Geographic origin characterization of Brazilian green coffee beans via untargeted metabolomics.

Coffee is a widely popular beverage worldwide, known for its distinct sensory properties which are greatly affected by geographical origin. Herein, we performed an untargeted metabolomic evaluation of green coffee beans (n = 40) from four different regions in Brazil: Cerrado Mineiro, Sul de Minas, Caparaó, and Mogiana Paulista; by using UHPLC-HRMS (ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry). The most significant metabolites responsible for coffee characterization were theobromine, zeatin, phenylacetaldehyde, 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, chlorogenic acids, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, abscisic acid, and jasmonic acid.

Physical characterization of 3 implant systems made of distinct materials with distinct surfaces.

Statement Of Problem: Dental implants undergo various surface treatments. Studies that have characterized their surface and subsurface by using the same methods are scarce.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to physically characterize the surface and subsurface of implant systems made of commercially pure (cp) titanium (Ti) grade (gr) 4 and Ti alloy gr 23 and to evaluate whether airborne-particle abrasion and acid etching is an appropriate surface treatment for Ti alloy gr 23.

Coronary Sinus Phlebography in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Patients: Identifying and Solving Demanding Cases.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves symptoms and reduces morbidity and mortality in select heart failure patients but remains challenging to deploy widely because of difficult or unsuccessful coronary sinus (CS) access in up to 10% to 15% of patients. This report describes the radiological and anatomical aspects for improving CS catheterization and left ventricular (LV) lead positioning, focusing on the radioscopic and anatomical aspects, based on phlebography, to identify demanding cases in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy referred for CRT implantation. Anatomical and radiological aspects were explored in the anteroposterior, 30° left anterior oblique, and 30° right anterior oblique (RAO) views.

Advanced Mechanochemistry Device for Sustainable Synthetic Processes.

Mechanochemistry is an alternative for sustainable solvent-free processes that has taken the big step to become, in the near future, a useful synthetic method for academia and the fine chemical industry. The apparatus available, based on ball milling systems possessing several optimizable variables, requires too many control and optimization experiments to ensure reproducibility, which has limited its widespread utilization so far. Herein, we describe the development of an automatic mechanochemical single-screw device consisting of an electrical motor, a drill, and a drill chamber.

Isolation of Cryptococcus species from the external environments of hospital and academic areas.

Introduction: Fungi of the genus Cryptococcus are cosmopolitan and may be agents of opportunistic mycoses in immunocompromised and sometimes immunocompetent individuals. Cryptococcus species are frequently isolated from trees and bird excreta in the environment and infection occurs by inhalation of propagules dispersed in the air. The aim was to investigate Cryptococcus species in bird excreta and tree hollows located in a university hospital area and in an academic area of a university campus.

Can hypoglycemic episodes in type 1 diabetics trigger cardiac arrhythmias?

Background: Sudden nocturnal death is a syndrome that usually affects patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1), being described mainly due to ventricular arrhythmias in response to nocturnal hypoglycemia.

Objectives: Evaluate the relation between hypoglycemia and ventricular arrhythmias in patients with DM1 and normal structural heart.

Method: Prospective, observational study with DM1 patients and normal structural heart on echocardiogram aged 18-60 years, of both sexes receiving insulin therapy for at least five years.

Spatially explicit analysis reveals complex human genetic gradients in the Iberian Peninsula.

The Iberian Peninsula is a well-delimited geographic region with a rich and complex human history. However, the causes of its genetic structure and past migratory dynamics are not yet fully understood. In order to shed light on them, here we evaluated the gene flow and genetic structure throughout the Iberian Peninsula with spatially explicit modelling applied to a georeferenced genetic dataset composed of genome-wide SNPs from 746 individuals belonging to 17 different regions of the Peninsula.

Comparison of birth weight, length, and head circumference between the BRISA-RP and Intergrowth-21st cohorts.

Objectives: (a) To determine the 3rd, 50th, and 97th percentiles of weight, length, and head circumference of newborns from the Ribeirão Preto BRISA cohort, according to gender and gestational age, and compare them with the Intergrowth-21st standard; (b) To estimate the small for gestational age (<3rd percentile), large for gestational age (>97th percentile), stunting (length<3rd percentile), and wasting (body mass index<3rd percentile).

Methods: Observational study of a cohort of 7702 newborns between 01/01/2010 and 12/31/2010 in the city of Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. The 3rd, 50th, and 97th percentiles were determined for the anthropometric measurements using fractional polynomial regression.

Did the Romans introduce the Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) into the Iberian Peninsula?

New finds of bones of the Egyptian Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon), one from Portugal and one from Spain, were directly C dated to the first century AD. While the Portuguese specimen was found without connection to the Chalcolithic occupation of the Pedra Furada cave where it was recovered, the Spanish find, collected in the city of Mérida, comes from a ritual pit that also contained three human and 40 dog burials. The finds reported here show that the Egyptian mongoose, contrary to the traditional and predominant view, did not first arrive in the Iberian Peninsula during the Muslim occupation of Iberia.

Association of serum thyrotropin levels with coronary artery disease documented by quantitative coronary angiography: a transversal study.

Objective: The association between coronary artery disease (CAD) and thyroid function remains controversial. We evaluated the thyroid function and graduated well-defined CAD as confirmed by quantitative coronary angiography (CA).

Subjects And Methods: We evaluated the serum TSH, free thyroxine, free triiodothyronine and thyroid antibody levels in 300 consecutive patients (age 61.

Evaluating the Neolithic Expansion at Both Shores of the Mediterranean Sea.

During the Neolithic, human populations underwent cultural and technological developments that led to an agricultural revolution. Although the population genetics and evolution of European Neolithic populations have been extensively studied, little is known regarding the Neolithic expansion in North Africa with respect to Europe. One could expect that the different environmental and geological conditions at both shores of the Mediterranean Sea could have led to contrasting expansions.

Diversity in the androgen receptor CAG repeat has been shaped by a multistep mutational mechanism.

The androgen receptor (AR) gene encodes a type of nuclear receptor that functions as a steroid-hormone activated transcription factor. In its coding region, AR includes a CAG repeat, which has been intensely studied due to the inverse correlation between repeat size and AR transcriptional activity. Several studies have reported different (CAG)n sizes associated with the risk of androgen-linked diseases.

Sarcoidosis Masquerading as Atrial Fibrillation: Interesting Case Discussion as Well as Recent Advances in Diagnosis and Management of Cardiac Sarcoidosis.

This report presents a case of cardiac sarcoidosis initially manifested with atrial fibrillation. This behavior is very uncommon in spite of the fact that the disease is multisystemic, affecting predominantly the lungs. It is emphasized that the diagnosis of the cardiac involvement is difficult, and when this occurs, can lead to conducting system disturbances, heart failure or sudden death (SD).

Cardiac electrophysiological assessment in patients with sarcoidosis.

Background: Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown origin that can cause sudden death.

Objective: Electrophysiological evaluation of patients with suspected sarcoidosis with cardiac involvement.

Methods: We studied 22 patients with mean age of 55.

Efficacy of atorvastatin when not administered daily.

Background: Statins are widely used because they reduce cardiac events. Although they are indicated for daily use, some doctorsgive prescriptions for every other day, mainly with the purpose of reducing costs.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of atorvastatin, when not administered everyday, on LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, and also to evaluate cost reduction.

In-hospital and late outcomes after coronary stenting in patient with unstable angina and myelodysplastic syndrome.

Sixty-one-year-old male patient with diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome and unstable angina was submitted to coronary angiography and implant of stent. His Blood cell count revealed 40,000 platelets/mm3. Coronary angiography with previous platelet transfusion showed obstruction of 80% of the right coronary artery (RCA).

Cardiac morphofunctional injuries in patients with hepatitis C virus: doppler echocardiographic evaluation.

Objective: To evaluate the possible morphological and functional heart injuries in hepatitis C virus patients.

Methods: Control-case study analyzing Doppler echocardiographic aspects in 31 hepatitis C virus patients and 20 controls.

Results: There were no significant difference in relation to the myocardial thickening, left ventricular diameters, circumferential shortening, ejection fraction, mitral valve flow velocities, tissue sistolic and diastolic mitral annular ones.

Effects of 24-h shift work in the emergency room on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring values of medical residents.

Background: Medical residency is marked by long work hours and shift work. The acute effects of these factors on the blood pressure (BP) of medical residents have not been adequately evaluated.

Methods: A total of 61 medical residents underwent to ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) during a 24-h shift work in the emergency room (ER) and during a common working day.