Cryolipolysis with Plate for Treatment of Localized Adiposity.

BACKGROUND: Cryolipolysis is a non-invasive method capable of reducing the thickness of the fat layer. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of cryolipolysis with the use of plate applicators in the treatment of abdominal fat in women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample was composed of 15 participants, who were evaluated before and at the end of the intervention. Three applications of cryolipolysis were performed in the infraumbilical portion of the abdominal region. The volunteers were divided into three groups G-1 (temperature of -2°C), G-2 (temperature of -3°C) and G3 (temperature of -4°C). RESULTS: There was a reduction in plicometry measurements in groups G2 and G3, in the comparison between the initial and final moments (p <0.05), and a reduction in perimetry and ultrasound (p < 0.05) in all groups. It was found that the G3 group was subject to higher risk of first degree burns and redness when compared to the other groups. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that plate cryolipolysis is a possibly effective resource for reducing adiposity, as shown in the evaluation of perimetry, plicometry, and ultrasound results, and in the photographic analysis.

Performance of polymyxin B agar-based tests among carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales.

Therapeutic options for infections caused by Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are restricted and include polymyxins-centred schemes. Evaluation of in vitro susceptibility is difficult and time consuming. Agar-based methodologies are an alternative to broth microdilution (BMD) and we aimed to evaluate the accuracy of those methods among Enterobacterales. A total of 137 non-duplicated CRE were subjected to polymyxin B BMD, agar screening test (Mueller Hinton plates containing 3 µg ml-1 of polymyxin B) and agar dilution (antibiotic serially diluted 0·25-64 µg ml-1 ). CRE of 42·3% were resistant to polymyxin B (MICs range: 0·25->64 µg ml-1 ) and 16·8% presented borderline MICs. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were 86·2, 98·7, 98 and 90·7% for screening test and 86·2, 97·5, 96·1 and 90·6% for agar dilution. ME was 0·73 and 1·5% for screening and agar dilution respectively; VME was 5·8% for both techniques. In general, agar-based methods had a good performance. As far as we know, this is the first study to propose an agar screening test using polymyxin B instead of colistin.

Effects of cryolipolysis with adiposity plates located with the Crioplace concept in women.

BACKGROUND: Cryolipolysis with plates is a method of applying cooling without a vacuum system, which can be used in regions with less chance of forming a "crease." OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of cryolipolysis using a plate-shaped applicator (Crioplac) in the treatment of fat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an experimental study in which women aged 25 to 45 years with adiposity located in the abdomen participated. Two applications of 75 min were made, using 04 plates in the abdomen regions, with -4 degree C being programmed as a temperature parameter. Anthropometric and ultrasound assessments were performed, and a satisfaction questionnaire on the validated treatment was conducted. The reassessments were performed 30 and 60 days after the first intervention. RESULTS: A reduction in adiposity was observed in the measurements of perimetry, plicometry and abdominal ultrasound (p<0.05). It was found that about 62.5% of the volunteers reported an improvement in water retention, about 62.5% reported the presence of loose clothing, and 31.3% reported satisfaction with the results obtained. It was observed that 18.5% of the volunteers reported that the treatment was excellent. CONCLUSION: The Crioplace method proved to be effective in reducing adiposity, with a high clinical satisfaction with the reduction in body measurements.

Controlling soft vortex matter: edge effects on vortex configurations and partial vortices in a superconducting type-II/type-I bilayer.

We demonstrate that the presence of edges in a superconducting film made of a type-I/type-II bilayer stabilizes type-II/type-I hybrid (inter-type) flux patterns, as vortex clusters, chains, and gel phase. These patterns are very sensitive to primary parameters such as applied magnetic field, layer coupling, and temperature. Thus, the magnetization versus temperature curves, M(T), for many values of coupling were used to estimate the strength of the layer couplings, and also as a guide for obtaining sequentially the flux patterns. We also show that the effect of the borders on the unrestricted states is to shift them to states of higher density, since they introduce extra compression on the vortex matter. For a low layer coupling regime, we observe an unusual magnetic response where few partial vortices (partial in a sense they miss the contribution of the type I part), repelling each other and bounded to the surfaces, populate one layer leaving the other empty. We expect that the predicted flux configurations can stimulate experimentalists in trying to observe them by direct imaging techniques.

Effects of Cryolipolysis with Plates in Localized Adiposity with the CrioPlace Concept.

BACKGROUND: Plate cryolipolysis is a method of applying cooling without a vacuum system, which can be used in regions with less possibility of skin suction or fibrosis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of cryolipolysis with the use of plate-shaped applicators (CrioPlaceTM) for localized fat treatment. METHODS: The sample consisted of men aged 20 to 45 years with complaints of localized adiposity in the abdominal region and flanks. Two plates were positioned in the flank and abdomen regions, respectively. They received two 60-min applications in the temperature of -2°C. The anthropometric, thermographic and ultrasound assessments were performed, and a satisfaction questionnaire was applied after treatment. The re-evaluations occurred 30 and 60 days after the first intervention. RESULT: A reduction in adiposity was observed in flank region plicometry (p<0.05) and abdominal and flank ultrasound (p < 0.05). About 66.7% of the volunteers reported less water retention, about 41.7% reported that their clothes were looser, and 100% reported overall satisfaction. Fifty percent rated the treatment as excellent and 58.3% felt improvement in overall aesthetics. CONCLUSION: The CrioPlaceTM method was effective in reducing localized adiposity, with clinical satisfaction of measurement reduction, both in plicometry and ultrasound analyses, with highlights to the flank region results.

Spontaneous pattern formation in superconducting films.

Superconducting films are usually regarded as type II superconductors even when they are made of a type I material. The reason is the presence of stray magnetic fields that stabilize the vortex matter by inducing long-range repulsive interactions between vortices. While very thin films indeed reach this limit, there is a large interval of thicknesses where magnetic properties of superconducting films cannot be classified as either of the two conventional superconductivity types. Recent calculations revealed that in this interval the system exhibits spontaneous formation of magnetic flux-condensate patterns and superstructures appearing due to the interplay between the long-range stray field effects and proximity to the Bogomolnyi self-duality point. These calculations were based on the periodic in-plane boundary conditions which, as is well known from classical electrodynamics, for systems with long-range interactions can lead to field distortions and considerable discrepancies between results of different calculation methods. Here we demonstrate that similar spontaneous patterns are obtained for superconducting films with open in-plane boundary conditions (vanishing in-plane currents perpendicular to the edges of the finite film) and thus the phenomenon is not an artefact of chosen boundary conditions.

Decay of the distance autocorrelation and Lyapunov exponents.

This work presents numerical evidence that for discrete dynamical systems with one positive Lyapunov exponent the decay of the distance autocorrelation is always related to the Lyapunov exponent. Distinct decay laws for the distance autocorrelation are observed for different systems, namely, exponential decays for the quadratic map, logarithmic for the Hénon map, and power-law for the conservative standard map. In all these cases the decay exponent is close to the positive Lyapunov exponent. For hyperchaotic conservative systems the power-law decay of the distance autocorrelation is not directly related to any Lyapunov exponent.

Evaluation of leucocytes from sputum samples of pulmonary tuberculosis patients using flow cytometry.

SETTING: Information about the sputum cells of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients is scarce. The analysis of sputum cells using optical microscopy (OM) is a well-established method, but it has some serious limitations. OBJECTIVE: To establish a new flow cytometry (FC) protocol for the leucocyte evaluation of sputum samples from PTB patients. DESIGN: A new FC protocol using 0.1% dithiothreitol and 0.5% paraformaldehyde was developed to fluidise sputum samples and kill Mycobacterium tuberculosis, respectively, to allow the analysis of sputum samples collected from TB patients. The protocol was validated by comparing it with OM, and the cellularity of 30 sputum samples from patients with PTB was evaluated. RESULTS: The comparison between leucocyte subsets analysed using OM and FC showed agreement. Immunophenotyping of leucocytes from sputum samples showed that neutrophils (95.7%) comprised the largest proportion of sputum cells, followed by monocytes/macrophages (2.6%) and lymphocytes (1.6%). Among the total T-lymphocytes (100%), 12.3% were T-helper cells, 24.1% were cytotoxic T-cells and 62.9% were gamma/delta T; none of the T lymphocytes had the CD4+/CD8+ phenotype. CONCLUSION: FC is a useful method for evaluating the different subtypes of leucocytes present in the sputum samples of PTB patients.

Effects of cryolipolysis on abdominal adiposity of women.

　　BACKGROUND: The cryolipolysis is on the spotlight as a non-invasive method which reduces fat layer thickness with no damage to surrounding tissues. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to verify the effectiveness of cryolipolysis in the reduction of localized adiposity in women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an experimental study, without a control group, with pre- and post- treatment evaluation through a single application on the lower abdominal area. SETTING: Research conducted in the period from July to December 2015 at the University Potiguar. PARTICIPANTS: A group of 15 women, age between 25-50 years. The cryolipolysis was used in the following parameters: temperature (-7 degree C); suction power (30 kPa), and application time (60 min). MEASUREMENTS: After the cryolipolysis was performed, a follow-up of 2 months was conducted to verify the changes related to weight, body circumference, fat layer thickness, which were evaluated by ultrasonography and photogrammetry. RESULTS: From data analysis, the reductions observed on perimeter (p=0.03) and ultrasonography (p=0.03) showed significant results, considering p <0.05. As of body weight results (p=0.57), the average value varied during the study; however, at the end of the research, no significant weight increase or decrease was reported, as it is known that this method does not interfere with this variable. Additionally, quantitative data were satisfactory. The photogrammetry analysis showed that cryolipolysis positively affected subjects' results. CONCLUSION: A change in body contouring, especially in individuals with lower body mass, reinforces the idea that the parameters must be suitable for individual needs.

Giant paramagnetic Meissner effect in multiband superconductors.

Superconductors, ideally diamagnetic when in the Meissner state, can also exhibit paramagnetic behavior due to trapped magnetic flux. In the absence of pinning such paramagnetic response is weak, and ceases with increasing sample thickness. Here we show that in multiband superconductors paramagnetic response can be observed even in slab geometries, and can be far larger than any previous estimate - even multiply larger than the diamagnetic Meissner response for the same applied magnetic field. We link the appearance of this giant paramagnetic response to the broad crossover between conventional Type-I and Type-II superconductors, where Abrikosov vortices interact non-monotonically and multibody effects become important, causing unique flux configurations and their locking in the presence of surfaces.

Characterizing weak chaos using time series of Lyapunov exponents.

We investigate chaos in mixed-phase-space Hamiltonian systems using time series of the finite-time Lyapunov exponents. The methodology we propose uses the number of Lyapunov exponents close to zero to define regimes of ordered (stickiness), semiordered (or semichaotic), and strongly chaotic motion. The dynamics is then investigated looking at the consecutive time spent in each regime, the transition between different regimes, and the regions in the phase space associated to them. Applying our methodology to a chain of coupled standard maps we obtain (i) that it allows for an improved numerical characterization of stickiness in high-dimensional Hamiltonian systems, when compared to the previous analyses based on the distribution of recurrence times; (ii) that the transition probabilities between different regimes are determined by the phase-space volume associated to the corresponding regions; and (iii) the dependence of the Lyapunov exponents with the coupling strength.

Conjunctival flora, Schirmer's tear test, intraocular pressure, and conjunctival cytology in neotropical primates from Salvador, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to establish reference values for selected ophthalmic diagnostic tests in healthy neotropical primates from Salvador, Brazil. METHODS: A total of 73 intact adults, including Callithrix jacchus (n = 31), Callithrix penicillata (n = 8), Cebus sp. (n = 22), and Cebus xanthosternos (n = 9) were used to evaluate the normal conjunctival bacterial flora. Cebus xanthosternos (n = 12) were used to evaluate tear production with Schirmer's tear test (STT), intraocular pressure (IOP), and conjunctival cytology. RESULTS: For all animals evaluated, Gram-positive bacteria were predominant. Results of the diagnostic tests in Cebus xanthosternos were as follows: STT: 14.92 ± 5.46 mm/minutes, IOP: 19.62 ± 4.57 mmHg, and conjunctival cytology revealed intermediate squamous epithelial cells in great quantities. CONCLUSIONS: These ophthalmic reference values will be particularly useful to diagnose discrete or unusual pathological changes in the neotropical primates eye.

Evaluation of a histocompatibility antigen related to hepatitis B virus in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in the western Brazilian Amazon.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is an infection of variable incidence that can be caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is endemic in the Amazon region. The diagnosis of HBV can be performed through the use of serum markers such as the hepatitis B surface antigen. The chronic HBV can cause mutagenesis and carcinogenesis, being the susceptibility of infection due to allele human leukocyte antigen (HLA). Thus, we evaluated the clinical, molecular and laboratory profile (histocompatibility complex) of HBV in 22 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in Amazonia, including 18 males and 4 females, using a blood sample for generic HLA class II. The results showed increased frequency of disease evolution in adults between 25 and 64 years old, who comprised 19 of the 22 patients studied. Most patients (16/22) presented high levels of alpha-fetoprotein and transaminases (14/22). The most common HLA alleles were DRB1 04 (8/44), DRB1 08 (9/44), DRB 03 (16/44), and DQB1 04 (9/44). When we compared specific phenotype frequencies of HLA-DRB1 between patients and controls, we found that patients had a significantly higher frequency of allele DRB1 08 and a significantly lower frequency of DRB1 07 and DRB1 12 compared to previous studies on Asian and Amazonian populations suggesting ethnic differences. We suggest that alleles HLA-DRB 08, HLA-DRB 03 and HLA-DQB1 04 may be risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma in Amazon.

Alternative sputum preparation to improve polymerase chain reaction assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis detection.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB), one of the major airborne infectious bacterial diseases, remains an important health problem worldwide. It is estimated that there are 1700 new cases per year in Santa Catarina State, Brazil. OBJECTIVE: To improve polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sensitivity in detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum samples. METHODS: This study proposed the use of glass beads as a modification of the routine protocol for sputum preparation used in the Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Mycobacteria at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil. The study comprised 120 sputum samples, 60 of which were treated with the routine protocol, while 60 were treated with the modified protocol using glass beads. RESULTS: Samples treated with the routine protocol had a sensitivity of 56.7% (95%CI 44.1-69.2) in 16S rRNA PCR and 81.7% (95%CI 71.9-91.5) in insertion sequence (IS) 6110 PCR, compared with culture. Samples treated with the modified protocol had a sensitivity of 73.3% (95%CI 62.1-84.5) in 16S rRNA PCR and 100% in IS6110 PCR. CONCLUSION: The modified protocol using glass beads greatly improved mycobacterial detection in sputum samples compared with the routine protocol.

Drug resistance mutation profile and accumulation kinetics in human immunodeficiency virus-positive individuals infected with subtypes B and F failing highly active antiretroviral therapy are influenced by different viral codon usage patterns.

The major human immunodeficiency virus type 1 subtype circulating in Brazil is B, followed by F and C. We have genotyped 882 samples from Brazilian patients for whom highly active antiretroviral therapy failed, and we found subtype B and the unique recombinant B/F1 forms circulating. Due to codon usage variation, there is a significantly lower incidence of the substitutions L210W, Q151M, and F116Y in subtype F1 isolates than in the subtype B counterparts.

[Bronchofibroscopy in the etiologic diagnosis of lung diseases in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome]. / A broncofibroscopia no diagnóstico etiológico de afecções pulmonares em pacientes com síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of bronchoscopy in diagnosis of pulmonary disease in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. METHODS: This study analyses a group of 49 patients with AIDS diagnosis admitted at Nereu Ramos Hospital-Florianópolis-SC. It was selected patients with respiratory symptoms and radiologic signs of pulmonary disease, without etiological diagnosis by sputum analysis. These patients were submitted to bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchial brush and transbronchial biopsy. The samples were analyzed by BAAR, cytomegalovirus, P. carinii, other fungus and bacterioscopy by Gram. RESULTS: The bronchoscopy was effective on the realization of etiological diagnosis of 71.43% of the cases. The transbronchial biopsy was the most positive technique which confirmed the diagnosis of 59.18% of the cases. The technique with the least positivity was the bronchial brush, with a diagnosis of 4.08% of the cases. The most frequent etiological agent was P. carinii (42.8%), followed by M. tuberculosis (22.86%). No complication was observed in the procedures making. CONCLUSION: The conclusion of this present study was that the bronchoscopy is a secure procedure, with good diagnosis performance for pulmonary disease in this group of patients.

[Poisonous sting by Tityus stigmurus (Scorpiones; Buthidae) in the state of Bahia, Brazil]. / Envenenamento por Tityus stigmurus (Scorpiones; Buthidae) no Estado da Bahia, Brasil.

The present investigation is a descriptive study regarding the clinical aspects of accidents caused by the scorpion Tityus stigmurus in Bahia, Brazil. We analyzed 237 confirmed cases treated by the Antivenom Information Centre (CIAVE) from 1982 to 1995. Envenomation by T. stigmurus was mainly characterized by local symptoms: pain (94.4%), dormancy (30.0%), edema (17.8%), erythema (17.8), paresthesia (15.6%) and general manifestations such as headache (4.4%), vomiting (4.4%) and sudoresis (3.3%). Most of the envenomation cases were mild (94%) and all were successfully cured. Although T. stigmurus venom is not in the pool of anti-venom serum (SAE), the absence of lethality and benign nature of the cases suggest the efficiency of SAE. With the exception of deaths and systemic complications, envenoming gravity was similar to those of Tityus serrulatus.

[AIDS/education and prevention: methodologic proposal for the development of educational games]. / AIDS/educação e prevenção: proposta metodológica para elaboração de jogos educativos.

The development of educational resources to mediate actions in health education and AIDS prevention has been a challenge to health's educators. Due to the undeniable importance of this kind of material in environments favourable to learning, the authors created a methodological proposal to be used in the elaboration of educative games with the purpose of mediating educational measures and the prevention of HIV/AIDS. For theoretical framework, the study relied on the ideas/premises about problem solving, adapted from Charles Manguerez's "arch method", which where put into practice in public schools and health institutions in the state of Ceara, having as study population a group of students (180), aged 13 to 19 years, from the period of 1995 to 1997. Data collection occurred during four workshops, according to a predefined scheme. The results dealing with the meaning of the game, place of action and social environment were obtained from the teenagers while they were engaged in the games and further analysed by them, resulting in the formulation of (03) educative games (memor AIDS, baralhAIDS and dominAIDS). The authors conclude that the proposal is favourable to participatory action, encouraging during its entire process the development of intellectual and creative skills, by way of mobilizing human capacities and exercising associations related to the AIDS epidemic. Due to its clarity, the authors consider the proposal scientifically acceptable as a methodological guideline for the elaboration of educative games.