RESUMO
This work presents a method for constructing phantoms suitable for diffuse optical mammography. They are based on Polydimethylsiloxane silicones, with the characteristic of being anthropomorphic, and having similar mechanical and optical properties as a real breast. These phantoms are useful for testing the performance of diffuse optical imaging devices in the near infrared, both in transmittance and reflectance geometries, since they can be constructed containing inclusions, to simulate breast tumors. An alternative component to be used as scattering agent, that is easier to handle than traditional scattering agents, is also studied. The optical properties of the phantoms were tested varying the concentration of scattering and absorbing agents, while their mechanical properties were modified by adding a silicone fluid to the basic mixture. Finally, the phantoms were tested by Diffuse Optical Imaging experiments, and these images were compared to the ones obtained by conventional ultrasound techniques. Results show that the constructed anthropomorphic phantoms properly reproduce the optical and mechanical characteristics of human breasts, and are suitable to be used in Diffuse Optical Imaging.
RESUMO
Using a mathematical model, a resource recovery assessment was carried out at a pulp mill activated sludge wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) located in Uruguay. Through the evaluation of different scenarios, the potential production of methane from secondary sludge, with its inherent energy savings, and the recovery of phosphorus (P) as struvite were estimated. Considering the current WWTP configuration with a sludge retention time (SRT) of 32 days, and according to the model, which is a simplification of reality, the assessment indicates that the implementation of an anaerobic digester (AD) to treat the excess sludge can lead to a methane production of approximately 1736â¯m3 CH4 d-1, being a promising alternative to increase the WWTP treatment performance. Furthermore, the model predictions suggest that by shortening the SRT from 32 to 5 days, the methane production could increase by up to 5568â¯m3 CH4 d-1. If the methane produced is used to generate electrical energy to operate the WWTP, energy savings of about 88% can be achieved. Regarding the potential recovery of P as struvite, the addition of a struvite reactor could be an efficient option to recover approximately 1611â¯mgâ¯L-1 of struvite (corresponding to a load of about 433â¯kgâ¯d-1). By optimizing the process performance, these findings highlight the potential recovery of resources in pulp mill WWTP, while complying with stringent effluent discharge standards. In addition, further research activities such as pilot-test or detailed laboratory studies may be needed to validate the previous recommendations for industrial scale application.
Assuntos
Eliminação de Resíduos Líquidos , Águas Residuárias , Anaerobiose , Reatores Biológicos , Metano , Esgotos , UruguaiRESUMO
Here, we report an outbreak of Trypanosoma vivax-induced trypanosomosis in Brazilian hair sheep on a farm in Paraíba state, a non-endemic region in northeastern Brazilian. Of 306 total sheep, 240 showed clinical signs and 216 died. Clinical signs included anorexia, lethargy, anemia, rough hair coat, weight loss, submandibular edema, abortion, and in some cases, neurological signs such as head pressing, lateral recumbence, paddling movements and muscle tremors. T. vivax was identified by blood smear analysis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). At necropsy, animals exhibited watery blood, pale tissue coloring, and the presence of liquid in the peritoneal cavity and pericardial sac. Histologically, nonsuppurative myocarditis and meningoencephalitis with areas of malacia were observed. After treatment, no parasites were detected by blood smear analysis or PCR. Cattle and buffalo that remained in the same pasture were also infected but presented with asymptomatic infections. Epidemiological data suggest that T. vivax was introduced to the farm and the susceptible flock by buffalos that were asymptomatic carriers of the infection; T. vivax was most likely transmitted by Tabanus spp. bites and also iatrogenically.
Assuntos
Doenças do Sistema Nervoso Central/veterinária , Doenças dos Ovinos/parasitologia , Trypanosoma vivax , Tripanossomíase/veterinária , Animais , Búfalos , Bovinos , Doenças dos Bovinos/epidemiologia , Doenças dos Bovinos/parasitologia , Doenças do Sistema Nervoso Central/parasitologia , Doenças do Sistema Nervoso Central/patologia , Surtos de Doenças/veterinária , Ovinos , Fatores de Tempo , Tripanossomíase/parasitologiaRESUMO
We prospectively collected data on all patients with stage IB1 cervical cancer, who underwent total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy with the use of a modified uterine manipulator. From January 2000 to December 2005, 54 patients met the study criteria. The mean age was 41.8 +/- 7.47 years. Average BMI (kg/m(2)) was 27.38 +/- 3.13. Squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma were found in 88.88% and 11.11% of the cases, respectively. The average surgical time was 265 +/- 70.8 min. The mean estimated blood loss was 276.11 +/- 123.03 ml. The average patient lymph node count was 19.64 +/- 5.08. Positive malignant lymph nodes were identified in 11.11% of the cases. Surgical margins were free of disease in all patients. The mean hospital stay was 1.5 +/- 1 days. There was no mortality. Total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy can be considered a safe alternative to laparotomy. The use of a uterine manipulator does not pose an increased surgical risk and allows for a simpler and more feasible procedure.
Assuntos
Adenocarcinoma/cirurgia , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/cirurgia , Histerectomia Vaginal/instrumentação , Laparoscopia/métodos , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/cirurgia , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Histerectomia Vaginal/métodos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos ProspectivosRESUMO
Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) theileri from cattle and trypanosomes of other artiodactyls form a clade of closely related species in analyses using ribosomal sequences. Analysis of polymorphic sequences of a larger number of trypanosomes from broader geographical origins is required to evaluate the clustering of isolates as suggested by previous studies. Here, we determined the sequences of the spliced leader (SL) genes of 21 isolates from cattle and 2 from water buffalo from distant regions of Brazil. Analysis of SL gene repeats revealed that the 5S rRNA gene is inserted within the intergenic region. Phylogeographical patterns inferred using SL sequences showed at least 5 major genotypes of T. theileri distributed in 2 strongly divergent lineages. Lineage TthI comprises genotypes IA and IB from buffalo and cattle, respectively, from the Southeast and Central regions, whereas genotype IC is restricted to cattle from the Southern region. Lineage TthII includes cattle genotypes IIA, which is restricted to the North and Northeast, and IIB, found in the Centre, West, North and Northeast. PCR-RFLP of SL genes revealed valuable markers for genotyping T. theileri. The results of this study emphasize the genetic complexity and corroborate the geographical structuring of T. theileri genotypes found in cattle.
Assuntos
Doenças dos Bovinos/epidemiologia , Bovinos/parasitologia , Filogenia , RNA Líder para Processamento/genética , Trypanosoma/classificação , Trypanosoma/genética , Tripanossomíase , Animais , Sequência de Bases , Brasil/epidemiologia , Búfalos/parasitologia , Doenças dos Bovinos/parasitologia , DNA de Protozoário/análise , DNA de Protozoário/genética , DNA Ribossômico/análise , DNA Ribossômico/genética , DNA Espaçador Ribossômico/análise , DNA Espaçador Ribossômico/genética , Evolução Molecular , Genótipo , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Polimorfismo de Fragmento de Restrição , RNA Ribossômico/genética , RNA Ribossômico 5S/genética , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Trypanosoma/isolamento & purificação , Tripanossomíase/epidemiologia , Tripanossomíase/parasitologia , Tripanossomíase/veterináriaRESUMO
The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of diminazene aceturate in the control of the infection by Trypanosoma evansi in cats. Fourteen animals were infected with 10(8) trypomastigote forms each and six were used as negative control (group A). Seven of the infected cats were used as positive control (group B) and seven were treated with diminazene aceturate (3.5 mg kg(-1)) for 5 consecutive days (group C). Biochemical and hematological parameters were evaluated during the experiment. Blood with anticoagulant was collected at day 49 post-inoculation and preserved in ethanol for DNA extraction. Samples were analyzed using PCR T. evansi-specific to assess the effectiveness of treatment. The treatment with diminazene aceturate had an efficacy of 85.7%. Alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, urea, and creatinine values remained within the normal physiological range in the treated cats. Hemogram was normalized in all the cured animals. Therefore, the therapy used is effective in controlling T. evansi in cats.
Assuntos
Doenças do Gato/tratamento farmacológico , Diminazena/uso terapêutico , Tripanossomíase/veterinária , Animais , Gatos , Contagem de Eritrócitos , Feminino , Hematócrito , Hemoglobinas/análise , Contagem de Leucócitos , Fatores de Tempo , Trypanosoma/fisiologia , Tripanossomíase/tratamento farmacológicoRESUMO
In this study, we addressed the phylogenetic and taxonomic relationships of Trypanosoma vivax and related trypanosomes nested in the subgenus Duttonella through combined morphological and phylogeographical analyses. We previously demonstrated that the clade T. vivax harbours a homogeneous clade comprising West African/South American isolates and the heterogeneous East African isolates. Herein we characterized a trypanosome isolated from a nyala antelope (Tragelaphus angasi) wild-caught in Mozambique (East Africa) and diagnosed as T. vivax-like based on biological, morphological and molecular data. Phylogenetic relationships, phylogeographical patterns and estimates of genetic divergence were based on SSU and ITS rDNA sequences of T. vivax from Brazil and Venezuela (South America), Nigeria (West Africa), and from T. vivax-like trypanosomes from Mozambique, Kenya and Tanzania (East Africa). Despite being well-supported within the T. vivax clade, the nyala trypanosome was highly divergent from all other T. vivax and T. vivax-like trypanosomes, even those from East Africa. Considering its host origin, morphological features, behaviour in experimentally infected goats, phylogenetic placement, and genetic divergence this isolate represents a new genotype of trypanosome closely phylogenetically related to T. vivax. This study corroborated the high complexity and the existence of distinct genotypes yet undescribed within the subgenus Duttonella.
Assuntos
Antílopes/parasitologia , Filogenia , Trypanosoma vivax/classificação , Trypanosoma vivax/genética , Tripanossomíase Africana/veterinária , África Oriental , África Ocidental , Animais , Bovinos , DNA de Protozoário/análise , DNA Espaçador Ribossômico/análise , Genótipo , Doenças das Cabras/parasitologia , Cabras , Análise de Sequência de DNA , América do Sul , Trypanosoma vivax/isolamento & purificação , Tripanossomíase Africana/parasitologia , Tripanossomíase Bovina/parasitologiaRESUMO
Antecedentes: La cirugía "por etapas" o "de control de daños" ha cambiado conceptualmente el manejo de pacientes en estado "in tremis". estos pueden tener una patología de base traumática, ginecoobstétrica o bien de cualquier otro origen que descompese su sistema cardiovascular o metabólico. Si bien es un concepto fisiopatológico moderno, el origen se remonta a los primeros años del siglo XX. Objetivos: Evaluar la experiencia de nuestro hospital en el manejo de pacientes sometidos a la táctica del "control de daño". Diseño: Estudio de evaluación retrospectiva. Población: pacientes que ingresaron con traumatismos en abdomen y que fueron declarados "in extremis" ante el estado metabólico y/o cardiovascular. Método: Se evaluaron 41 pacientes de los cuales veinte eran traumatismos hepáticos, siete traumatismos pelvianos, cinco traumatismos de hipocondrio izquierdo, otros cinco con traumatismos retroperitoneales en zona ll y otros cuatro con traumatismo duodenopancreático. Resultados: Con una mortalidad global de 18 casos (43,9 por ciento), los que presentaron mayor mortalidad grupal fueron los de hipocondrio izquierdo (60 por ciento) y los retroperitoneales (60 por ciento), finalmente los pelvianos con 57,1 por ciento y los duodenopancreáticos con 50 por ciento. Los traumatismos hepáticos presentaron una mortalidad del 30 por ciento. Conclusiones: Es una táctica clinicoquirúrgica para un grupo reducido de pacientes cuyo estado hemodinámico y/o metabólico presenta alta mortalidad. La indicación de la incorporación del paciente a la sistemática del control del daño es del cirujano. Los resultados obtenidos dependen además de la calidad profesional y técnica de los Servicios de Terapia Intensiva, Anestesia y Hemoterapia. El control del daño mantiene elevada aún la mortalidad. El hecho está relacionado con la condición de extrema gravedad de cada uno de los pacientes. Debe tenerse presente que sólo entre un 5 y un 9 por ciento de los traumatizados graves reúne criterios de aplicación de esta terapéutica (AU)
Assuntos
Adulto , Masculino , Humanos , Feminino , Adolescente , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Traumatismos Abdominais/cirurgia , Traumatismos Abdominais/complicações , Traumatismos Abdominais/mortalidade , Fígado/lesões , Rim/lesões , Baço/lesões , Pelve/lesões , Duodeno/lesões , Pâncreas/lesões , Traumatismo Múltiplo/cirurgia , Estado Terminal , Estudos Retrospectivos , Espaço Retroperitoneal/lesõesRESUMO
Antecedentes: La cirugía "por etapas" o "de control de daños" ha cambiado conceptualmente el manejo de pacientes en estado "in tremis". estos pueden tener una patología de base traumática, ginecoobstétrica o bien de cualquier otro origen que descompese su sistema cardiovascular o metabólico. Si bien es un concepto fisiopatológico moderno, el origen se remonta a los primeros años del siglo XX. Objetivos: Evaluar la experiencia de nuestro hospital en el manejo de pacientes sometidos a la táctica del "control de daño". Diseño: Estudio de evaluación retrospectiva. Población: pacientes que ingresaron con traumatismos en abdomen y que fueron declarados "in extremis" ante el estado metabólico y/o cardiovascular. Método: Se evaluaron 41 pacientes de los cuales veinte eran traumatismos hepáticos, siete traumatismos pelvianos, cinco traumatismos de hipocondrio izquierdo, otros cinco con traumatismos retroperitoneales en zona ll y otros cuatro con traumatismo duodenopancreático. Resultados: Con una mortalidad global de 18 casos (43,9 por ciento), los que presentaron mayor mortalidad grupal fueron los de hipocondrio izquierdo (60 por ciento) y los retroperitoneales (60 por ciento), finalmente los pelvianos con 57,1 por ciento y los duodenopancreáticos con 50 por ciento. Los traumatismos hepáticos presentaron una mortalidad del 30 por ciento. Conclusiones: Es una táctica clinicoquirúrgica para un grupo reducido de pacientes cuyo estado hemodinámico y/o metabólico presenta alta mortalidad. La indicación de la incorporación del paciente a la sistemática del control del daño es del cirujano. Los resultados obtenidos dependen además de la calidad profesional y técnica de los Servicios de Terapia Intensiva, Anestesia y Hemoterapia. El control del daño mantiene elevada aún la mortalidad. El hecho está relacionado con la condición de extrema gravedad de cada uno de los pacientes. Debe tenerse presente que sólo entre un 5 y un 9 por ciento de los traumatizados graves reúne criterios de aplicación de esta terapéutica
Assuntos
Adulto , Masculino , Humanos , Feminino , Adolescente , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Traumatismos Abdominais , Estado Terminal , Duodeno , Fígado/lesões , Pâncreas , Pelve , Espaço Retroperitoneal , Estudos Retrospectivos , Rim/lesões , Baço , Traumatismo Múltiplo/cirurgiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to characterize head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in the Puerto Rican population. This is a follow-up to our initial published report on the first 134 patients. Specifically, demographic characteristics, stage at presentation, initial treatment given, and rate of recurrence were studied. METHODS: Relevant data was obtained from 445 histologically confirmed HNSCC cases identified through the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine Otolaryngology Department Head and Neck Cancer Clinics between August 1993 and January 2003. Data collected after informed consent included demographic factors (sex, age, areas of residence, income); risk factors (occupation, alcohol intake, cigarette usage); and pathological variables (tumor location, histopathology, stage at presentation, current disease status, tumor recurrence). RESULTS: The average age at diagnosis was 64.0 years (range 18-98); 84.5 per cent of the patients were male, 16 per cent were females. The most frequent anatomical sites of the primary tumor were the larynx (36.4 per cent) and the oral cavity (29.9 per cent). The majority of patients (61.1 per cent) presented with advanced stage (III-IV) disease at the time of diagnosis and over half (55.5 per cent) had moderately-differentiated tumors. Most patients had less than 12 years of formal education (81.2 per cent). Prolonged use of tobacco and alcohol identified in 88.1 per cent and 79.8 per cent of patients, respectively. The most frequent therapeutic modality used was radiation therapy followed by the combination of radiation and surgery. Twenty five percent of the cases experienced a recurrence of disease during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: These findings emphasize the need for early detection programs for HNSCC in Puerto Rican patients given the high rate of advanced-stage disease at time of diagnosis. The key role of heavy alcohol intake and tobacco use as risk factors in the development of HNSCC is once again highlighted.