In this study, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/TiO2 nanocomposite was processed by the spray method. TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. Varying the proportion ...of nanoparticles in 0%, 0.5% and 1% by weight, commercial TiO2 (P25) was used for comparison purposes. The photocatalytic activity of nanocomposites impregnated with methylene blue was assessed by means of UV–visible spectroscopy. Changes in contact angle were analyzed before and after UV degradation tests. The effect of ultraviolet radiation on the chemical structure of the PDMS matrix was evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results indicated that the addition of TiO2 nanoparticles in PDMS provides good photocatalytic properties in the decomposition of methylene blue, which is an important characteristic for the development of coatings for self-cleaning. For comparison purposes, commercial P25 was also used to investigate the photocatalytic activity.
•We report the preparation method of spraying the nanocomposites PDMS/TiO2.•Nanostructures of the TiO2 were obtained at a low temperature.•The nanocomposite exhibits good photocatalytic activity.•This composite has important characteristic for use the of self-cleaning coatings.
Objetivos: O sistema endocanabinoide consiste em uma complexa rede de sinalização celular primariamente responsável por manutenção da homeostase e regulação de processos fisiológicos e, por isso, tem ...sido alvo de interesse pelo potencial terapêutico em diversas condições patológicas. Um de seus receptores, CB2, é preferencialmente expresso nos tecidos periféricos, tendo sido demonstrado em todas as populações de leucócitos humanos. Portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do tratamento com Cannabis medicinal sobre as subpopulações de leucócitos em paciente portadora de Doença Falciforme (DF). Material e métodos: Os dados clínicos e sociodemográficos foram compilados através de análise retrospectiva de prontuário médico, e a avaliação de subtipos de leucócitos foi realizada por citometria de fluxo. Para isso, 4 mL de sangue periférico foram coletados em tubo EDTA antes do início do tratamento e após 15 e 21 dias de tratamento. A imunofenotipagem foi realizada nos 3 períodos utilizando-se anticorpos monoclonais conjugados à fluorescência: CD3, CD4, CD8, CD14, CD16, CD19, CD25, CD45, CD56, CD66b, CD68, CD80, CD163, FoxP3, HLA-DR, IFN-y, IL-4, IL-10, Granzima e Perforina. As amostras foram adquiridas no citômetro de fluxo CytoFLEX - Beckman Coulter e analisadas no FlowJo™. Resultados: Paciente do sexo feminino, 42 anos, em seguimento por Sβ-talassemia zero, tendo como importante complicação da doença múltiplos microinfartos ósseos em coluna lombar levando a quadro de dor crônica incapacitante. Em uso de Hidroxiureia (20 mg/kg/dia), Gabapentina 1200 mg/dia, com necessidade de doses diárias de Dipirona e Tramal; faz seguimento com fisioterapia tendo sido avaliada por ortopedista sem indicação cirúrgica. Diante do quadro de dor crônica refratária, iniciado tratamento complementar com Cannabis Medicinal: 25 mg de canabidiol, divididos em duas doses diárias (óleo sublingual 50 mg/mL, 0,25 mL 2x ao dia), mais 5 mg de THC (óleo sublingual 50 mg/mL, 0,05 mL 2x ao dia). Após 21 dias de tratamento, além da importante melhora no quadro de dor, a avaliação das subpopulações leucocitárias por citometria de fluxo evidenciou: i) aumento da porcentagem de linfócitos T CD4+ e diminuição de T CD8+, ii) aumento da porcentagem de Tregs FoxP3+, iii) diminuição no conteúdo de granzima em linfócitos T CD8+, iv) diminuição progressiva na porcentagem de neutrófilos e v) polarização macrofágica com tendência ao fenótipo M2. Discussão: O tratamento com cannabis medicinal neste caso levou a importantes alterações quantitativas nos elementos do sistema imune, sugerindo uma importante mudança para um perfil anti-inflamatório (supressão de neutrófilos e aumento no número de Tregs FoxP3+) e de reparo tecidual (com menor produção de granzima, aumento da relação CD4/CD8 e polarização macrofágica M2). O perfil observado antes do uso da medicação era característico das DF e foi parcialmente revertido com apenas poucos dias de tratamento. Conclusão: Estes resultados sugerem a modulação de algumas subpopulações de leucócitos com o uso de Cannabis Medicinal em paciente com Doença Falciforme, revertendo o ambiente inflamatório característico desse grupo de doenças e evidenciando um potencial terapêutico que deve ser analisado em maior profundidade em ensaios clínicos.
We present a statistical analysis of the mid-infrared (MIR) spectra of 248 luminous infrared (IR) galaxies (LIRGs) which comprise the Great Observatories All-sky LIRG Survey (GOALS) observed with the ...Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) on board the Spitzer Space Telescope. The GOALS sample enables a direct measurement of the relative contributions of star formation and active galactic nuclei (AGNs) to the total IR emission from a large sample of local LIRGs. The AGN contribution to the MIR emission (f AGN) is estimated by employing several diagnostics based on the properties of the Ne V, O IV, and Ne II fine-structure gas emission lines, the 6.2 Delta *mm polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), and the shape of the MIR continuum. We find that 18% of all LIRGs contain an AGN and that in 10% of all sources the AGN contributes more than 50% of the total IR luminosity. Summing up the total IR luminosity contributed by AGNs in all our sources suggests that AGNs supply ~12% of the total energy emitted by LIRGs. The average spectrum of sources with an AGN looks similar to the average spectrum of sources without an AGN, but it has lower PAH emission and a flatter MIR continuum. AGN-dominated LIRGs have higher IR luminosities, warmer MIR colors, and are found in interacting systems more often than pure starburst LIRGs. However, we find no linear correlations between these properties and f AGN. We used the IRAC colors of LIRGs to confirm that finding AGNs on the basis of their MIR colors may miss ~40% of AGN-dominated (U)LIRGs.
•PPF quantification studies in aquatic environmental matrices are scarce and not representative of global contamination.•The water of the River Júcar (Spain) presented the highest concentration of ...PPF.•Pyriproxyfen caused a high risk at concentrations detected in aquatic environments for Daphnia magna.•Xiphophorus maculatus, Eurytemora affinis and Leander tenuicornis may be affected by low concentrations of PPF.•25.82 % of the species are affected in the concentration allowed for lavicidal use.
Pyriproxyfen (PPF) is a synthetic substance and an insect juvenile hormone agonist with growth regulating effect. It is used worldwide as a pesticide in agriculture and public health campaigns, including the control of Aedes aegypti proliferation. It has low volatility, high Kow value and high lability in aerobic aquatic systems but is considered persistent in anaerobic systems, with a half-life of 288.9 days. The objective of this study is to survey the environmental contamination by pyriproxyfen in aquatic environmental matrices, to review the acute and chronic toxicity in non-target aquatic organisms and to make a risk assessment for the organisms addressed in the bibliographic survey. Pyriproxyfen quantification studies in aquatic environmental matrices are quite scarce and punctual—not representative of regional and global contamination. The water of the River Júcar (Spain) presented the highest concentration of PPF (99.59 ng L−1) among the matrices analysed, which is equivalent to 1% of the maximum dose allowed by the World Health Organization for use in drinking water. Acute and chronic aquatic toxicity studies with LC50, EC50, LOEC and NOEC values of PPF were compiled and interpreted to evaluate possible risks to non-target aquatic organisms. Pyriproxyfen caused a high risk at concentrations detected in aquatic environments for Daphnia magna, with probable reproductive effects and occasional survival risk. This species was the most sensitive to the pesticide, with the lowest estimated concentration of 50 % of effect values, followed by a freshwater fish (Xiphophorus maculatus) and estuarine crustaceans (Eurytemora affinis and Leander tenuicornis). The most resistant organisms to PPF within the endpoints addressed in this review were Danio rerio (zebrafish) and Capitella sp. (polychaete). Through the species sensitivity distribution (SSD), it was possible to estimate HC5 at 0.214 μg L−1 and that 2.3 % of the species present high sensitivity to pyriproxyfen in the environmental concentration detected in river water and 25.82 % of the species are affected in the concentration allowed for lavicidal use. In order to obtain more accurate risk estimates, we suggest ecotoxicological assessments in other species, covering various taxa, with emphasis on microcrustaceans due to their fundamental role in the aquatic food web and taxonomic proximity to pesticide target organisms. Furthermore, additional studies of contamination in aquatic environmental matrices are required, with particular attention to freshwater and estuarine environments due to the proximity to the sources of pyriproxyfen and environmental characteristics suggesting high accumulation. Thus, it will be possible to estimate realistic exposure levels and risks in different environments, contributing to effective and safe decision making, integrating development, public health and environmental policy.
RESUMO A identidade de Psalidodon eigenmanniorum (Cope, 1894) e a possibilidade de se constituir em mais de uma espécie é testada através de análises da morfometria (19 medidas), dos caracteres ...merísticos (14 contagens) e do padrão de colorido de 705 exemplares provenientes dos sistemas dos rios Tramandaí/Mampituba, da laguna dos Patos e drenagem do baixo rio Uruguai. Foram diafanizados e corados 40 exemplares. Os dados morfométricos foram utilizados na Análise de Componentes Principais, Análise Discriminante, Morfometria Geométrica e Função Discriminante. As análises foram feitas considerando os sexos em separado dentro de cada sistema hidrográfico, bem como comparando as populações entre os sistemas hidrográficos e finalmente no conjunto de sistemas representando a área de ocorrência da espécie. A partir dos dados analisados não foram encontradas diferenças entre os sexos. Os resultados mostraram variação morfológica que não sustenta o reconhecimento de possíveis espécies crípticas. A variação encontrada nos dados merísticos, morfométricos e no padrão de colorido justifica a redescrição da espécie. Os resultados das comparações entre as populações indicaram variações nesses caracteres indicando que a espécie possui considerável plasticidade fenotípica.
ABSTRACT The identity of Psalidodon eigenmanniorum (Cope, 1894) and the possibility of constituting more than one species is tested through analyzes of morphometry (19 measurements), meristic characters (14 counts) and the color pattern of 705 specimens from the Tramandaí/Mampituba, from the Patos lagoon and from the lower Uruguay River drainage. Forty specimens were cleared and stained. Morphometric data were used in Principal Component Analysis, Discriminant Analysis, Geometric Morphometry and Discriminant Function. The analysis was carried out considering the sexes separately within each hydrographic system, as well as comparing the populations between the hydrographic systems and finally in the set of systems representing the area of occurrence of the species. No differences were found between the sexes in the analyzed data. The results showed morphological variation that does not support the recognition of possible cryptic species. The variation found in meristic, morphometric and color pattern data justifies the redescription of the species. The species is described to the aforementioned drainages, and the results demonstrate its phenotypic plasticity.
Resumo: O Programa Nacional de Imunizações (PNI), coordenado pelo Ministério da Saúde, de forma compartilhada com as secretarias estaduais e municipais de saúde, vem se consolidando como uma das ...principais e mais relevantes intervenções em saúde pública, com a conquista de resultados importantes, como a certificação de área livre da circulação do poliovírus selvagem, a eliminação da circulação do vírus da rubéola e pelo importante impacto na redução dos casos e mortes pelas doenças imunopreveníveis, a partir da sua criação em 1973. O Brasil é um dos países que oferece o maior número de vacinas, de forma gratuita, com 15 vacinas para crianças, 9 para os adolescentes, cinco para os adultos e idosos. A partir dessa expansão do programa e da manutenção de elevadas coberturas vacinais, foi possível observar o rápido impacto na diminuição das doenças imunopreveníveis, mudando completamente o cenário epidemiológico dessas doenças no país, ao longo destas últimas quatro décadas. Atualmente, o país vive um contexto em que aumenta a parcela da população sem vacinação adequada. Na medida em que as doenças passam a não circular mais, justamente porque se mantiveram elevadas coberturas vacinais principalmente a partir dos anos 2000, muitas doenças tornaram-se desconhecidas, fazendo com que algumas pessoas não tenham noção do perigo representado por elas. É necessário, portanto, entender os múltiplos fatores que estão contribuindo para essa diminuição, criando, dessa forma, o risco de ressurgimento de doenças graves já controladas ou eliminadas na população.
Resumen: El Programa Nacional de Inmunizaciones de Brasil (PNI), coordinado por el Ministerio de la Salud, de forma compartida con Las secretarías estatales y municipales de salud, se ha consolidando como una de las principales y más relevantes intervenciones en salud pública, con la conquista de resultados importantes, como la certificación de área libre de la circulación del poliovirus salvaje, la eliminación de la circulación del virus de la rubeola, además de por el importante impacto en la reducción de los casos y muertes por enfermedades inmunoprevenibles, a partir de su creación en 1973. Brasil es uno de los países que ofrece el mayor número de vacunas, de forma gratuita, con 15 vacunas, 9 para adolescentes, 5 para adultos y ancianos. A partir de esta expansión del programa y del mantenimiento de elevadas coberturas de vacunación fue posible observar el rápido impacto en la disminución de las enfermedades inmunoprevenibles, cambiando completamente el escenario epidemiológico de esas enfermedades en el país, a lo largo de estas últimas cuatro décadas. Actualmente, el país vive un contexto en que aumenta la proporción de la población sin vacunación adecuada. A medida que las enfermedades pasan a no circular más, justamente porque se mantuvieron elevadas, principalmente a partir de la década del 2000, muchas enfermedades se convirtieron en desconocidas, provocando que algunas personas no tengan noción del peligro representado por ellas. Es necesario, por tanto, entender los múltiples factores que están contribuyendo a esta disminución, creando, de esta forma, el riesgo de resurgimiento de enfermedades graves ya controladas o eliminadas de la población.
Abstract: The Brazilian National Immunization Program (PNI, in Portuguese) is coordinated by the Ministry of Health in cooperation with state and municipal health departments. Since the program’s creation in 1973, it has become one of the country’s most relevant public health interventions, having produced important results such as certification of Brazil as free of wild poliovirus circulation, the elimination rubella virus circulation, and an important reduction in cases and deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases. Brazil is one of the countries that offers the most vaccines free of cost to the population, with 15 vaccines for children, 9 for adolescents, and 5 for adults and the elderly. The program’s expansion and the maintenance of high vaccination coverage rates led to a rapid decrease in vaccine-preventable diseases, completely changing the epidemiological scenario of these diseases in Brazil in the last four decades. The country is currently witnessing an increasing share of the population without adequate vaccination. To the extent that these diseases are no longer circulating, precisely because of the high vaccination coverage rates, especially since the early 2000s, many of them are now unknown to the population. As a result, many people have no notion of the danger these diseases represent. We thus need to understand the multiple factors contributing to this decrease in coverage, which has created the risk of resurgence of serious diseases that had already been controlled or eliminated in Brazil.
Abstract Objective Asthma is the most common chronic disease in childhood and has been designated a public health problem due to the increase in its prevalence in recent decades, the amount of health ...service expenditure it absorbs and an absence of consensus about its etiology. The relationships among psychosocial factors and the occurrence, symptomatology, and severity of asthma have recently been considered. There is still controversy about the association between asthma and a child's mental health, since the pathways through which this relationship is established are complex and not well researched. This study aims to investigate whether behavior problems are associated with the prevalence of asthma symptoms in a large urban center in Latin America. Methods It is a cross-section study of 869 children between 6 and 12 years old, residents of Salvador, Brazil. The International Study of Allergy and Asthma in Childhood (ISAAC) instrument was used to evaluate prevalence of asthma symptoms. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was employed to evaluate behavioral problems. Results 19.26% (n = 212) of the children presented symptoms of asthma. 35% were classified as having clinical behavioral problems. Poisson's robust regression model demonstrated a statistically significant association between the presence of behavioral problems and asthma symptoms occurrence (PR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.10–1.85). Conclusion These results suggest an association between behavioral problems and pediatric asthma, and support the inclusion of mental health care in the provision of services for asthma morbidity.
Over the past decade, there have been an increasing number of studies on the association between vitamin D deficiency and anthropometric state. However, we did not identify any meta‐analyses of the ...relationship between obesity and vitamin D deficiency in different age groups. Thus, we evaluated the association between obesity and vitamin D deficiency. We searched for observational studies published up to April 2014 in PubMed/Medline, Web of Science and Scopus databases. We performed a meta‐analysis in accordance with the random‐effects model to obtain the summary measurement (prevalence ratio, PR). Among the 29,882 articles identified, 23 met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 35% higher in obese subjects compared to the eutrophic group (PR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.21–1.50) and 24% higher than in the overweight group (PR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.14–1.34). These results indicate that the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was more elevated in obese subjects. The vitamin D deficiency was associated with obesity irrespective of age, latitude, cut‐offs to define vitamin D deficiency and the Human Development Index of the study location.
PDF
