RESUMO Pela questão ambiental aumentou-se a procura por materiais que utilizem mais recursos naturais e renováveis, como os polímeros reforçados com fibras naturais. São realizados tratamentos superficiais para a melhor adesão da fibra na matriz polimérica, o mais comum é a merceirização através de solução de NaOH. A fibra de coco foi analisada em quatro condições: variando entre tratadas e não tratadas, seca em estufa e seca naturalmente. Em seguida foram analisadas por ensaio de tração, microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e tomografia de raio x para estudar as características mecânicas, morfológicas e observar a adesão ao polímero. Após o tratamento químico ocorreu a remoção da lignina e hemicelulose da superfície da fibra. Nas fibras tratadas e secas surgiram microfissuras que podem comprometer as propriedades mecânicas. Através do processamento das imagens das secções transversais da fibra foi obtida uma área efetiva entre 39,6% e 43,3%. Para as fibras abaixo de 300 µm a resistência a tração converge para 20 a 60 MPa e o módulo de elasticidade entre 1 e 3 GPa. Os tratamentos aumentaram a resistência a tração e módulo de elasticidade das fibras, contribuindo para a utilização de fibra de coco como reforço em polímeros.

ABSTRACT Due to the environmental issue, the demand for materials that use more natural and renewable resources increased, such as natural fibers reinforced polymers. Surface treatments are performed for better adhesion of the fiber to the polymer matrix, the most common is mercerization through NaOH solution. Coconut fiber was analyzed under four conditions: varying between treated and untreated, oven dried and naturally dried. Then they were analyzed by tensile test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray tomography to study the mechanical and morphological characteristics and observe the adhesion to the polymer. After the chemical treatment, lignin and hemicellulose were removed from the fiber surface. In the treated and dried fibers, micro-cracks appeared that could compromise the mechanical properties. By processing the images of the fiber cross-sections, an effective area between 39.6% and 43.3% was obtained. For fibers below 300 µm, the tensile strength converges to 20 to 60 MPa and the modulus of elasticity between 1 and 3 GPa. The treatments increased the tensile strength and modulus of elasticity of the fibers, contributing to the use of coconut fiber as reinforcement in polymers.

CONTEXTO: A doença de Alzheimer (DA) é a demência de maior prevalência e está associada a alterações cognitivas, comportamentais e funcionais. Entretanto, faz-se necessário esclarecer a influência do agravamento da doença no declínio dessas funções. OBJETIVO: Comparar funções cognitivas específicas, funções motoras e atividades de vida diária (AVD) de pacientes com DA em diferentes estágios da doença. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliadas as funções cognitivas, as funções motoras e as AVD de 74 pacientes com doença de Alzheimer (35 pacientes CDR1; 20 pacientes CDR2; 19 pacientes CDR3). RESULTADOS: A função motora e a independência das AVD apresentam declínio não linear. Enquanto a função motora apresenta maior declínio na fase leve para moderada, as AVD básicas sofrem maior declínio na fase grave da doença. CONCLUSÃO: O declínio motor é mais importante nas fases moderada e grave, associado a valores de perda de capacidade física e risco de quedas. Verifica-se que a perda de independência para realização das AVD instrumentais dos pacientes é muito maior do que o declínio físico e cognitivo avaliado objetivamente nas três fases da doença.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent dementia, being associated with cognitive, behavioral, and functional alterations. However, clarifying the influence of the disease worsening in the decline of these functions is of major relevance. OBJECTIVE: Compare specific cognitive functions, motor functions and activities of daily living (ADL) of AD patients in different stages of the disease. METHODS: Cognitive and motor functions, as well as ADL of 74 AD patients (35 patients CDR1; 20 patients CDR2; 19 patients CDR3) were evaluated. RESULTS: Motor function and independency in the ADL have presented a non-linear decline. While motor function shows a greater decline from the mild to the moderate phase, ADL present a greater decline in the severe stage of the disease. DISCUSSION: Motor function decline is more evident in both moderate and severe stages of AD, associated with losses in physical capacity and increases in risk of falls. The patients' loss of independency to perform instrumental ADL occurs in a non-linear pattern and it is much greater than both physical and cognitive declines when these parameters are objectively evaluated in the three phases of the disease.

The positivities of two methods for the diagnosis of localised cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) were estimated in 280 patients enrolled in a clinical trial. The trial was conducted in an endemic area of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and trial participants were patients with skin ulcers and positive leishmanin skin tests. Patients underwent aspirative skin punctures of the ulcerated lesions and lymph nodes for in vitro cultures, which were processed under field conditions at the local health centre. Skin lesion biopsies were tested at a reference laboratory using kinetoplastid DNA (kDNA)-PCR to detect DNA. The median time required to obtain a positive culture from the skin samples was seven days and the contamination rate of the samples was 1.8%. The positivities of the cultures from skin lesions, kDNA-PCR and the combination of the two methods were 78.2% (95% CI: 73-82.6%), 89.3% (95% CI: 85.1-92.4%) and 97.1% (95% CI: 94.5-98.5%). We conclude that parasite culture is a feasible method for the detection of Leishmania in field conditions and that the combination of culture and PCR has a potential role for the diagnosis of CL in candidates for clinical trials.

Com o objetivo de testar a eficiência do retalho de pericárdio autógeno pediculado como alternativa para reparar defeitos esofágicos torácicos em felinos, foram estudados doze animais adultos, sendo seis avaliados até 15 dias e os outros seis até 30 dias de pós-operatório. Todos os animais foram submetidos à ressecção esofágica e posterior reparo com pericárdio pediculado. As análises constaram de exames clínicos diários e, ao final do período estabelecido, os animais foram submetidos à eutanásia e necropsiados para avaliação macroscópica e microscópica dos esôfagos. Observou-se proliferação da mucosa esofágica sobre o pericárdio pediculado.

The efficiency of autogenous pericardial flap was evaluated as an alternative surgical procedure for repairing lesion in the thoracic esophagus in the feline. Twelve adult cats were studied. Six animals were observed at the 15th day and other animals at the 30th day. All animals were submitted to esophageal resection and subsequently repair with autogenous pericardial graft. The animals were clinically evaluated after surgery. At the determined period of observation the animals were sacrificed. Gross and microscopic evaluation were done from the surgical site at the esopahagus. An esophageal mucous membrane proliferation was identified on most of the grafts.