[Risk factors for genital prolapse in a Brazilian population].

Purpose: to evaluate risk factors for the development of genital prolapse in the Brazilian population.

Methods: case-control study involving 316 patients submitted to prolapse staging, according to the pelvic organ prolapse quantification system. The patients were divided into two groups: in the Case Group there were 107 patients with prolapse at stage III or IV, and in the Control Group, 209 women at stage 0 or I.

A long-range-corrected density functional that performs well for both ground-state properties and time-dependent density functional theory excitation energies, including charge-transfer excited states.

We introduce a hybrid density functional that asymptotically incorporates full Hartree-Fock exchange, based on the long-range-corrected exchange-hole model of Henderson et al. [J. Chem.

Satellite cell ablation attenuates short-term fast-to-slow fibre type transformations in rat fast-twitch skeletal muscle.

The purpose of this time-course study was to determine whether satellite cell ablation within rat tibialis anterior (TA) muscles exposed to short-term chronic low-frequency stimulation (CLFS) would limit fast-to-slow fibre type transformations. Satellite cells of the left TA were ablated by exposure to gamma-irradiation before 1, 2, 5 or 10 days of CLFS and 1 week later where required. Control groups received only CLFS or a sham operation.

COL1A1 Sp1-binding site polymorphism as a risk factor for genital prolapse.

The objective of this study was to verify the possible association between the Sp1-binding site polymorphism and genital prolapse. A case-control study was conducted in 107 patients with stages III and IV genital prolapse. The control group included 209 women with stages 0 and I.

Genomovar status, virulence markers and genotyping of Burkholderia cepacia complex strains isolated from Brazilian cystic fibrosis patients.

Burkholderia cepacia complex isolates obtained by microbiological culture of respiratory samples from Brazilian CF patients were studied by recA based PCR, screened by specific PCR for virulence markers and genotyped by RAPD. Forty-one isolates of B. cepacia complex were identified by culture and confirmation of identity and genomovar determination obtained in 32 isolates, with predominance of B.

Adaptive responses to creatine loading and exercise in fast-twitch rat skeletal muscle.

We investigated the effects of chronic creatine loading and voluntary running (Run) on muscle fiber types, proteins that regulate intracellular Ca2+, and the metabolic profile in rat plantaris muscle to ascertain the bases for our previous observations that creatine loading results in a higher proportion of myosin heavy chain (MHC) IIb, without corresponding changes in contractile properties. Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to one of four groups: creatine-fed sedentary, creatine-fed run-trained, control-fed sedentary, and control-fed run-trained animals. Proportion and cross-sectional area increased 10% and 15% in type IIb fibers and the proportion of type IIa fibers decreased 11% in the creatine-fed run-trained compared with the control-fed run-trained group (P < 0.

The combination of PCR and serology increases the diagnosis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization/infection in cystic fibrosis.

Background: Early diagnosis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization/infection in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) using microbiological culturing methods may be difficult. Serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) may be useful techniques for early detection of P. aeruginosa in children with CF.

Alpha-catalytic subunits of 5'AMP-activated protein kinase display fiber-specific expression and are upregulated by chronic low-frequency stimulation in rat muscle.

5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling initiates adaptive changes in skeletal muscle fibers that restore homeostatic energy balance. The purpose of this investigation was to examine, in rats, the fiber-type protein expression patterns of the alpha-catalytic subunit isoforms in various skeletal muscles, and changes in their respective contents within the tibialis anterior (TA) after chronic low-frequency electrical stimulation (CLFS; 10 Hz, 10 h daily), applied for 4 +/- 1.2 or 25 +/- 4.

Evaluation of the ability of Streptococcus agalactiae strains isolated from genital and neonatal specimens to bind to human fibrinogen and correlation with characteristics of the fbsA and fbsB genes.

The ability of 111 Streptococcus agalactiae strains to bind to human fibrinogen was quantified. We correlated the percentages of bacteria that bound to immobilized fibrinogen with fibrinogen-binding (fbs) gene characteristics of strains and with clinical origin, serotypes, and phylogenetic positions of strains. Percentages varied from 0.

Migraine in the elderly: a comparison with migraine in young adults.

Objective: In this study we compare the clinical features of migraine attacks occurring in the elderly (60 to 70 years) and in younger migraineurs (20 to 40 years).

Background: Studies comparing the clinical features of migraine at different ages are still lacking. These studies are important for a better comprehension of the natural history of migraine, as well as to refine our recognition of the disease.

Effect of satellite cell ablation on low-frequency-stimulated fast-to-slow fibre-type transitions in rat skeletal muscle.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether satellite cell ablation within rat fast-twitch muscles exposed to chronic low-frequency stimulation (CLFS) would limit fast-to-slow fibre-type transitions. Twenty-nine male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to one of three groups. Satellite cells of the left tibialis anterior were ablated by weekly exposure to a 25 Gy dose of gamma-irradiation during 21 days of CLFS (IRR-Stim), whilst a second group received only 21 days of CLFS (Stim).

Effects of novel manufacturing technology on blood and dialysate flow distribution in a new low flux "alpha Polysulfone" hemodialyzer.

The main target for low flux hemodialyzers is an efficient low molecular weight solutes clearance. Such efficiency is largely dependent on the optimization of diffusion between blood and dialysis solution. The diffusion process can be impaired if there is a mismatch between blood and dialysate flow distribution in the dialyzer.

Release of microparticles in LDL apheresis.

Particle contamination of blood always takes place in extracorporeal systems and few studies have been conducted to evaluate potential risks. Particle concentration was measured in the efferent blood line on original equipment for two established LDL elimination procedures (DALI) (Fresenius) and Liposorber (Kaneka). Acquired data were compared with standards for infusion solutions from European (EP) and American (USP) Pharmacopoeia.

Particle release in extracorporeal low-density lipoprotein lowering therapies.

Release of microparticles into the blood during extracorporeal circulation must be kept low because of possibly serious acute and chronic adverse effects. Concentration and size distribution of microparticles were measured during simulated treatments (n = 7) on original equipment for 2 standard low-density lipoprotein (LDL) elimination procedures (DALI 750, Fresenius AG, St. Wendel, Germany and Liposorber, Kaneka Corporation, Osaka, Japan) and compared to hemofiltration solutions.

In vitro antibiotic susceptibility of salmonellae.

In vitro antibiotic susceptibilities were determined for 101 strains of salmonellae. Resistance to chloramphenicol and ampicillin was low. Cefamandole was active against the majority of strains and deserves further evaluation.