The maximum daily cassava flour intake of children may be calculated from determination of the total cyanide content of cassava flour and urinary thiocyanate levels of school children in samples ...collected at the same time and place. Four sites, two with and two without recent konzo cases, were chosen for study. In two sites with recent konzo cases, 84% and 93% of school children consumed cassava the previous day, and the calculated maximum daily consumption of cassava was over 700 g. In two sites without recent konzo cases, about 50% of school children consumed cassava the previous day and the calculated daily consumption of cassava flour was less than 150 g. By measurements of cyanide in flour and urinary thiocyanate we are therefore able to distinguish between communities whose diet is almost totally reliant on cassava, and who are therefore susceptible to konzo, and those who have a broader diet and are free from konzo. In another calculation it is shown that 4-23% of the essential S-containing amino acids in the cassava flour consumed by children is used up to detoxify and flour cyanide to thiocyanate. This depletion of methionine and cystine may leads to protein deficiency and may contribute to onset of konzo.
The aims of this study were to (i) evaluate the prevalence and the incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in hemodialysis patients in two different centers in São Paulo (Brazil), (ii) ...determine the time required to detect HCV infection among these patients by serology or PCR, (iii) establish the importance of alanine aminotransferase determination as a marker of HCV infection, and (iv) identify the HCV genotypes in this population. Serum samples were collected monthly for 1 year from 281 patients admitted to hospital for hemodialysis. Out of 281 patients, 41 patients (14.6%) were HCV positive; six patients seroconverted during this study (incidence = 3.1/1000 person-month). In 1.8% (5/281) of cases, RNA was detected before the appearance of antibodies (up to 5 months), and in 1.1% (3/281) of cases, RNA was the unique marker of HCV infection. The genotypes found were 1a, 1b, 3a, and 4a. The presence of genotype 4a is noteworthy, since it is a rare genotype in Brazil. These data pointed out the high prevalence and incidence of HCV infection at hemodialysis centers in Brazil and showed that routine PCR is fundamental for improving the detection of HCV carriers among patients undergoing hemodialysis.Key words: HCV genotypes, hemodialysis, hepatitis C, PCR, prevalence, incidence.
Caroli's disease, characterized by segmental or diffuse dilation of the intrahepatic biliary ducts, is a rare disease which is difficult to treat. The course of the disorder is characterized by ...recurrent episodes of cholangitis and hospital stays, with a consequent loss of quality-of-life and productive capacity, often ending in death due to uncontrolled infection. Endoscopic drainage of the bile duct, percutaneously or surgically, is palliative, and presents bad results in the follow-up of these patients. Orthotopic liver transplantation appears to be an effective curative option for the treatment of patients with Caroli's disease associated to complications. The authors present the course of two cases of this disease, associated with congenital fibrosis of the liver worsened by repeated episodes of cholangitis, submitted to orthotopic liver transplantation.
Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome (SLO) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterised by craniofacial dysmorphism, mental retardation, multiple congenital anomalies, and increased levels of ...7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) in body tissues and fluids. SLO is caused by mutations in the
DHCR7 gene which encodes 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase, the last enzyme of cholesterol biosynthesis pathway. In our investigation, we screened 682 dysmorphic/mentally retarded Portuguese patients for abnormal levels of 7-DHC in blood by UV spectrometry. We identified six unrelated patients with SLO (0.87% of total). Mutational analysis of the
DHCR7 gene led to the identification of seven distinct mutations, three of which are new (F174S, H301R, and Q98X). The common IVS8-1G
>
C and T93M variants together with the H301R accounted for 70% of the all SLO alleles in our population. Our findings contribute to the variegate array of pathological changes in the
DHCR7 gene among different European populations.
ABSTRACT Two hundred and forty Japanese quail aged 125 days were randomly allocated to five treatment groups based on laying (%) and quail’s weight (90.71 ± 1.8% egg/day × 100 and 178.05 ± 9.38 g, ...respectively), each of which included six replicates of eight quails. The diets were formulated based on corn, soybean meal, and industrial amino acids. An optimal diet achieves 100% of amino acids required by the quail requirements, except for threonine. Five treatments were made: 20% less amino acid; 10% less amino acid; optimal diet; 10% more amino acid; and 20% more amino acids than those in the optimal diet. The increase in amino acid levels in a fixed Lys: amino acid ratio led to histological alterations in the liver and uterine epithelium, reduction in blood lipid peroxidation, lower hepatic HSP70 gene expression, and the performance of laying Japanese quail. The optimal diet based on the NRC with an adjusted Thr: Lys 78 ratio (Lys 1.0%) improved the performance and efficiency of Japanese quail from 125 to 230 days of age.
The measurement of sulfur dioxide in air at the parts-per-billion level is described. The experimental arrangement consists of two optical fibers placed on opposite sides of a liquid droplet of ...malachite green solution. After light has been passed through the droplet, the transmitted light is measured by a referenced photodetection arrangement. The light used in this absorption process is from a monochromatic source (λ
max625 nm). This arrangement permits the variation of color in the droplet to be measured. The sulfur dioxide in the sample is collected by the droplet; it reacts with malachite green resulting in a colorless dye. The decoloration of the solution is proportional to the concentration of sulfur dioxide sampled. The signal depends on the sample flow rate. The present technique is simple, inexpensive, and permits a fast and near real time measurement while consuming very little reagent.
A phosphorus ylide bearing a 10-phenylsulfonylisoborneol unit reacted with ketenes, generated in situ from acid chlorides and triethylamine, to give allenic compounds. The reaction with methylketene ...led to asymmetric induction with the selective synthesis of an allene with axial chirality corresponding to an
S configuration. The structure of the chiral allene 10-phenylsulfonylisobornyl penta-2,3-dienoate was determined by X-ray crystallography. Chirooptical studies of the chiral allene derivatives were done.
Graphic
Single event effects in the pixel readout chip for BTeV Chiodini, G; Appel, J.A; Cardoso, G ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
03/2003, Letnik:
501, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
In future experiments the readout electronics for pixel detectors is required to be resistant to a very high radiation level. In this paper we report on irradiation tests performed on several ...preFPIX2 prototype pixel readout chips for the BTeV experiment exposed to a 200 MeV proton beam. The prototype chips have been implemented in commercial
0.25
μm
CMOS processes following radiation tolerant design rules. The results show that this ASIC design tolerates a large total radiation dose, and that radiation induced Single Event Effects occur at a manageable level.
We have evaluated risk factors associated with persistence of wheezing beyond the first two years of life among children living in a subtropical area.
80 children who had been seen at the Emergency ...Room for an episode of wheezing in the first 2 years of life were followed for 2 years in this prospective study. Children underwent clinical evaluation and skin prick testing to inhalant and food allergens two years following the index episode of wheezing. Detection of respiratory viruses and analysis of house dust samples for exposure to major allergens from mites, cockroach, cat and dog (by ELISA) were carried out at enrollment. Total IgE and specific IgE antibodies (Pharmacia CAP system) were measured at the beginning of the study and at the end of follow-up. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors associated with persistent wheezing.
73 children (44 boys) completed the study. After 2 years, 38 (52%) presented 3 or more wheezing episodes treated with beta-2 agonists in the past 12 months (persistent wheezers). Risk factors for persistence of wheezing were: family history of allergy (OR=48.6; p=0.03), exposure to levels of cockroach allergen Bla g 1 >2U/g in the kitchen (OR=7.6; p=0.03) and allergic sensitization at age 2-4 (OR=11.3; p=0.002). Breast-feeding for at least one month was a protective factor (OR=0.08; p=0.01).
Environmental exposure to high levels of cockroach allergen in infancy, sensitization to indoor allergens at age 2-4 and family history of allergy were strongly and independently associated with persistent wheezing in children.
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