Abstract Background: Exercise tests are an important tool in the investigation of myocardial ischemia. The ramp protocol has gained increasing importance in clinical practice because of the possibility of individualizing its exercise intensity. Objective: To assess and compare the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of Bruce and ramp protocols for exercise testing in the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia considering myocardial perfusion scintigraphy as the reference standard. Secondary objectives included the assessment of hemodynamic profiles, functional capacity, and the incidence of arrhythmias in each of the protocols. Methods: Participants underwent exercise testing using the ramp and Bruce protocols, and the tests’ diagnostic power was assessed. For testing the difference between data provided by both protocols, we used a paired Student's t-test or Wilcoxon test, depending on the assumption of data normality. The level of significance adopted for all tests was 5%. Results: The ramp protocol showed sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy values of 55.6%, 82.4%, and 76.7%, respectively, whereas the Bruce protocol had results of 77.8%, 64.7%, and 67.4%, respectively. The maximum heart rate and double product at peak exercise were significantly higher in the Bruce protocol (p = 0.043 and p = 0.040, respectively). No differences were observed between the incidence of arrhythmias in both protocols. Conclusion: The Bruce protocol presented higher sensitivity for detecting ischemia on the exercise test, while the ramp protocol presented higher specificity and accuracy.

Abstract To support threatened plant conservation, Bogor Botanic Gardens (BBG) has reintroduced 5 threatened plant species in Ujung Kulon National Park (UKNP) in 2009 and 2014. All reintroduced plants were propagated from seeds of BBG living collections, except Vatica bantamensis which came from wildings collected in UKNP. After transplantation in 2009, the survival and growth rate was monitored at six months, one year and eight years period, while those transplanted in 2014 were only monitored in 2017. The average survival rate varied depending on species and reintroduction sites, with the highest and lowest values being observed for Diospyros macrophylla at Dungus Balang and V. bantamensis at Legon Pakis, respectively. Seedlings transplanted at sites with more open canopy cover grew taller with larger diameters. Based on this study, local communities’ involvement through seedling supervision, prevention and reduction of disturbances as well as post-planting management were very important for the reintroduction success.

The use of agricultural waste material in the production of bioethanol can provide an alternative to fossil fuels that is renewable and readily available. This research sought to use a combination of chemical pretreatments to make available reducing sugars from sugarcane bagasse and trash for fermentation into bioethanol. A combination of alkali and peroxide was used. These results indicate that pretreatment with alkali peroxide is quite effective in reducing the levels of hemicellulose sugars and lignin in particular. The slight changes in cellulose quantities are an indication that alkali peroxide preatreatment conserves the quantities of cellulose and does not result in a loss in cellulose as compared to other pretreatment processes such as acid hydrolysis. The drawback is that this can also mean that the crystalline structure of the cellulose was not disturbed, which could slow down downstream processes of enzyme hydrolysis and subsequent fermentation. The pretreated bagasse contained significantly higher levels cellulose of 48 % and 63 % after pretreatment with 3 % and 5 % alkali peroxide, respectively. This represents a 28 % increase and a 70 % increase, respectively, in available exposed cellulose for use in further processes of enzyme hydrolysis and fermentation.

Resumo Durante a inserção de implantes dentários partículas de titânio podem ser liberadas na região peri-implantar levando ao processo de osteólise e a associação com a bactéria pode exacerbar ainda mais a reação inflamatória. Entretanto, a associação de uma bactéria altamente invasiva da cavidade oral, Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) e partículas de titânio ainda não foi investigada. Este estudo avaliou a reação pró-inflamatória de macrófagos humanos em contato com micro e nanopartículas de titânio associada a lipopolissacarídeo P. gingivalis (PgLPS). As células THP-1 foram utilizadas e tratadas durante 12, 24 e 48 h nos 6 seguintes grupos: Controle (C), PgLPS (L); micropartículas (M); nanopartículas (N); PgLPS e micropartículas (LM); PgLPS e nanopartículas (LN). Em seguida foram realizados os seguintes ensaios: i) a viabilidade celular utilizando MTS, ii) a morfologia celular por MEV e iii) expressão do fator de necrose tumoral alfa (TNF-α), interleucina-1 beta (IL-1β) e interleucina 6 (IL-6) por qRT-PCR e ELISA. Como estatística foi realizado o teste ANOVA two-way seguido pelo teste de Tukey (p<0,05). Após o tratamento, as células apresentaram viabilidade e morfologia semelhantes, demonstrando que os tratamentos não foram capazes de induzir a morte celular. A expressão de genes foi significativamente mais elevada para o TNF-α e IL1-β após 12h, e para a IL-6 após 24 horas em N e grupos de LN. A produção de citocinas em relação ao tempo representou uma curva ascendente para o TNF-α com o pico em 48 h, enquanto que para IL1-β e IL-6 se apresentou como uma linha reta com relação ao tempo, exceto pelo grupo N que foi significativo para IL-6 em 48 h . Conclui-se, a partir destes resultados, que as nanopartículas de titânio produziram o maior estímulo na resposta pró-inflamatória nos macrófagos, independente da sua associação com LPS de P. gingivalis.

Abstract During insertion of titanium dental implants, particles may shear from the implant to the periimplant region causing osteolysis, and their association with bacteria can exacerbate the inflammatory reaction. However, the association of a high invasive bacterium from the oral cavity, Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), and titanium particles remains unknown. This study evaluated pro-inflammatory reaction of human macrophages in contact with micro and nanoparticles of titanium associated with Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (PgLPS). THP-1 cell were used and treated for 12, 24 and 48 h following 6 groups: Control(C), PgLPS (L); Microparticles (M); Nanoparticles (N); PgLPS and microparticles (LM); PgLPS and nanoparticles (LN). The following assays were carried out: i) cell viability using MTS, ii) cell morphology by SEM and iii) expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by qRT-PCR and ELISA. For statistics two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test was used (p<0.05). After treatment, cells presented similar viability and morphology demonstrating that the treatments were not able to induce cell death. Gene expression was significantly higher for TNF-α and IL1-β after 12 h, and for IL-6 after 24 h in the N and LN groups. Cytokine production over time was an ascending curve for TNF-α with the peak at 48 h and IL1-β and IL-6 had a straight line among the time points, although cells from N group presented a significant production of IL-6 at 48 h. In conclusion, these results suggest that titanium nanoparticles stimulate stronger pro-inflammatory response in macrophages, independent of their association with LPS from P.gingivalis.

Bioethanol production is one of the most promising possible substitutes for fossil-based fuels, but there is a need to make available cost-effective methods of production if it is to be successful. Various methods for the production of bioethanol using different feedstocks have been explored. Bioethanol synthesis from sugarcane, their tops and leaves have generally been regarded as waste and discarded. This investigation examined the use of lignocellulosic sugarcane leaves and tops as biomass and evaluated their hydrolysate content. The leaves and tops were hydrolysed using concentrated and dilute sulphuric acid and compared with a combination of oxidative alkali-peroxide pre-treatment with enzyme hydrolysis using the enzyme cellulysin® cel-lulase. Subsequent fermentation of the hydrolysates into bioethanol was done using the yeast saccha-romyces cerevisae. The problem of acid hydrolysis to produce inhibitors was eliminated by overliming using calcium hydroxide and this treatment was subsequently compared with sodium hydroxide neutralisation. It was found that oxidative alkali pre-treatment with enzyme hydrolysis gave the highest yield of fermentable sugars of 38% (g/g) for 7% (v/v) peroxide pretreated biomass than 36% (g/g) for 5% (v/v) with the least inhibitors. Concentrated and dilute acid hydrolysis each gave yields of 25% (g/g) and 22% (g/g) respectively, although the acid required a neutralisation step, resulting in dilution. Alkaline neutralisation of acid hydrolysates using sodium hydroxide resulted in less dilution and loss of fermentable sugars, compared with overliming. Higher yields of bioethanol of 13.7 g/l were obtained from enzyme hydrolysates than the 6.9 g/l ethanol from dilute acid hydrolysates. There was more bioethanol yield of 13.7 g/l after 72 hours of fermentation with the yeast than the 7.0 g/l bioethanol after 24 hours.This research showed that it is possible to use sugarcane waste material to supplement biofuel requirements and that combining the chemical and biological methods of pretreat-ments can give higher yields at a faster rate.

Gas chromatography mass spectrophotometer (GCMS) analysis of Ficus tricopoda gum indicated the presence of 4.75, 56.15, 32.10 and 7.00 % of camphene, sucrose, 2-methylene cholestan-3-ol and 7-hexadecenal, respectively. Several stretching and bending vibrations were observed in the Fourier transformed infra-red (FTIR) spectrum of the gum. Physicochemical examinations of the gum revealed that it is pale yellow in colour, mildly acidic, ionic and display characteristics of sour taste. The solubility of the gum in water was found to increase with increase in temperature. Knowledge of the chemical constitution of the gum (hence chemical structures of its constituents) was useful in predicting the corrosion inhibition potential of Ficus tricopoda (FT) gum. Consequently, the gum was found to be a good adsorption inhibitor for the corrosion of aluminum in solution of H2SO4. The adsorption of the gum (which, followed first order kinetic) was found to be endothermic at FT gum critical concentration of 0.3 g/L and exothermic at concentrations above the critical limit. The short coming of the Langmuir adsorption model in describing the existent of interaction between the molecules of the gum was complimented by the Frumkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich adsorption models. Calculated values of activation and free energies of activation indicated that the adsorption of Ficus tricopoda gum on Al surface exhibited both physical and chemical adsorption mechanism.

FUNDAMENTO: A reestenose pós-intervenção coronariana percutânea primária permanece um problema de relevância clínica, mesmo com o implante de stents. A capacidade das provas não invasivas para detecção de reestenose não foi totalmente demonstrada. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a habilidade do teste ergométrico (TE) e da cintilografia de perfusão miocárdica (CPM) no diagnóstico de reestenose em pacientes com infarto agudo do miocárdio, e supradenivelamento do segmento ST, submetidos à angioplastia coronariana percutânea primária (ACPP), com implante de stent nas primeiras 12 horas de evolução. MÉTODOS: De Ago/2003-Jan/2006, foram selecionados 64 pacientes (ps) (56,2 ± 10,2 anos, 53 homens) submetidos à ACPP. Apenas ps com fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo > 40,0%, definida por ecocardiograma de repouso, foram incluídos. Teste ergométrico, com as 12 derivações do ECG associadas a precordiais direitas, e CPM foram realizados 6 semanas, 6 meses e um ano após o tratamento. Foi realizada cinecoronariografia no 6º mês. RESULTADOS: Doença uniarterial ocorreu em 46,9% dos ps, sendo a artéria descendente anterior tratada em 48,4%. Reestenose angiográfica ocorreu em 28,8%. Sensibilidade, especificidade, valor preditivo positivo (VPP), valor preditivo negativo (VPN) e acurácia do TE para detecção de reestenose não foram significativos. A adição de derivações precordiais direitas não proporcionou informações adicionais. Sensibilidade, especificidade, VPP, VPN e acurácia da CPM apresentaram correlação com reestenose apenas no 6º mês, considerando-se summed difference score > 2 (p = 0,006) e > 4 (p = 0,014). CONCLUSÃO: O TE não discriminou reestenose. A CPM realizada no 6º mês foi relacionada à reestenose e mostrou-se útil durante a evolução.

BACKGROUND: Restenosis after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) remains an important clinical problem, even with stent implantation. The ability of noninvasive testing to diagnose restenosis has had only inconsistent demonstration. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate the ability of exercise treadmill testing (ETT) and myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) to diagnose restenosis in patients treated by PPCI within 12 hours of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: From August 2003 to January 2006, 64 patients (mean age of 56.2±10.2 years, 53 males) were enrolled after PPCI. Only patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) > 40%, as assessed by resting transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), were included. ETT with 12-lead ECG monitoring and right precordial leads, as also MPI were performed at 6 weeks, 6 months, and one year after intervention. Coronary angiography was performed at six months. RESULTS: Single-vessel disease was observed in 46.9% of the patients. The left anterior descending coronary artery was treated in 48.4% of the patients. Angiographic restenosis occurred in 28.8%. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of ETT in detecting restenosis were not significant. Right precordial leads did not add information. MPI sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy correlated with restenosis only in the 6-month follow-up, both when considering summed difference score >2 (p=0.006) and >4 (p=0.014). CONCLUSION: ETT did not discriminate restenosis in this population. MPI performed at 6 months correlated with restenosis and proved useful during follow-up.

Estudou-se o efeito do etefom nas doses de 0,96, 1,44 e 1,92kg/ha, do tidiazurom, a 0,075kg/ha, e de misturas contendo 0,48 + 0,05, 0,96 + 0,05 e 1,44 + 0,05kg/ha de etefom e de tidiazurom, respectivamente, na desfolha do algodoeiro e na deiscência e seus frutos. Avaliações realizadas aos 7 e aos 14 dias após a pulverização dos produtos e de suas misturas indicaram que os mesmos, excetuando-se a dose 0,96kg/ha isolada de etefom e aos 7 dias após a aplicação, promoveram sensível desfolha do algodoeiro. O etefom acelerou a deiscência dos capuchos do algodoeiro a partir da dose 1,44kg/ha, o que não se observou para o tidiazurom. Os resultados indicaram que os produtos, quando aplicados conjuntamente, não possuem ação antagônica. Os diversos tratamentos não diferiram estatisticamente entre si na produção de algodão.

The defoliation and fruit dehiscence of cotton plants were evaluated by applications of Ethephon (rates: 0.96, 1.44 and 1.92kg/ha). Thidiazuron (0.075kg/ha) and the mixture of both Ethephon plus Thidiazuron (0.48 + 0.05, 0.96 + 0.05, and 1.44 + 0.05kg/ha, respectively). The mixture of the products was done in the sprayer tank. Observations of the cotton plants were carried out at seven and fourteen days after application of the products. Except for the application of Ethephon at the rate of 0.96kg/ha, it was observed that the three treatments were effective in promoting cotton defoliation. It was also verified that Ethephon at the rates of 1.44kg/ha accelerated fruit dehiscence while Thidiazuron did not. Antagonic action of the products was observed when applied in mixture. The isolated application of the products or the mixture had no effect on cotton yield.