Caffeine intake reduces sedentary time and increases physical activity predisposition in obese police officers

Sedentary time is associated with increased obesity in police officers. Caffeine intake may reduce sedentary time but it has not been extensively investigated. In the present study, the effect of caffeine ingestion on sedentary time was investigated in obese police officers. Fourteen obese police officers ingested either 5 mg/kg of caffeine or cellulose (placebo) for six days. Information on inactivity time, time spent with physical activities, self-reported perception of tiredness, and physical activity disposition was obtained daily during the intervention period. Sedentary and physical activity times were divided into two intraday periods (T₁: 08:00 am-02:00 pm and T₂: 02:00 pm-08:00 pm). Caffeine intake decreased the sedentary time in both T₁ (79.2±2.2%) and T₂ (79.1±2.5%), when compared with T₂ of the placebo condition (81.1±3.6%, P<0.05). Caffeine intake also increased the time spent on light physical activities in T₁ and T₂ (17±2 and 18±2%), when compared with T₂ of the placebo condition (16±3%, P<0.05). In addition, sedentary time increased and light physical activity time decreased from T₁ to T₂ in the placebo (P<0.001) but not in the caffeine condition (P=0.81). Caffeine intake had no effect on tiredness (P>0.05), but it increased the self-reported physical activity disposition compared to the placebo condition (4.5±2.7 vs 3.2±2.3 units, P<0.05). Caffeine intake reduced the sedentary time and increased the time spent on light physical activities of obese police officers, which seems to be related to a higher disposition for the practice of physical activity.

Pilot scale nanofiltration treatment of olive mill wastewater: a technical and economical evaluation

The treatment of large volumes of olive mill wastewater is presently a challenge. This study reports the technical and economical feasibility of a sequential treatment of olive mill wastewater comprising a dissolved air flotation pre-treatment and nanofiltration. Different pilot nanofiltration assays were conducted in a concentration mode up to different volume reduction factors (29, 45, 58, and 81). Data attained demonstrated that nanofiltration can be operated at considerably high volume reduction factors and still be effective towards the removal of several components. A flux decline of approximately 50% was observed at the highest volume reduction factor, mainly due to increase of the osmotic pressure. Considerably high rejections were obtained across all experiments for total suspended solids (83 to >99%), total organic carbon (64 to 99%), chemical oxygen demand (53 to 77%), and oil and grease (67 to >82%). Treated water was in compliance with European legal limits for discharge regarding total suspended solids and oil and grease. The potential recovery of phenolic compounds was evaluated and found not relevant. It was demonstrated that nanofiltration is economically feasible, involving operation costs of approximately 2.56-3.08 €/m³, depending on the working plan schedule and volume reduction factor, and requiring a footprint of approximately 52 m² to treat 1000 m³ of olive mill wastewater.

Unveiling the effects of the secretome of mesenchymal progenitors from the umbilical cord in different neuronal cell populations

It has been previously shown that the secretome of Human Umbilical Cord Perivascular Cells (HUCPVCs), known for their mesenchymal like stem cell character, is able to increase the metabolic viability and hippocampal neuronal cell densities. However, due to the different micro-environments of the distinct brain regions it is important to study if neurons isolated from different areas have similar, or opposite, reactions when in the presence of HUCPVCs secretome (in the form of conditioned media-CM). In this work we: 1) studied how cortical and cerebellar neuronal primary cultures behaved when incubated with HUCPVCs CM and 2) characterized the differences between CM collected at two different conditioning time points. Primary cultures of cerebellar and cortical neurons were incubated with HUCPVCs CM (obtained 24 and 96 h after three days of culturing). HUCPVCs CM had a higher impact on the metabolic viability and proliferation of cortical cultures, than the cerebellar ones. Regarding neuronal cell densities it was observed that with 24 h CM condition there were higher number MAP-2 positive cells, a marker for fully differentiated neurons; this was, once again, more evident in cortical cultures. In an attempt to characterize the differences between the two conditioning time points a proteomics approach was followed, based on 2D Gel analysis followed by the identification of selected spots by tandem mass spectrometry. Results revealed important differences in proteins that have been previously related with phenomena such as neurl cell viability, proliferation and differentiation, namely 14-3-3, UCHL1, hsp70 and peroxiredoxin-6. In summary, we demonstrated differences on how neurons isolated from different brain regions react to HUCPVCs secretome and we have identified different proteins (14-3-3 and hsp70) in HUCPVCs CM that may explain the above-referred results.

Peripheral mineralization of a 3D biodegradable tubular construct as a way to enhance guidance stabilization in spinal cord injury regeneration

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) present a major challenge to therapeutic development due to its complexity. Combinatorial approaches using biodegradable polymers that can simultaneously provide a tissue scaffold, a cell vehicle, and a reservoir for sustained drug delivery have shown very promising results. In our previous studies we have developed a novel hybrid system consisting of starch/poly-e-caprolactone (SPCL) semi-rigid tubular porous structure, based on a rapid prototyping technology, filled by a gellan gum hydrogel concentric core for the regeneration within spinal-cord injury sites. In the present work we intend to promote enhanced osteointegration on these systems by pre-mineralizing specifically the external surfaces of the SPCL tubular structures, though a biomimetic strategy, using a sodium silicate gel as nucleating agent. The idea is to create two different cell environments to promote axonal regeneration in the interior of the constructs while inducing osteogenic activity on its external surface. By using a Teflon cylinder to isolate the interior of the scaffold, it was possible to observe the formation of a bone-like poorly crystalline carbonated apatite layer continuously formed only in the external side of the tubular structure. This biomimetic layer was able to support the adhesion of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells, which have gone under cytoskeleton reorganization in the first hours of culture when compared to cells cultured on uncoated scaffolds. This strategy can be a useful route for locally stimulate bone tissue regeneration and facilitating early bone ingrowth.

Endovascular treatment of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas with cortical venous drainage: new management using Onyx

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

DAVFs (dural arteriovenous fistulas) represent one of the most dangerous types of intracranial AV shunts. Most of them are cured by arterial or venous embolization, but surgery/radiosurgery can be required in case of failure. Our goal was to reconsider the endovascular treatment strategy according to the new possibilities of arterial embolization using non polymerizing liquid embolic agent.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty patients were included in a prospective study during the interval between July 2003 and November 2006. Ten of these had type II, 8 had type III, and 12 had type IV fistulas. Sixteen presented with hemorrhage. Five had been treated previously with other embolic materials.

RESULTS

Complete angiographic cure was obtained in 24 cases. Of these 24 cures, 20 were achieved after a single procedure. Cures were achieved in 23 of 25 patients who had not been embolized previously and in only 1 of 5 previously embolized patients. Among these 24 patients, 23 underwent a follow-up angiography, which has confirmed the complete cure. Partial occlusion was obtained in 6 patients, 2 were cured after additional surgery, and 2 underwent radiosurgery. Onyx volume injected per procedure ranged from 0.5 to 12.2 mL (mean, 2.45 mL). Rebleeding occurred in 1 completely cured patient at day 2 due to draining vein thrombosis. One patient had cranial nerve palsy that resolved. Two ethmoidal dural arteriovenous fistulas were occluded. All 10 of the patients with sinus and then CVR drainage were cured.

CONCLUSION

Based on this experience, we believe that Onyx may be the treatment of choice for many patients with intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula (ICDAVF) with direct cortical venous reflux (CVR). The applicability of this new embolic agent indicates the need for reconsideration of the global treatment strategy for such fistulas.

Hipertensão arterial na Ilha do Governador, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil: I. Metodologia

Este primeiro artigo (de uma série de dois) tem como finalidade apresentar os principais aspectos da metodologia empregada em um estudo de população para determinar a prevalência de Hipertensão Arterial na Ilha do Governador (região administrativa do município do Rio de Janeiro), e estudar sua relação com outros fatores de risco, inclusive para doenças cardiovasculares, assim como conhecer o seu estado de controle. São descritos com detalhes o delineamento amostral (amostragem de aglomerados em estratos, segundo renda média domiciliar) e os instrumentos de coleta de dados. São apresentados, ainda, indicadores de desempenho no trabalho de campo e do controle de qualidade.

[Sneddon syndrome. Report of 3 cases]

The Sneddon's syndrome consists of neurologic manifestations associated to the presence of livedo reticularis and cyanosis of the extremities. The pathological process is an endothelial obliteration of arterioles, leading to a reticular appearance of the skin, despite the environment temperature. The authors present three new cases, caucasian males with 7, 16 and 54 years of age. The youngest started with hemilateralized motor seizures and showed a porencefalic area in the CT scan. The oldest had livedo reticularis, acrocyanosis and started with hemilateralized motor seizures, and a hemiparesis as sequela; CT scan with parasagittal infarct and occlusion presented of one anterior cerebral artery on angiography. The third patient started with hemifacial seizures, developed a labioglossolaringeal paresis and dysarthria as sequela; CT scan and MRI showed multiple infarcts, with multiple occlusions of cortical branches on angiography. The skin biopsies showed endothelial vascular hyperplasia in all cases. Only one (54 years old) patient had a positive IgG antiphospholipid antibodies. The Sneddon's syndrome seems not to be so rare and have to be considered in the etiological investigation of cerebral infarcts, mainly in young people.

Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa in a child with positive antiphospholipid and P-ANCA

A case of juvenile cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa (cutaneous PAN) is presented. Since early infancy the child underwent attacks of fever and cutaneous rash that occasionally progressed to gangrene and amputations of distal portions of toes and fingers. Although occasional episodes of high blood pressure and persistence of moderate eosinophilia were present, the clinical pattern was mostly restricted to the musculoskeletal system and skin. The authors discuss the definition of the disease and its present therapeutic possibilities, calling attention to a feature not referred in previous reports: the unique co-existence of cutaneous PAN plus antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (p-ANCA).

[Microsporum nanum. Report of the 2d case of human infection in Brazil]

É comunicado o segundo caso de infecção humana por Microsporum nanum no Brasil. A investigação epidemiológica visando determinar a fonte de infecção não obteve sucesso. O padrão dermatológico das lesões foi o de Tinea corporis clássica.