Automatic identification and characterization of the epiretinal membrane in OCT images.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a medical image modality that is used to capture, non-invasively, high-resolution cross-sectional images of the retinal tissue. These images constitute a suitable scenario for the diagnosis of relevant eye diseases like the vitreomacular traction or the diabetic retinopathy. The identification of the epiretinal membrane (ERM) is a relevant issue as its presence constitutes a symptom of diseases like the macular edema, deteriorating the vision quality of the patients.

The use of probiotics as a supplementary therapy in the treatment of patients with asthma: a pilot study and implications.

Objectives: Evaluate the use of probiotics as an additional therapy in the treatment of children and adolescents with asthma in Belo Horizonte, MG-Brazil.

Methods: A pilot longitudinal, experimental and nonrandomized study with 30 patients from six to 17 years old from Belo Horizonte. In the baseline appointment, all patients received beclomethasone, and one group also received a probiotic containing Lactobacillus reuteri (n=14).

Figure-of-4 Cruciate Remnant Objective Assessment Test Reducibility of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Stump for Feasibility of Arthroscopic Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair.

Suture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has reemerged as a treatment option for proximal ACL tears. Preoperative imaging can provide insight into the feasibility of performing arthroscopic primary ACL repair, but the final decision is taken only after confirming with arthroscopy that the ACL remnant is reducible. We describe a test called the Figure-of-4 Cruciate Remnant Objective Assessment test that objectively interprets the reducibility of the ACL remnant for arthroscopic primary ACL repair.

Artery/Vein Vessel Tree Identification in Near-Infrared Reflectance Retinographies.

An accurate identification of the retinal arteries and veins is a relevant issue in the development of automatic computer-aided diagnosis systems that facilitate the analysis of different relevant diseases that affect the vascular system as diabetes or hypertension, among others. The proposed method offers a complete analysis of the retinal vascular tree structure by its identification and posterior classification into arteries and veins using optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans. These scans include the near-infrared reflectance retinography images, the ones we used in this work, in combination with the corresponding histological sections.

Dietary Tryptophan Induces Opposite Health-Related Responses in the Senegalese Sole () Reared at Low or High Stocking Densities With Implications in Disease Resistance.

High rearing densities are typical conditions of both inland and onshore intensive aquaculture units. Despite obvious drawbacks, this strategy is nonetheless used to increase production profits. Such conditions inflict stress on fish, reducing their ability to cope with disease, bringing producers to adopt therapeutic strategies.

A structural equation model to predict macroinvertebrate-based ecological status in catchments influenced by anthropogenic pressures.

A Partial Least Squares-Path Model (PLS-PM) was developed for the Ave River Basin (North of Portugal), and the results used in a scenario analysis. The data for PLS-PM comprised a set of anthropogenic pressures, water quality parameters, and a macroinvertebrate-based biodiversity index (IPtI) used to assess the ecological status of streams. These groups of measured parameters (called latent variables) were given the names "Pressures", "Contamination" and "Ecological Integrity".

Direct electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide by a molybdenum-containing formate dehydrogenase.

Formate dehydrogenase enzymes catalyse the reversible two-electron oxidation of formate to carbon dioxide. The class of metal-dependent formate dehydrogenases comprises prokaryotic enzymes holding redox-active centres and a catalytic site, containing either molybdenum or tungsten ion, that mediates the formate/carbon dioxide interconversion. The carbon dioxide reduction is of a particular interest, since it may be a route for its atmospheric mitigation with the simultaneous production of added-value products, as formate-derived compounds.

microRNA-155 inhibition restores Fibroblast Growth Factor 7 expression in diabetic skin and decreases wound inflammation.

Treatment for chronic diabetic foot ulcers is limited by the inability to simultaneously address the excessive inflammation and impaired re-epithelization and remodeling. Impaired re-epithelization leads to significantly delayed wound closure and excessive inflammation causes tissue destruction, both enhancing wound pathogen colonization. Among many differentially expressed microRNAs, miR-155 is significantly upregulated and fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7) mRNA (target of miR-155) and protein are suppressed in diabetic skin, when compared to controls, leading us to hypothesize that topical miR-155 inhibition would improve diabetic wound healing by restoring FGF7 expression.

Sub-antimicrobial doses of doxycycline decreased bone loss related to ligature-induced periodontitis in hypertensive rats.

Background/objective: The beneficial effects of sub-antimicrobial dose doxycycline (SDD) associated with nonsurgical periodontal therapy are well documented. Recently, the effects of SDD on metalloproteinases have been investigated in the treatment of hypertension. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of SDD on ligature-induced periodontitis in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Robust segmentation of retinal layers in optical coherence tomography images based on a multistage active contour model.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) constitutes an imaging technique that is increasing its popularity in the ophthalmology field, since it offers a more complete set of information about the main retinal structures. Hence, it offers detailed information about the eye fundus morphology, allowing the identification of many intraretinal pathological signs. For that reason, over the recent years, Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD) systems have spread to work with this image modality and analyze its information.

Ligand accessibility to heme cytochrome b coordinating sphere and enzymatic activity enhancement upon tyrosine ionization.

Recently, we observed that at extreme alkaline pH, cytochrome b (Cb) acquires a peroxidase-like activity upon formation of a low spin hemichrome associated with a non-native state. A functional characterization of Cb, in a wide pH range, shows that oxygenase/peroxidase activities are stimulated in alkaline media, and a correlation between tyrosine ionization and the attained enzymatic activities was noticed, associated with an altered heme spin state, when compared to acidic pH values at which the heme group is released. In these conditions, a competitive assay between imidazole binding and Cb endogenous heme ligands revealed the appearance of a binding site for this exogenous ligand that promotes a heme group exposure to the solvent upon ligation.

Biosensor for direct bioelectrocatalysis detection of nitric oxide using nitric oxide reductase incorporated in carboxylated single-walled carbon nanotubes/lipidic 3 bilayer nanocomposite.

An enzymatic biosensor based on nitric oxide reductase (NOR; purified from Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus) was developed for nitric oxide (NO) detection. The biosensor was prepared by deposition onto a pyrolytic graphite electrode (PGE) of a nanocomposite constituted by carboxylated single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), a lipidic bilayer [1,2-di-(9Z-octadecenoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE), 1,2-di-(9Z-octadecenoyl)-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP), 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-polyethylene glycol (DSPE-PEG)] and NOR. NOR direct electron transfer and NO bioelectrocatalysis were characterized by several electrochemical techniques.

Immune aging in diabetes and its implications in wound healing.

Immune systems have evolved to recognize and eliminate pathogens and damaged cells. In humans, it is estimated to recognize 10 epitopes and natural selection ensures that clonally expanded cells replace unstimulated cells and overall immune cell numbers remain stationary. But, with age, it faces continuous repertoire restriction and concomitant accumulation of primed cells.

Online discrete-time LQR controller design with integral action for bulk Bucket Wheel Reclaimer operational processes via Action-Dependent Heuristic Dynamic Programming.

In this paper, a novel approach for online design of optimal control systems applied to the bulk resumption process by bucket wheel reclaimer (BWR) is presented. This approach is based on reinforcement learning paradigms, more specifically Action Dependent Heuristic Dynamic Programming (ADHDP), that learn online in real-time the Discrete Linear Quadratic Regulator (DLQR) optimal control solution with integral action. Due to the geometric irregularities of the storage yard stacks and variation in physical and chemical characteristics of the stacked material, the flow control of solid bulks by bucket wheel reclaimer requires methods that are suitable with the high degree of imprecision of process variables and environment uncertainties.

Ni -ATCUN-Catalyzed Tyrosine Nitration in the Presence of Nitrite and Sulfite.

The nitration of tyrosine residues in proteins represents a specific footprint of the formation of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in vivo. Here, the fusion product of orange protein (ATCUN-ORP) was used as an in vitro model system containing an amino terminal Cu(II)- and Ni(II)-binding motif (ATCUN) tag at the N-terminus and a native tyrosine residue in the metal-cofactor-binding region for the formation of 3-NO -Tyr (3-NT). It is shown that Ni -ATCUN unusually performs nitration of tyrosine at physiological pH in the presence of the NO /SO /O system, which is revealed by a characteristic absorbance band at 430 nm in basic medium and 350 nm in acidic medium (fingerprint of 3-NT).

Biomolecular engineering of antidehydroepiandrosterone antibodies: a new perspective in cancer diagnosis and treatment using single-chain antibody variable fragment.

Aim: To develop a monoclonal antibody against dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and miniaturize it, generating a single-chain antibody variable fragment (scFv) against DHEA as an adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) marker.

Material & Methods: DHEA conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin was used as an immunogen to obtain anti-DHEA hybridomas. Variable fragments were cloned from hybridoma 5B7 total RNA, and used to detect DHEA in normal adrenal tissue and ACC cells.

The Influence of the Evolutionary Past on the Mind: An Analysis of the Preference for Landscapes in the Human Species.

According to some evolutionary psychologists, landscapes preferences in the human species are influenced by their evolutionary past. Because the Pleistocene savanna is the least inhospitable landscape, it was the most suitable environment for survival and influenced the evolution of hominids in such a way that even today the human being has a universal preference for these environments. However, there is controversy regarding this statement, because in some studies it was evidenced that people prefer images of landscapes that are similar to those of the environment where they live.

sp. biomass dried/disrupted by different methods and their application in biofilms production.

biomass is a source of intracellular compounds with great commercial interest, such as phycocyanin and phenolic compounds. In this work, different cell disruption methods of the microalgae biomass dried in spouted bed and in conventional tray were performed, aiming lead to the better extraction yields of these compounds. The samples of both drying techniques with the most suitable cell disruption were used to biofilms production.

Antibacterial properties and modulation analysis of antibiotic activity of NaCe(MoO) microcrystals.

This study reports the antibacterial properties and modulation analysis of antibiotic activity by NaCe(MoO) microcrystals as well as their structural and morphological characterization. Evaluation of the antibacterial and antibiotic-modulating activity was carried out using the broth microdilution method. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) of the compounds were expressed as the geometric mean of the triplicate values obtained through the use of Resazurin.

PCB and PBDE contamination in Tursiops truncatus and Stenella frontalis, two data-deficient threatened dolphin species from the Brazilian coast.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) levels were assessed in the liver and muscle of two data-deficient threatened dolphin species, the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus, n = 4) and the Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis, n = 6), sampled off the Southeastern Brazilian coast. PCB concentrations were greater in liver compared to muscle, with males presenting higher concentrations than females. The three main detected PCB congeners were PCBs 138, 153 and 180.

Temperature-induced isostructural phase transition on NaCe(MoO) system: A Raman scattering study.

Temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopic study has been performed on scheelite-type sodium‑cerium molybdate - NaCe(MoO) - in the temperature range 113-873 K. This study provides phonon properties of NaCe(MoO), which are very important to understand the mechanism governing eventual phase transitions undergone by the structure, since phonons are very sensitive to structural changes. The ambient scheelite phase remains stable in a low-temperature range (113-293 K), and no relevant modification is observed in the Raman spectra.

Intraretinal fluid identification via enhanced maps using optical coherence tomography images.

Nowadays, among the main causes of blindness in developed countries are age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and the diabetic macular edema (DME). Both diseases present, as a common symptom, the appearance of cystoid fluid regions inside the retinal layers. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) image modality was one of the main medical imaging techniques for the early diagnosis and monitoring of AMD and DME via this intraretinal fluid detection and characterization.