% nos meninos e 15,4% e 12,6% nas meninas; nas meninas a freqüência acima de três vezes por semana no computador e o seu uso por mais de 3 horas se associaram com as PCT elevadas; baixo nível de atividade física associou-se com as PCS elevadas nos meninos; o uso de computador e/ou videogame por mais de três horas/dia se associaram com as PCS elevadas nos meninos. A frequência e número de horas em atividades sedentárias e baixo nível de atividade física são importantes preditores de adiposidade nos escolares...

Prevalência e fatores associados à adiposidade central e periférica em estudantes do ensino fundamental brasileiro / Prevalence and factors associated with peripheral and central adiposity in primary school students in Brazil

The objective was to identify the prevalence of excess central adiposity and peripheral schoolchildren and its relationship with sedentary activities and physical activity level. Cross-sectional study was conducted with 524 elementary school student's city of Bauru (SP). Structured protocol was used, the PAQ-C and measured subscapular skinfolds thickness (PCS) and triciptal (TSF). There were descriptive analyses, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. The PCT and PCS rates were respectively 13.6% and 16.5% in boys and 15.4% and 12.6%. In girls the frequency above three times a week on the computer and its use for more than three hours if associated with elevated PCT, low level of physical activity was associated with elevated PCS in boys, low level of physical activity and use of computer and / or video games for more than three hours/day were associated with higher PCS in boys. The frequency and number of hours in sedentary and low physical activity are important predictors of adiposity among children...(AU)

O objetivo foi identificar a prevalência de excesso de adiposidade central e periférica em escolares e sua relação com atividades sedentárias e nível de atividade física. Realizou-se estudo transversal com 524 alunos do ensino fundamental municipal de Bauru (SP). Utilizou-se protocolo estruturado, o PAQ-C e mensuradas as pregas cutâneas subescapular (PCS) e tricipital (PCT). Realizaram-se análise descritiva, bivariada e multivariada por regressão logística. As PCT e PCS elevadas foram, respectivamente, de 13,6% e 16,5% nos meninos e 15,4% e 12,6% nas meninas; nas meninas a freqüência acima de três vezes por semana no computador e o seu uso por mais de 3 horas se associaram com as PCT elevadas; baixo nível de atividade física associou-se com as PCS elevadas nos meninos; o uso de computador e/ou videogame por mais de três horas/dia se associaram com as PCS elevadas nos meninos. A frequência e número de horas em atividades sedentárias e baixo nível de atividade física são importantes preditores de adiposidade nos escolares...(AU)

Avaliação oftalmológica de um grupo de motoristas profissionais de Campinas, São Paulo / Retrospective evaluation of 100 ophtamologic files of professional drivers in Campinas

Os condutores profissionais de veículos automotores necessitam de uma acuidade visual adequada, pois a visão é o elemento mais importante do ato de dirigir. OBJETIVO: avaliar as condições visuais de um grupo de 100 motoristas profissionais de Campinas, SP. MÉTODO: Nesse estudo retrospectivo foram revisados 100 prontuários oftalmológicos de motoristas profissionais em atividade, atendidos na Fundação Dr. João Penido Burnier, em Campinas, SP, Brasil, de 2006 a 2011. RESULTADOS: A média de idade dos profissionais foi de 52,8 anos, sendo todos do sexo masculino. As principais razões que motivaram a consulta foram avaliação periódica (36,8%) e queixa de baixa acuidade visual (33,6%). Relataram comorbidades sistêmicas 44%, sendo as mais prevalentes hipertensão arterial e diabetes Apresentaram 100% de visão 47% dos sujeitos e em 69,4% a visão foi igual ou superior a 0,66, avaliando-se cada olho separadamente. A acuidade visual foi inferior a 0,5 em um dos olhos em 22,1% dos motoristas. A afecção oftalmológica mais prevalente foi opacificação do cristalino (44,2%) e 16,8% delas tinham indicação de tratamento cirúrgico da catarata. Glaucoma ocorreu em 3,1%, pterígeo em 5,2%, pinguécula em 6,3% e aumento da pressão intraocular em 8,6%. A fundoscopia foi normal em 53,6% dos pacientes. As principais alterações do fundo de olho foram nervo óptico com escavação suspeita (10,5%), retinopatia diabética (8,4%), doença macular relacionada à idade (6,3%), retinopatia hipertensiva (3,1%), cicatrizes de corioretinite (3,1%), descolamento de retina (3,1%), coroidose miópica (3,1%) e hemorragia vítrea (2,1%). CONCLUSÕES: nesse grupo de motoristas profissionais as deficiências visuais apresentaram uma prevalênciamuito maior do que seria ideal nessa profissão. Pelo menos 22,1% dos motoristas não poderiam ser profissionais, por não enxergarem 0,5 em um dos olhos. O número demotoristas que seriam reprovados nas categorias C, D e E...

Vision is the main skill for the driving act and a good visual accuity is mandatory to be a professional driver. Objective: to evaluate the visual conditions in a group of 100 professional drivers of Campinas, SP. Methods: This retrospective study rewied records of 100 active professional drivers whose ophthalmologic examination was performed at Fundação Dr. João Penido Burnier de Campinas, a public and private ophthalmologic clinic, from2006 to 2011. Results: Driver’s mean age was 52.8 years and all were males. They came to ophthalmologic evaluation because of periodic evaluation (36.8%) and impaired visual accuity (33.6%). Systemic comorbidities were presented by 44%, with predominance of diabetes and systemic arterial hypertension. The visual accuity was 100% in 47% and equal or higher than 0.66 in 69.4%, being each eye avaluated separately. The visual accuity was less than 0.5in one eye in 22.1%. The most prevalent ophthalmologic disease was cristalin opacification (44.2%), with cataract surgery indication in 16.8%. Glaucoma was identified in 3.1%, pterigium in 5.2%, pinguecula in 6.3% and increased intraocular pression in 8.6%. Fundoscopy was considerednormal in 53.6% and the main pathologies were suspect optic nerve escavation (10.5%), diabetic retinopathy (8.4%), age related macular disease (6.3%), hypertensiveretinopathy (3.1%), miopic choroidosis (3.1) and vitreal bleading (2,1%). Conclusions: Visual impairment prevalence was higher than expected in this group, and at least 22.1% would not be professional drivers, because they could not see 0.5 in one eye. If they were submitted to a expert reviewthey would be reproved in C, D and E categories.