RESUMO: Microtomografia computadorizada é o exame padrão-ouro para a avaliação da estrutura tridimensional do osso. Este estudo experimental foi desenvolvido para avaliar a estrutura e a qualidade óssea de jacarés-do-pantanal (Caiman yacare) com doença óssea metabólica utilizando a microtomografia computadorizada (μCT) de Alta Resolução. Os animais foram distribuídos em quatro grupos, G1 - dieta hiperfosfatêmica com privação de luz solar (n=4), G2 - dieta hiperfosfatêmica com exposição à luz solar (n=4), G3 - dieta balanceada com privação de luz solar (n=4) e G4 - dieta balanceada com exposição à luz solar (n=4). Avaliaram-se os parâmetros para o osso trabecular (Número de Trabéculas, Espessura Trabecular, Separação Trabecular, Fator do Padrão Ósseo, Dimensão Fractal, Número de Euler, Índice do Modelo Estrutural, Grau de Anisotropia, Autovalores 1, 2 e 3 e Centroides X, Y e Z) e osso cortical (Número de Poros Fechados, Volume dos Poros Fechados, Superfície de Poros Fechados, Porosidade Fechada, Volume de Poros Abertos, Porosidade Aberta e Porosidade Total). Os resultados gerais evidenciaram que a estrutura e a qualidade óssea dos grupos G3 e G4 foram superiores aos dos grupos G1 e G2, sendo que o fator dieta influenciou mais do que o fator exposição solar. A Microtomografia Computadorizada permitiu avaliar a qualidade dos ossos cortical e trabecular da tíbia de jacarés do pantanal com doença osteometabólica. Os fatores dieta e exposição solar influenciaram individualmente no resultado dos parâmetros do μCT entre os grupos, demonstrando a complexidade funcional e estrutural. Assim, esses parâmetros podem contribuir na interpretação do comportamento mecânico dos ossos e correlacioná-los com o risco de lesões e fraturas associadas às doenças osteometabólicas.

ABSTRACT: Computerized microtomography is the gold standard examination for the evaluation of the three-dimensional bone structure. This experiment was developed to evaluate the structure and bone quality of Caiman yacare with metabolic bone disease using high resolution computerized microtomography (μCT). The animals were distributed into four groups: G1 - hyperphosphatemic diet with sun exposure deprivation (n=4), G2 - hyperphosphatemic diet with sun exposure (n=4), G3 - balanced diet with sun exposure deprivation (n=4), and G4 - balanced diet with exposure to sunlight (n=4). The parameters for the trabecular bone (Trabecular Number, Trabecular Thickness, Trabecular Separation, Bone Pattern Factor, Fractal Dimension, Euler Number, Structural Model Index, Degree of Anisotropy, Eigenvalues 1, 2 and 3, and Centroides X, Y and Z), and cortical bone (Number of Closed Pores, Volume of Closed Pores, Surface of Closed Pores, Closed Porosity, Volume of Open Pores, Open Porosity and Total Porosity). The overall results showed that the structure and bone quality of group G3 and G4 were better than those of groups G1 and G2, and that the diet factor influenced more than the sun exposure factor. The computerized microtomography allowed to evaluate the quality of the cortical and trabecular bones of the Pantanal alligator tibia with osteometabolic disease. The diet and sun exposure factors influenced individually the results of the μCT parameters between the groups, demonstrating the functional and structural complexity. Thus, these parameters can contribute to the interpretation of the mechanical behavior of bones and correlate them with the risk of lesions and fractures associated with osteometabolic diseases.

The ionic conductivity values of the ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMI.BF4) and ethylene glycol (EG) electrolytes in different concentrations and over a wide temperature range were determined. The results are discussed in terms of the interactions between the cations and anions of the ionic liquid and the organic solvent. The temperaturedependence of the ionic conductivity for BMI.BF4, as well as solutions containing BMI.BF4 and EG as electrolytes, in the temperature range of 248-358 K, obeys the Vogel-Tammann-Fulcher equation. The highest ionic conductivity was 42 mS cm-1 obtained with a solution of BMI.BF4 in EG at a molar fraction of 0.50 (358 K) due to the high ionic mobility. The critical micellar concentration (cmc) of 0.1 mol L-1 determined through the ionic conductivity indicates that BMI.BF4 behaves as a weak electrolyte above this value. The results obtained indicate that binary solutions based on BMI.BF4 and EG are appropriate for use in technological applications, such as capacitors.

A polipose nasossinusal eosinofílica é uma afecção comum a várias doenças, determina acometimento extenso dos seios paranasais e possui grande tendência à recidiva após tratamento. Os eosinófilos exercem papel essencial na patogênese, relacionada a baixo índice de apoptose e a longa permanência destas células ativas nos tecidos. OBJETIVO: Este estudo teve por objetivo avaliar o efeito da mitomicina C na indução de apoptose em eosinófilos presentes no estroma de pólipos nasais eosinofílicos. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Caso controle. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: O estudo foi auto-pareado, com 9 amostras cultivadas em meio RPMI 1640 e avaliadas em zero, 12 e 24 horas. O grupo estudo recebeu mitomicina C numa concentração de 400µg/ml durante 5 minutos. Em cada tempo as duas culturas, controle e estudo, foram submetidas a estudo histopatológico para determinação do índice apoptótico. Utilizou-se a coloração hematoxilina-eosina com aumento microscópico de 1000x. RESULTADO: Pela análise de 674 campos digitalizados observou-se que as culturas tratadas com mitomicina C apresentaram índice apoptótico em 12 horas significativamente maior em relação ao grupo controle (p< 0,001). CONCLUSÃO: Concluiu-se que a mitomicina C é eficaz na indução de apoptose em eosinófilos presentes em estroma de pólipos nasais eosinofílicos.

The eosinophilic nasal polyposis occurs as a manifestation of several diseases. It affects multiple nasal sinuses and presents with high relapsing rates after current treatment. The eosinophils play an essencial role in the pathogenesis through their low apoptosis rates and the long periods of remaining in the tissues in an active form. AIM: During the present study the effect of C-mitomycin was observed in the apoptosis induction of stromal eosinophils in eosinophilic nasal polyps. STUDY DESIGN: Case control. MATERIALS AND METHOD: During this auto-matched study, 9 samples of eosinophilic nasal polyps were cultivated in RPMI 1640 medium and then evaluated at the beginning, and after 12 and 24 hours of incubation. The study group was submitted to C-mitomycin in a 400 µg/ml concentration during 5 minutes. Both control and study group cultures were evaluated histopathologically and their apoptotic rates were determined. They were stained using hematoxilin-eosin and observed through microscopic enhancement of 1000 times. RESULTS: The analysis of 674 digitalized fields showed that those cultures treated with C-mitomycin achieved significantly higher apoptotic rate after 12 hours of incubation when compared to control group rate (p<0,001). CONCLUSION: This study supports that C-mitomycin is efficacious in the induction of the apoptosis of stromal eosinophils in eosinophilic nasal polyps.

O melanoma maligno da mucosa nasossinusal é um tumor indubitavelmente raro e agressivo que acomete pacientes acima dos sessenta anos e não tem associação com o sexo. A obstrução nasal e a epistaxe são os sintomas mais freqüentemente relatados, embora a sintomatologia seja tardia e inespecífica, o que retarda o diagnóstico e piora o prognóstico. A abordagem tradicional tem sido o tratamento cirúrgico; a radioterapia é também utilizada, entretanto sua eficácia ainda é discutida. O objetivo desse trabalho é relatar dois casos da doença em mucosa nasossinusal e realizar uma revisão da literatura sobre o assunto.

Malignant melanoma of the sinonasal mucosa is undoubtedly a rare and aggressive tumor, which affects patients over sixty years of age and is not associated with gender. Nasal obstruction and epistaxis are the most frequently reported symptoms, although the presentation is late and unspecific, which delays the diagnosis and worsens the prognosis. The traditional approach has been surgical treatment; radiotherapy has also been used; however its effectiveness remains uncertain. The purpose of the present study is to report two cases of malignant melanoma of the sinonasal mucosa and present a literature review.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical profiles, predictors of 30-day mortality, and the adherence to international recommendations for the treatment of myocardial infarction in an academic medical center hospital. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 172 patients with acute myocardial infarction, admitted in the intensive care unit from January 1992 to December 1997. RESULTS: Most patients were male (68%), white (97%), and over 60 years old (59%). The main risk factor for coronary atherosclerotic disease was systemic blood hypertension (63%). Among all the variables studied, reperfusion therapy, smoking, hypertension, cardiogenic shock, and age were the predictors of 30-day mortality. Most commonly used medications were: acetylsalicylic acid (71%), nitrates (61%), diuretics (51%), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (46%), thrombolytic therapy (39%), and beta-blockers (35%). CONCLUSION: The absence of reperfusion therapy, smoking status, hypertension, cardiogenic shock, and advanced age are predictors of 30-day mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction. In addition, some medications that are undoubtedly beneficial have been under-used after acute myocardial infarction.

Descreve-se o comportamento epidemiológico do tétano no Rio Grande do Sul, através da análise de 136 fichas epidemiológicas de pacientes acometidos pela doença em todo o Estado. As gestantes e os escolares foram detectados como os principais grupos populacionais a serem vacinados, reduzindo-se com esta medida, a longo prazo, 80% do problema.

The epidemiologic situation of tetanus in Rio Grande do Sul is described, based on the analysis of 136 individual case reports. It was observed that the most important groups to be vaccinated were pregnant women and school-age children. By developing this strategy an 80% reduction of the problem can be achieved over a long period.

Descreve-se o comportamento epidemiológico do tétano no Rio Grande do Sul, através da análise de 136 fichas epidemiológicas de pacientes acometidos pela doença em todo o Estado. As gestantes e os escolares foram detectados como os principais grupos populacionais a serem vacinados, reduzindo-se com esta medida, a longo prazo, 80% do problema.

The epidemiologic situation of tetanus in Rio Grande do Sul is described, based on the analysis of 136 individual case reports. It was observed that the most important groups to be vaccinated were pregnant women and school-age children. By developing this strategy an 80% reduction of the problem can be achieved over a long period.