From conventional fluid cytology to unusual histological diagnosis: report of four cases.

Malignant small round cell tumors represent a diagnostic challenge for cytologists and pathologists. This case series describes four cases of unusual metastasis of small round cell tumors subtypes into body cavities generating effusions in which fluid cytological examination suggested the neuroendocrine origin of the tumors. Tumor diagnosis (Ewing sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor and desmoplastic small round cell tumors) were unknown at the cytological evaluation.

Bond strength of adhesive systems to Er,Cr:YSGG laser-irradiated dentin.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation and different adhesive procedures on bond strength of two bonding agents to dentin.

Background Data: Studies have shown that laser-irradiated dentinal tissue yields lower bond strengths than does nonirradiated dentin. In this study, different treatment methods of laser irradiating dentin were studied to enhance the bond strength of bonding agents to nonirradiated dentin.

S-nitrosoglutathione decreases inflammation and bone resorption in experimental periodontitis in rats.

Background: S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) is a nitric oxide donor that may exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and microbicidal actions and is thus a potential drug for the topical treatment of periodontitis. In this study, the effect of intragingival injections of GSNO-containing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) formulations is evaluated in a rat model of periodontitis.

Methods: Periodontal disease was induced by placing a sterilized nylon (000) thread ligature around the cervix of the second left upper molar of the animals, which received intragingival injections of PVP; saline; or PVP/GSNO solutions which corresponded to GSNO doses of 25, 100, and 500 nmol; 1 hour before periodontitis induction, and thereafter, daily for 11 days.

Contact process with sublattice symmetry breaking.

We study a contact process with creation at first- and second-neighbor sites and inhibition at first neighbors, in the form of an annihilation rate that increases with the number of occupied first neighbors. Mean-field theory predicts three phases: inactive (absorbing), active symmetric, and active asymmetric, the latter exhibiting distinct sublattice densities on a bipartite lattice. These phases are separated by continuous transitions; the phase diagram is re-entrant.

A simple and fast method for the production and characterization of methylic and ethylic biodiesels from tucum oil via an alkaline route.

A simple, fast, and complete route for the production of methylic and ethylic biodiesel from tucum oil is described. Aliquots of the oil obtained directly from pressed tucum (pulp and almonds) were treated with potassium methoxide or ethoxide at 40°C for 40 min. The biodiesel form was removed from the reactor and washed with 0.

Ultrastructural architecture of colonies of different morphologies produced by phenotypic switching of a clinical strain of Candida tropicalis and biofilm formation by variant phenotypes.

Candida tropicalis has been identified as one of the most prevalent pathogenic yeast species of the Candida-non-albicans (CNA) group. Study of switching in C. tropicalis has not been the subject of extensive research.

Thermal behavior study and decomposition kinetics of amiodarone hydrochloride under isothermal conditions.

Thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) are useful techniques that have been successfully applied in the pharmaceutical industry to reveal important information regarding the physicochemical properties of drugs and excipient molecules, such as polymorphism, stability, purity, formulation compatibility, among others. AMI presents a thermal stability of up to 431 K and a fusion onset temperature of 432 K. The drug has proven to be incompatible with magnesium stearate, eskis red pigment, and yellow iron oxide.

The influence of time referral in the treatment of iatrogenic lesions of biliary tract.

Objective: To evaluate the prognosis of patients with iatrogenic bile duct injury (IBDI) regarding time of referral (RT) to the unit of liver transplantation (LT).

Methods: We reviewed 51 charts of patients who had suffered some kind of IBDI during cholecystectomy and who were referred to the Bonsucesso General Hospital (HGB) LT unit. Lesions were grouped according to the Bismuth classification.

Antituberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity: a comparison between patients with and without human immunodeficiency virus seropositivity.

Introduction: The prevalence and risk factors for rifampin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide hepatotoxicity were evaluated in HIV-infected subjects and controls.

Methods: Patients with tuberculosis (30 HIV positive and 132 HIV negative), aged between 18 and 80 years-old, admitted to hospital in Brazil, from 2005 to 2007, were selected for this investigation. Three definitions of hepatotoxicity were used: I) a 3-fold increase in the lower limit of normal for alanine-aminotransferase (ALT); II) a 3-fold increase in the upper limit of normal (ULN) for ALT, and III) a 3-fold increase in the ULN for ALT plus a 2-fold increase in the ULN of total bilirubin.

Statistical shape modeling of pathological scoliotic vertebrae: A comparative analysis.

Statistical shape models (SSMs) have been used widely as a basis for segmenting and interpreting complex anatomical structures. The robustness of these models are sensitive to the registration procedures, i.e.

Effects from exposure to dental amalgam on systemic mercury levels in patients and dental school students.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the systemic mercury levels in urine of patients and dental school students caused by exposure to silver amalgam. It is currently believed that occupational exposure shows the highest rate of potential for poisoning by mercury. Dental professionals are part of that quota, introducing concerns regarding the handling of dental amalgam.

Micromorphology of resin-dentin interfaces using one-bottle etch&rinse and self-etching adhesive systems on laser-treated dentin surfaces: a confocal laser scanning microscope analysis.

Background And Objectives: This study evaluated the hybrid layer (HL) morphology created by three adhesive systems (AS) on dentin surfaces treated with Er:YAG laser using two irradiation parameters.

Study Design: Occlusal flat dentin surfaces of 36 human third molars were assigned into nine groups (n = 4) according to the following ASs: one bottle etch&rinse Single Bond Plus (3M ESPE), two-step Clearfil Protect Bond (Kuraray), and all-in-one S(3) Bond (Kuraray) self-etching, which were labeled with rhodamine B or fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran and were applied to dentin surfaces that were irradiated with Er:YAG laser at either 120 (38.7 J/cm(2)) or 200 mJ/pulse (64.

A new experimental model for inducing interstitial cystitis by oxidative stress using intravesical instillation of a nitric oxide donor gel.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop an experimental model of inducing interstitial cystitis through intravesical instillation of a polymeric solution containing the NO donor S-nitrousglutathione (GSNO) and to compare it to the experimental interstitial cystitis induced by vesical instillation of protamine and potassium chloride.

Methods: A total of 40 female Wistar rats were used and divided into four groups: 1 - ten rats treated with saline solution + GSNO; 2 - ten rats treated with saline solution + polymeric solution (without GNSO); 3 - ten rats treated with protamine sulphate + KCl; 4 - ten rats treated with protamine sulphate + GSNO. The rats received one application (five animals in each group) or three applications (five animals in each group) of the corresponding substance through intravesical instillation, and after six days (five animals in each group) or nine days (five animals in each group) they were euthanized and their bladders were removed for macroscopic evaluation and histological study.

[Living the process of the municipalization of SUS in Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará State].

The reorganization of the Brazilian health system, the principle of the decentralization and municipalization of the health services has demanded a deeper knowledge about its reality for people's quality of life. The aim of this study is to observe the organizational strategies of the health care in the city of Juazeiro do Norte, located in the state of Ceará, through a descriptive field research, with a quantitative-qualitative approach, extracting indicators of the life conditions of populations and semi-structured interviews held with main management demands on the field of SUS. The results proved a reality similar to most Brazilian towns, marked by the lack of recourses in the sector, health problems of different complexities to resolve, demonstrating a reality with certain details, such as: the existence of a big migration population assisted by the health system.

S-nitroso-N-acetylcysteine ameliorates ischemia-reperfusion injury in the steatotic liver.

Background: Steatosis is currently the most common chronic liver disease and it can aggravate ischemia-reperfusion (IR) lesions. We hypothesized that S-nitroso-N-acetylcysteine (SNAC), an NO donor component, can ameliorate cell damage from IR injury. In this paper, we report the effect of SNAC on liver IR in rats with normal livers compared to those with steatotic livers.

[Hemolysis produced by Candida tropicalis isolates from clinical samples].

Introduction: Yeasts belonging to the genus Candida are responsible for the majority of fungal infections in humans. Candida tropicalis has been one of most commonly isolated non-albicans species. To analyze in vitro hemolysis promoted by clinical isolates of C.

Antibacterial nitric oxide-releasing polyester for the coating of blood-contacting artificial materials.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria associated with blood-contacting artificial materials is a growing health problem, which demands new approaches in the field of biomaterials research. In this study, a poly(sulfhydrylated polyester) (PSPE) was synthesized by the polyesterification reaction of mercaptosuccinic acid with 3-mercapto-1,2-propanediol and blended with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) from solution, leading to solid PSPE/PMMA films, with three different PSPE : PMMMA mass ratios. These films were subsequently S-nitrosated through the immersion in acidified nitrite solution, yielding poly(nitrosated)polyester/PMMA (PNPE/PMMA) films.

Interaction of Candida parapsilosis isolates with human hair and nail surfaces revealed by scanning electron microscopy analysis.

Candida parapsilosis is found frequently as commensal organism on epithelial tissues, and is also an increasing cause of nosocomial infection. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations were used to analyse the capability of C. parapsilosis cells to adhere and grow as biofilm on human natural substrates and to compare the adherence pattern of isolates exhibiting distinct phenotypes.

Thermal analysis applied to verapamil hydrochloride characterization in pharmaceutical formulations.

Thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) are useful techniques that have been successfully applied in the pharmaceutical industry to reveal important information regarding the physicochemical properties of drug and excipient molecules such as polymorphism, stability, purity, formulation compatibility among others. Verapamil hydrochloride shows thermal stability up to 180 degrees C and melts at 146 degrees C, followed by total degradation. The drug is compatible with all the excipients evaluated.

Unravelling the stereoselectivity in 6-exo-trig radical cyclization of alpha,beta-unsaturated ester-tethered sugars. A tale of two stereocenters.

A computational investigation on the origin of the stereoselectivity of 6-exo-trig radical cyclization of alpha,beta-unsaturated ester-tethered sugars has revealed that a boat-like transition state, which keeps the ester in a planar conformation, holds the chiral information. Following this model, the stereocenter to which the ester functionality is connected reports the chirality to the newly formed stereocenter via a 1,4-transfer mechanism.

Endoscopic choroid plexus cauterization versus ventriculoperitoneal shunt for hydranencephaly and near hydranencephaly: a prospective study.

Objective: To prospectively evaluate the results of endoscopic choroid plexus cauterization (ECPC) and ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPSs) in infants with hydranencephaly or near hydranencephaly.

Methods: We prospectively collected clinical data from all untreated hydranencephalic and near hydranencephalic children from October 2006 to March 2008. All patients treated were randomly divided into 2 groups, ECPC or VPS, and submitted to either endoscopic choroid plexus cauterization or ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement.

Poly(vinyl alcohol) films for topical delivery of S-nitrosoglutathione: effect of freezing-thawing on the diffusion properties.

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is a biocompatible polymer already used in several pharmaceutical products. The purpose of this work was to investigate the influence of freezing-thawing cycles (F/T) on the in vitro diffusion and skin vasodilator properties of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO)-releasing PVA films. Films subjected to 1-, 3-, and 5-F/T showed an increase in crystallinity, which is associated with an increase in the radius of gyration of macropores from 155 to 180 nm.