Green Thermal Aggregates: Influence of the Physical Properties of Recycled Aggregates with Phase Change Materials.

Increasing construction and demolition waste (CDW) and the large amount of energy consumption in the building operation process are high-profile issues at present. In the construction industry, recycled aggregated (RA) from CDW can be reutilized in construction, along with green materials, for example, as a road base layer, as aggregate in concrete, etc. Phase change materials (PCM) are often used as building materials due to their good latent heat storage properties.

Intercellular transfer of miR-200c-3p impairs the angiogenic capacity of cardiac endothelial cells.

As mediators of intercellular communication, extracellular vesicles containing molecular cargo, such as microRNAs, are secreted by cells and taken up by recipient cells to influence their cellular phenotype and function. Here we report that cardiac stress-induced differential microRNA content, with miR-200c-3p being one of the most enriched, in cardiomyocyte-derived extracellular vesicles mediates functional cross-talk with endothelial cells. Silencing of miR-200c-3p in mice subjected to chronic increased cardiac pressure overload resulted in attenuated hypertrophy, smaller fibrotic areas, higher capillary density, and preserved cardiac ejection fraction.

Time response of rat testicular alterations induced by cryptorchidism and orchiopexy.

Cryptorchidism is one of the main risk factors for infertility and testicular cancer. Orchiopexy surgery corrects cryptorchidism effects. Different models of cryptorchidism developed in the rat include surgery.

Genetic diversity and drug resistance of HIV-1 among infected pregnant women newly diagnosed in Luanda, Angola.

Monitoring genetic diversity and drug resistance mutations (DRMs) is critical for understanding HIV epidemiology. Here, we report HIV-1 genetic diversity and DRMs in blood samples from 42 HIV-positive pregnant women naive to antiretroviral therapy (ART), in Luanda. The samples were subjected to nested-PCR, followed by sequencing of HIV-1 pol gene, targeting the protease and reverse transcriptase fragments.

Diverse Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 Drug Resistance Profiles at Screening for ACTG A5288: A Study of People Experiencing Virologic Failure on Second-line Antiretroviral Therapy in Resource-limited Settings.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drug resistance profiles are needed to optimize individual patient management and to develop treatment guidelines. Resistance profiles are not well defined among individuals on failing second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).

Methods: Resistance genotypes were performed during screening for enrollment into a trial of third-line ART (AIDS Clinical Trials Group protocol 5288).

E/e` ratio is superior to speckle tracking for detecting elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure in patients with coronary artery disease and preserved ejection fraction.

Background: A weak correlation has been reported between left ventricular filling pressures and the traditional echocardiographic tools for the evaluation of diastolic function in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). On the other hand, studies that compared invasive measurements with speckle tracking echocardiography have shown promising results, but they were not exclusively targeted on this specific population.

Methods And Results: Immediately before the left heart catheterization, a comprehensive two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography and speckle tracking analysis was prospectively performed in outpatients referred for coronary angiography.

High prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis in Brazilian postmenopausal women with low and intermediate risk by Framingham score.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality among women in several countries. Early detection of subclinical atherosclerosis (SA) could enable the adoption of preventive measures to avoid cardiovascular events. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of SA in Brazilian asymptomatic postmenopausal women in Framingham Risk Score (FRS) low and intermediate groups.

Genomic profiling of human penile carcinoma predicts worse prognosis and survival.

The molecular mechanisms underlying penile carcinoma are still poorly understood, and the detection of genetic markers would be of great benefit for these patients. In this study, we assessed the genomic profile aiming at identifying potential prognostic biomarkers in penile carcinoma. Globally, 46 penile carcinoma samples were considered to evaluate DNA copy-number alterations via array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) combined with human papillomavirus (HPV) genotyping.

Classification of unaltered and altered dry-cured ham by impedance spectroscopy: a preliminary study.

The aims of this work were characterized by the physicochemical and microbiological features of dried-cured hams classified by the manufacturer as altered (deep spoilage and swollen) and unaltered, as well as, correlated these results with the electronic measurements of impedance spectroscopy, in order to lay the groundwork to design a suitable electrode to be used for checking in line all dry-cured ham elaborated. Double electrode and coaxial needle electrode were used in a frequency range of 100Hz to 1MHz. The electronic measurements of the two electrodes were able undoubtedly to discriminate between altered and unaltered dry-cured hams; moreover a tendency to classify between deep spoilage and swollen hams was shown.

Sedoanalgesia with midazolam and fentanyl citrate controls probe pain during prostate biopsy by transrectal ultrasound.

Purpose: To assess the pain intensity of patients administered midazolam and fentanyl citrate before undergoing transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy.

Materials And Methods: This was a study in patients with different indications for prostate biopsy in whom 5 mg of midazolam and 50 µg of fentanyl citrate was administered intravenously 3 minutes before the procedure. After biopsy, pain was assessed by use of a visual analogue scale (VAS) in three stages: VAS 1, during probe introduction; VAS 2, during needle penetration into prostate tissue; and VAS 3, in the weeks following the exam.

STEAP1 protein overexpression is an independent marker for biochemical recurrence in prostate carcinoma.

Aims: To investigate the prognostic value of expression levels of the genes STEAP1 and STEAP2, and of STEAP1 protein, in prostate carcinomas (PCa).

Methods And Results: STEAP1 and STEAP2 transcript levels were evaluated by RT-qPCR in samples from 35 PCa, 24 adjacent non-neoplastic prostate (AdjP) tissues, five cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and two histologically normal prostates (N). STEAP1 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in samples from 198 PCa, 76 AdjP, 22 BPH, and two N.

Improvement of atherosclerotic markers in non-diabetic patients after bariatric surgery.

Background: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of bariatric surgery performed in extremely obese non-diabetic subjects on the following parameters: endothelial function, inflammatory processes (assessed by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP]), carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT), and glucose and lipid profiles.

Methods: Forty-seven obese individuals with body mass index >40 kg/m(2) underwent bariatric surgery and returned for post-procedure assessment between 6 and 19 months after surgery. Ninety-three percent of patients were female.

General morphology and ultrastructure of the venom apparatus and convoluted gland of the fire ant, Solenopsis saevissima.

A group of 13 species of the genus Solenopsis is markedly difficult to assess taxonomically, although they are of considerable economical and medical importance in some countries where some of them were introduced. These ants are aggressive and their venomous stings can be very allergenic. The venom apparatus has been described in fine detail for only two of these species, and differences in this structure among the different species might prove useful as taxonomic characters.

Morphological description of the immatures of the ant, Monomorium floricola.

Some ant species of the genus Monomorium Mayr occur worldwide and are considered important urban pests. The larvae of only a few species of this genus have been described, and these descriptions are either superficial or incomplete. This study aimed to determine the number of larval instars and describe the immature stages of the ant Monomorium floricola Jerdon (Formicidae: Myrmicinae).

PSA and androgen-related gene (AR, CYP17, and CYP19) polymorphisms and the risk of adenocarcinoma at prostate biopsy.

The aim of the present study was to examine the impact of polymorphisms in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and androgen-related genes (AR, CYP17, and CYP19) on prostate cancer (PCa) risk in selected high-risk patients who underwent prostate biopsy. Blood samples and prostate tissues were obtained for DNA analysis. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the 50-untranslated regions (UTRs) of the PSA (substitution A>G at position-158) and CYP17 (substitution T>C at 50-UTR) genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism assays.

Hypertrophic osteopathy associated with renal pelvis transitional cell carcinoma in a dog.

A 6-year-old male, Belgian shepherd dog was presented with lethargy, oliguria, hematuria, and reluctance to move. The dog developed hypertrophic osteopathy secondary to renal pelvis transitional cell carcinoma. A nephrectomy was performed and after a year, the dog was completely asymptomatic, and no evidence of metastatic disease was present.

Safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of ritonavir 400mg/saquinavir 400mg twice daily plus rifampicin combined therapy in HIV patients with tuberculosis.

Objective: To assess the drug concentrations, efficacy and safety of concomitant use of rifampicin and regimens containing ritonavir/saquinavir (400mg/400mg twice daily) in tuberculosis-HIV treatment-naive patients.

Design And Methods: This was an open-label, non-randomised, multiple-dose study. On study day (D)1, tuberculosis treatment (rifampicin 600mg/isoniazid 400mg per day fasting plus pyrazinamide 2 g/day) was introduced in 30 patients.

Complications and risk factors in transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsies.

Context And Objective: Prostate biopsy is not a procedure without risk. There is concern about major complications and which antibiotics are best for routine use before these biopsies. The objective was to determine the rate of complications and the possible risk factors in prostate biopsies.

Surgical treatment of metachronous metastases in different organs following radical nephrectomy.

Unlabelled: Renal clear cell carcinoma (RCCC) is a neoplasia resistant to radio and chemotherapy, with surgical treatment being the procedure that is recognized for its curative treatment. This case report demonstrates the success of an aggressive surgical treatment for consecutive and late metachronous metastases following radical nephrectomy.

Case Report: Asymptomatic 50-year old man.

Urethral reconstruction after total penectomy for urethral cancer.

A 59-year-old white man developed a ventral ulcer with irregular limits in the middle portion of the penis. The result of the pathologic analysis was compatible with invasive squamous cell urethral carcinoma. A total penectomy was performed.