[Hysterosonography: evaluation of the uterine cavity in women with abnormal uterine bleeding].

Objective: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of sonohysterography with that of hysteroscopy and ultrasonography for the diagnosis of uterine alterations with abnormal uterine bleeding.

Methods: Fifty three patients scheduled for hysteroscopy at the Hysteroscopy Sector of the Women's Hospital (CAISM) at the "Universidade Estadual de Campinas" (Brazil) were included in the study. Sensitivity and specificity of the three propaedeutic methods were compared using histology as the gold standard.

Phase I clinical evaluation of a synthetic oligosaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type b in human adult volunteers.

Since 1989, we have been involved in the development of a vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type b. The new vaccine is based on the conjugation of synthetic oligosaccharides to tetanus toxoid. Our main goals have been (i) to verify the feasibility of using the synthetic antigen and (ii) to search for new production alternatives for this important infant vaccine.

Monitoring the formation of an Aureobasidium pullulans biofilm in a bead-packed reactor via flow-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.

The biofilm-forming fungus, Aureobasidium pullulans DSM 2404, was grown in a bead-packed reactor. Alterations within the reactor were analysed in several cross-sectional slices by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with flow contrast. For the first time, biofilm accumulation could be continuously elucidated without using any contrast agents, and the non-stationary flow through the fixed-bed reactor could be visualized.

Placebo controlled utility and feasibility study of the H-reflex and flexor reflex in spastic children treated with intrathecal baclofen.

Objective: To evaluate feasibility and utility of the soleus H-reflex and tibialis anterior flexor reflex (FR) in identifying spinal cord neuronal response to intrathecal baclofen (ITB) in children with severe spastic cerebral palsy.

Methods: During a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-escalation test treatment, maximum H amplitude/maximum M amplitude (H/M ratio) and FR parameters were bilaterally recorded at baseline and 2-3 h after intrathecal bolus administration of placebo and increasing doses of baclofen until both an improvement in the individual treatment goal(s) and a one-point reduction on the Ashworth scale were observed.

Results: Electrophysiological data of 14 children were studied.

[Contamination with Sphingomonas paucimobilis: about seven cases isolated in conservation and transport mediums of corneal grafts].

From September to December 2004, contaminations were found in fifteen conservation and transport mediums of corneal grafts at the tissue bank of Brest, including seven by Sphingomonas paucimobilis. The pulsed-field gel electrophoresis made it possible to establish the genotypic profiles of each strain and to compare them. Similarities were found between certain strains of the contaminated mediums and those of the thermostated double boiler of the tissue bank.

[Adolescents as research subjects and free informed consent: knowledge and opinion of researchers and adolescents].

This article presents the results of a study that evaluated the knowledge and opinions of researchers and adolescents that served as their research subjects on the legal norms that regulate the participation of the latter as research subjects, the capacity of adolescents to make autonomous decisions regarding participation, and the adolescent experience after agreeing to take part in a study. This was a qualitative study with a convenience sample, the size of which was defined by the criteria of informational redundancy. Interviews were conducted with three researchers who had used adolescents as research subjects and nine of these subjects.

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy for breast lesions: a comparison between two devices for obtaining cytological samples.

Context And Objective: Fine-needle aspiration biopsy has been accepted worldwide for breast lesions. However, some questions remain, including the appropriateness of the puncture method. The objective of this work was to compare aspirates obtained by the auto-vacuum device and by the syringe pistol holder.

Diazepam to improve acute stroke outcome: results of the early GABA-Ergic activation study in stroke trial. a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Background: We tested whether diazepam, a GABA-ergic drug that also inhibits brain nitric monoxide formation, improves acute stroke prognosis.

Methods: 880 patients, randomized within 12 h of acute stroke, received diazepam 10 mg or placebo by rectiole, as soon as possible, followed by 10-mg tablets twice daily for 3 days. Primary outcome was independence (Rankin score <3) at 3 months; secondary outcome was complete recovery (Barthel index >or=95 or Rankin score View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Termination of pregnancy for fetal abnormality incompatible with life: women's experiences in Brazil.

Fetal abnormality incompatible with life is a fact and the options for dealing with it are abortion or birth followed by death. This paper reports a qualitative study of the experience of ten women who had a pregnancy termination in a university hospital in Brazil for fetal abnormality incompatible with life. The women were interviewed approximately 40 days after the procedure.

Cytokine-regulated expression and inhibitory function of FcgammaRIIB1 and -B2 receptors in human dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells (DC) capture immune complexes (IC) via Fc receptors for immunoglobulin G FcgammaRII and elicit antigen presentation and protective antitumoral immune response in mice. Two protocols are commonly used to differentiate human monocyte-derived DC in vitro. They associate granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (CM-CSF) with interleukin (IL)-4 or IL-13.

Some factors affecting the stability of interferon alpha 2b in solution.

In this paper we evaluated the influence of the protein concentration and a formulation vehicle on the stability of recombinant human Interferon alpha 2b (rhIFN-alpha2b) in solution. The effect of the protein content (from 1 to 100 MIU/ml) at 37 degrees C, showed that higher concentration of this cytokine protected against the loss of bioactivity (antiviral titration) better than the lower concentrations. In contrast, rhIFN-alpha2b at 50 and 100 MIU/ml decreased the SDS/PAGE- and RP-HPLC-determined purity faster than samples at 1 or 10 MIU/ml.

Influence of packaging material on the liquid stability of interferon-alpha2b.

Purpose: In this article we studied the effect of the packaging material on the liquid stability of interferon alpha 2b (rhIFN-alpha2b).

Methods: The compatibility of this cytokine with type I borosilicate glass ampoules was evaluated by ELISA and RP-HPLC, at 4 degrees C and after heat sealing. Additionally, the influence of protein concentration (3 and 10 MIU/ml), buffer species (sodium phosphate, sodium citrate and sodium citrate-phosphate) and additives (polysorbate 80 and EDTA Na(2) x 2H(2)O) were studied in samples with and without contact with chlorobutyl stoppers by RP-HPLC.

PEGylated interferon-alpha2b: a branched 40K polyethylene glycol derivative.

Purpose: The conjugation of interferon-alpha2b (IFN-alpha2b) to a branched-chain (40,000) polyethylene glycol (PEG2,40K) was studied.

Methods: We studied the conjugation of IFN-alpha2b at different pH values (6.5, 7, and 8), using the PEG2,40K reagent in either solution or solid state.

Menstruation and amenorrhea: opinion of Brazilian women.

Contemporary women experience more menstrual cycles than their predecessors, and their menstrual patterns are modified by contraceptives. Amenorrhea is one side effect that has recently been advocated as desirable. This qualitative study investigated Brazilian women's views regarding the suppression of menstruation using hormones.

Quality assurance in cervical smears: 100% rapid rescreening vs. 10% random rescreening.

Objective: To compare 100% rapid rescreening of cervical smears with 10% random rescreening as a method of quality assurance.

Study Design: A total of 5215 smears, randomly selected from smears reported as negative by cytotechnologists during routine screening, underwent 100% rapid rescreening by senior cytotechnologists. Ten percent of these smears, selected at random, were rescreened by other senior cytotechnologists.

Preparation of plasmid DNA-containing liposomes using a high-pressure homogenization--extrusion technique.

High-pressure homogenization-extrusion (HPHE) is a method that can be used for downsizing large lipid vesicles with commercially available instrumentation (e.g., from Avestin Inc.

MRI as a key tool for understanding and modeling the filtration kinetics of fibrous media.

Applying MRI techniques to low-density fibrous filter media provides us with unique information about the initial structure and deposited mass within the same filter sample. This now enables us to obtain the necessary link between structure and deposition for validation and further enhancement of modeling filtration kinetics. However, additional work is needed before achieving a realistic understanding of filtration kinetics.

[Institutional Review Boards: compliance with Resolution 196/96].

Purpose: This article intends to evaluate the structure, functioning and performance of 17 Institutional Review Boards (IRB), from the viewpoint of their presidents, in relation to the instructions of Resolution 196/96 of the National Council of Health, Ministry of Health, Brazil.

Methods: Presidents of 33 IRBs, that evaluated proposals for research on fertility control, were indicated by the professionals responsible for the area of gynecology in 46 Brazilian medical schools and by the directors of four research centers on human reproduction . A letter with a questionnaire were sent to the presidents, asking them to volunteer for the study.

[Research on contraception: opinion of researchers, subjects and advocates of women rights].

Objective: To survey the opinion of researchers, women -- subjects of research-- and of advocates of women's rights about the meaning of "research" and "guinea pigs".

Methods: Researchers (11), women (18) and advocates (10) were interviewed. The study was qualitative and a thematic analysis was carried out.

Stability of Ala 125 recombinant human interleukin-2 in solution.

Herein, we describe the preformulation study of Ala 125- recombinant human interleukin-2 (rhIL-2A(125)) in solution. This modified form of the natural human IL-2 is obtained by the replacement of cysteine with alanine at position 125. The compatibility of this rhIL-2A(125) with type I borosilicate glass vials showed no significant adsorption at liquid-vial interface.

Antigenicity and immunogenicity of a synthetic oligosaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type b.

Polysaccharide-protein conjugates as vaccines have proven to be very effective in preventing Haemophilus influenzae type b infections in industrialized countries. However, cost-effective technologies need to be developed for increasing the availability of anti-H. influenzae type b vaccines in countries from the developing world.

KLN-5: a safe monocationic lipophosphoramide to transfect efficiently haematopoietic cell lines and human CD34+ cells.

The safe and efficient delivery of nucleic acids into haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) has a wide range of therapeutic applications. Although viruses are being used in most clinical trials owing to their high transfection efficacy, recent results highlight many concerns about their use. Synthetic transfection reagents, in contrast, have the advantage of being safe and easy to manage while their low transfection efficiency remains a hurdle that needs to be addressed before they can be widely used.

Chronic expression of RET/PTC 3 enhances basal and insulin-stimulated PI3 kinase/AKT signaling and increases IRS-2 expression in FRTL-5 thyroid cells.

The RET/PTC3 oncogene is a genetically rearranged and constitutively activated tyrosine kinase receptor that is common in papillary thyroid cancer. Because RET/PTC3 is chronically overexpressed in these thyroid cancer cells, and RET/PTC3-expressing tumors are associated with overactivity of tyrosine kinase signaling pathways and a more aggressive clinical course, we questioned whether chronic RET/PTC3 expression enhances cellular responses to thyroid mitogens in vitro. We stably transfected FRTL-5 cells with the RET/PTC3 gene; transfected and control cell lines were cultured without insulin, TSH, or serum.

The efficiency of transfusing high doses of platelets in hematologic patients with thrombocytopenia: results of a prospective, randomized, open, blinded end point (PROBE) study.

We performed a prospective, randomized, open, blinded end point (PROBE) study to assess the efficiency of transfusing high doses of platelets in patients with thrombocytopenia, either acute leukemia (AL) or those undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AT). Patients were randomly assigned to receive transfusions with a target dose of 0.5 x 10(11)/10 kg (arm A) or 1 x 10(11)/10 kg (arm B).