Fat Distribution and Lipid Profile of Young Adults with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Due to 21-Hydroxylase Enzyme Deficiency

We aimed to compare detailed fat distribution and lipid profile between young adults with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase enzyme deficiency and a control group. We also verified independent associations of treatment duration and daily hydrocortisone dose equivalent (HDE) with lipid profile within patients. This case–control study included 23 patients (7 male and 16 female) matched by an age range of young adults (18–31 years) with 20 control subjects (8 male and 12 female). Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure the fat distribution. Male patients demonstrated elevated indices of fat mass for total (7.7 ± 2.1 vs. 4.5 ± 1.3 kg/m², p = 0.003), trunk (4.0 ± 1.2 vs. 2.2 ± 0.8 kg/m², p = 0.005), android (0.63 ± 0.24 vs. 0.32 ± 0.15 kg/m², p = 0.008), gynoid (1.34 ± 0.43 vs. 0.74 ± 0.24 kg/m², p = 0.005), arm (0.65 ± 0.16 vs. 0.39 ± 0.10 kg/m², p = 0.009), and leg regions (2.7 ± 0.8 vs. 1.6 ± 0.4 kg/m², p = 0.005) than the control group, but not in females. However, female patients demonstrated elevated ratio of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (1.90 ± 0.46 vs. 1.39 ± 0.47, p = 0.009) than the control group, but not in males. Total fat mass was inversely correlated with total testosterone (r = −0.64, p = 0.014) and positively correlated with leptin in males (r = 0.75, p = 0.002). An elevated daily HDE (β = 0.43, p = 0.038 and β = 0.47, p = 0.033) and trunk to total fat mass ratio (β = 0.46, p = 0.025, and β = 0.45, p = 0.037) were independently correlated with impaired lipid profile markers. Although there is no altered lipid profile, male patients demonstrated an increased fat distribution. However, female patients presented with an impaired lipid profile marker but demonstrated close values of normal fat distribution. Interestingly, the dose of glucocorticoid therapy can have some role in the lipid mechanisms.     

Biodegradation of poly(lactic acid)—cassava bagasse composites produced by injection molding

Neat poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and PLA/cassava bagasse (CB) composites were used to produce seedling tubes by extrusion and injection molding. The tubes were buried in simulated soil, and their biodegradation was investigated by weight loss, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). After 180 days, the composites' biodegradation was higher than neat PLA material, and the higher the CB content, the higher the biodegradation, which caused fissures and voids in the material. The biodegradation of PLA/CB composites increased the phosphorus content in the soil after 180 days. Composites of PLA with CB, an abundant agro-industrial residue in Brazil, are promising because they can reduce the environmental impact due to CB's proper destination, and the composites' costs and biodegradation are faster than pure PLA material. Both the faster biodegradation of the tube and the higher P content are advantageous for seedling tubes.     

Ionic conductivities and high resolution microscopic evaluation of grain and grain boundaries of cerium-based codoped solid electrolytes

Doped CeGdO and codoped CeGdOSmO compositions were synthesized, giving rise to nanoparticulate powders. Ionic conductivities at bulk and grain boundaries of the sintered samples were determined, exhibiting increased conductivity in the samaria-codoped samples. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed a significant reduction in the grain size of samaria-codoped electrolytes. This reduced grain size of the codoped samples caused a reduction in Schottky barrier height, increasing oxygen vacancy concentration in the space-charge layer of the grain boundary and culminating in greater ionic conductivity in the boundary region. For the gadolinium doped samples, high resolution transmission electron microscopy images at grains showed the presence of large cluster of defects (nanodomains), hindering the movement of charge carriers and reducing ionic conductivity. However, the samaria-codoped system displayed better homogeneity at atomic level, resulting in reduced oxygen vacancy ordering and, consequently, smaller nanodomains and higher bulk (grain) conductivity. The reduced grain sizes and smaller nanodomains caused by codoping favor the ionic conductivity of ceria-based ceramics, doped with gadolinia and codoped with samaria.     

A multiwinding modeling method for high frequency transformers and inductors

This paper presents a method to obtain an electric model for transformers and inductors, including both frequency and geometry effects in the windings, which can be linked with existing core models. One-dimensional distributions for magnetic and electric fields are assumed, and from Maxwell's equations an equivalent electric circuit is easily obtained. This equivalent circuit has been included in analog simulators (Spice, AnalogWorkBench, Saber ...), and comparisons between measured and simulated results are shown, both in time domain and in AC sweep, which verify the model accuracy. The model described in this paper allows designers to deal with key issues in the design of high-frequency magnetic components (copper losses, leakage inductance, skin and proximity effects) by using analog simulators, which are usually more familiar to them than finite-element analysis tools.     

Evaluation of in vitro stability of large unilamellar liposomes coated with a modified polysaccharide (O-palmitoylpullulan)

Aiming at encapsulation of a hydrosoluble drug, large unilamellar liposomes (LUV) of egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) were coated with a natural polysaccharide derivative, O-palmitoylpullulan (OPP), and its in vitro stability evaluated using fluorescent probes. This coating (in OPP/PC weight ratio of 3) improved significantly the in vitro stability of LUV by decreasing both the permeability and fluidity of the liposomal membrane.This paper was accepted for publication after the 1995 Conference of the European Society of Biomaterials, Oporto, Portugal, 10–13 September.     

Development and evaluation of antimicrobial natamycin‐incorporated film in gorgonzola cheese conservation

Conservation of food products depends on product quality and packaging suitability. The objective of this work was to develop and evaluate the antimicrobial efficiency of natamycin‐incorporated film in the production process of Gorgonzola cheese. It aims to optimize the production process and increase shelf‐life and food safety for the consumer. Films with different concentrations of natamycin were produced and tested in Gorgonzola cheeses to evaluate its efficiency against Penicillium roqueforti on the cheese surface. Films with 2 and 4% natamycin presented satisfactory results for fungus inhibition and the amount of natamycin released to the cheese was below that allowed by the legislation. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Laterality, alternation, and perseveration relationships on the T-maze test.

The T-maze test has been used to study several entirely different issues: spontaneous alternation behavior (SAB), perseveration behavior (PB), and behavioral lateralization. Despite the fact that in this test the behavior studied is always the same one (i.e., side choice), the possible relationships among SAB, PB, and lateralization have not been previously evaluated. The present study investigated the relationships among these functions. The results demonstrated that (1) shock increases PB and lateralization decreases SAB, (2) practice increases lateralization and decreases SAB but does not modify PB, and (3) there are sex differences for alternation and SAB. Because these functions are expressed by the same behavioral pattern, they must be quantified simultaneously to avoid mistaken conclusions when the T-maze test is used. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Nephelometric study of salivary protein–tannin aggregates

Grape seed procyanidins were fractionated through different degrees of polymerisation, and human saliva was purified and separated into two fractions: one was mostly α‐amylase and the other was essentially proline‐rich proteins (PRPs). The interaction of these proteins with the procyanidin compounds was assayed using nephelometry, and the influence of several factors was investigated, such as degree of polymerisation, pH and concentrations of both protein and tannin. The same experiments were performed with bovine serum albumin (BSA). The amount of insoluble aggregates, resulting from the formation of polyphenol–protein aggregates, increased quickly up to a maximum value which thereafter remained practically unchanged. pH was set at 5.0 for all further assays, since it was the nearest value to that encountered in human saliva (pH 5.6–7.9), where proteins were stable and had a maximum ability to bind and precipitate procyanidin oligomers. These proteins were shown to have a strong affinity for procyanidin oligomers and were unable to resolubilise the polyphenol–protein aggregates when present in excess. PRPs required a much lower content to bind all the tannins (400 µg of procyanidin oligomers) than BSA and especially α‐amylase (48, 60 and 132 µg respectively). The procyanidin's ability to bind PRPs, BSA and α‐amylase increased with its average molecular weight. This ability increased regularly for PRPs up to 4500 Da, whereas the ability to bind the globular proteins decreased beyond 3400 Da. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry