VN2222 (1-(benzo[b]thiophen-3-yl)-3-[4-(2-methoxiphenyl piperazin-1-yl]propan-1-ol) is a potentia... more VN2222 (1-(benzo[b]thiophen-3-yl)-3-[4-(2-methoxiphenyl piperazin-1-yl]propan-1-ol) is a potential antidepressant with high affinity for the serotonin transporter and 5-HT(1A) receptors. Locally applied, VN2222 enhanced the extracellular 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) concentration (5-HT(ext)) in rat striatum to 780% of baseline whereas its systemic administration (1-10 mg/kg s.c.) reduced 5-HT(ext). In the presence of citalopram, 8-OH-DPAT or VN2222 applied in medial prefrontal cortex reduced 5-HT(ext). Fluoxetine, VN2222, and 8-OH-DPAT suppressed the firing rate of dorsal raphe 5-HT neurons (ED(50): 790, 14.9, and 0.8 microg/kg i.v., respectively). These effects were antagonized by WAY 100635. Administration of VN2222 for 2 weeks desensitized 5-HT(1A) receptors as assessed by microdialysis and single-unit recordings (ED(50) values for 8-OH-DPAT were 0.45 and 2.34 microg/kg i.v. for controls and rats treated with 6 mg/kg day VN2222). These results show that VN2222 is a mixed 5-HT reupt...
2006 First European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, 2006
Abstract Ground wave propagation is characteristic of lower frequency bands, as LF (30à ¿ 300 kH... more Abstract Ground wave propagation is characteristic of lower frequency bands, as LF (30à ¿ 300 kHz) and MF (300à ¿ 3000 kHz), and allows the radio coverage of extremely large areas from a single high-power transmitter. The use of these bands has gained interest in ...
The radio planning of systems in lower frequency bands, such as LF and MF, makes use of ground co... more The radio planning of systems in lower frequency bands, such as LF and MF, makes use of ground conductivity at these frequencies, as it determines the attenuation of the surface wave, characteristic of the propagation in these bands. In this paper, three alternative methods to obtain an estimation of the conductivity are presented and compared. The first one is based
A cytometric method for the estimation of end-point conjugation rates is developed and adapted to... more A cytometric method for the estimation of end-point conjugation rates is developed and adapted to surface conjugation. This method improves the through-put of conjugation assays based on replica-plating and results in less noisy experimental data. Although conjugation on solid surfaces deviates from ideal conditions in which cells are continuously mixed, results show that, within the limits of high initial population densities and short mating times, end-point estimates of the conjugation rates are robust measurements. They are independent of the donor/recipient ratios and, to some extent, of the sampling time. Remixing the mating population in the course of a conjugation experiment results in a boost in the frequency of transconjugants.
The gene regulation function (GRF) provides an operational description of a promoter behavior as ... more The gene regulation function (GRF) provides an operational description of a promoter behavior as a function of the concentration of one of its transcriptional regulators. Behind this apparently trivial definition lies a central concept in biological control: the GRF provides the input/output relationship of each edge in a transcriptional network, independently from the molecular interactions involved. Here we discuss how existing methods allow direct measurement of the GRF, and how several trade-offs between scalability and accuracy have hindered its application to relatively large networks. We discuss the theoretical and technical requirements for obtaining the GRF. Based on these requirements, we introduce a simplified and easily scalable method that is able to capture the significant parameters of the GRF. The GRF is able to predict the behavior of a simple genetic circuit, illustrating how addressing the quantitative nature of gene regulation substantially increases our comprehension on the mechanisms of gene control.
Introdução: Diversas variações da timectomia podem ser realizadas, dentre elas a transesternal am... more Introdução: Diversas variações da timectomia podem ser realizadas, dentre elas a transesternal ampliada. A literatura sugere que, quanto mais extenso o procedimento para ressecção da glândula e tecidos do mediastino anterior, melhores os resultados e prognóstico.
Persistent air leak after pulmonary resection is a difficult complication for thoracic surgeons t... more Persistent air leak after pulmonary resection is a difficult complication for thoracic surgeons to manage. To show the results of our experience treating persistent pleuropulmonary air leak with autologous blood and review the literature on this specific method of treatment. Retrospective study of patients with persistent aerial pleuropulmonary fistula treated with autologous blood. The patient's own blood was collected from a peripheral vein and directly introduced through the pleural drain. An inverted siphon was located in the drainage system to avoid prolonged clamping of the drain. This siphon impeded blood return but not air escape. Between January 2001 and August 2008, 27 patients were treated by the above method. Patient age ranged from 2 to 74 years, and 78% were male. Each procedure used a mean quantity of 92 ml blood. Mean persistent air leak time before pleurodesis was 10.6 days and mean time to fistula resolution after pleurodesis was 1.5 days. Twenty-three (85%) patients had persistent pleuropulmonary air leak closed with the above procedure. Treating persistent pleuropulmonary air leak with autologous blood is promising, but further studies are required to quantify its real effectiveness.
Background. Clinical and surgical aspects of sternal cleft repair are presented. Primary repair i... more Background. Clinical and surgical aspects of sternal cleft repair are presented. Primary repair in the neonatal period is the best management for this rare condition, but none of the patients in this report were referred to us during that period. Autologous repair is suitable for older patients because it avoids problems related to the implant of prosthetic materials.
To study cases of foreign bodies (FB) in the tracheobronchial tree investigating the clinical and... more To study cases of foreign bodies (FB) in the tracheobronchial tree investigating the clinical and radiological FB characteristics, complications and endoscopic and surgical intervention. Medical and radiological records review of all FB aspiration cases treated at São Paulo State University Hospital over the last 30 years. One hundred and sixty-four FB cases were analyzed; 57% were male, 84% of these were under 16 years old. The most common clinical manifestations were coughing (68.3%) and choking (54.9%). The most common FBs were seeds (peanut, bean, maize) and also small metal or plastic objects. Radiography was normal in 21.3%, atelectasis was present in 40.9%, hyperinsufflation in 17.1% and the FB was radio-opaque in 20.7%. FB time in the bronchial tree varied from hours to years. The most serious complications, as fibroatelectasis and difficult resolution pneumonia, were caused by the long time that the FB remained in the bronchial tree. FB extraction was by endoscopy in 89% of cases, while 6% required surgical extraction or resection of destroyed part of lung, and 5% spontaneously eliminated the FB. There was no mortality in this series. Coughing and choking were the commonest clinical findings. Most FBs were dried seeds. Complications were due to delays in diagnosis, and most would not have existed if the doctor had given credence to the history. Radiography can be normal as most FBs are radiotransparent. FB extraction was by endoscopy, but a few cases required surgery and others were spontaneously eliminated.
Patients with paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) present marked involvement of the lungs during the cou... more Patients with paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) present marked involvement of the lungs during the course of the mycosis. The purpose of this work was to obtain bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from these patients to study the cytopathology, TNF levels and the oxidative and fungicidal response of alveolar macrophages (AMs) to in vitro incubation with recombinant IFN-γ. To compare the lung and blood compartments, these determinations were also made in plasma and blood monocytes (BMs) obtained from the same patients. The cytopathology of BAL fluid revealed a predominance of macrophages, but with the presence of neutrophil exudation, and rare lymphocytes and epithelioid and giant cells. Comparison of the oxidative status and fungicidal activity of AMs and circulating BMs demonstrated that both cell types are highly activated for these two functions when compared to control cells. However, TNF levels were higher in BAL fluid than in plasma. The possible mechanisms involved in the hyperresponsiveness of cells from PCM patients are discussed.
To study cases of foreign bodies (FB) in the tracheobronchial tree investigating the clinical and... more To study cases of foreign bodies (FB) in the tracheobronchial tree investigating the clinical and radiological FB characteristics, complications and endoscopic and surgical intervention. Medical and radiological records review of all FB aspiration cases treated at São Paulo State University Hospital over the last 30 years. One hundred and sixty-four FB cases were analyzed; 57% were male, 84% of these were under 16 years old. The most common clinical manifestations were coughing (68.3%) and choking (54.9%). The most common FBs were seeds (peanut, bean, maize) and also small metal or plastic objects. Radiography was normal in 21.3%, atelectasis was present in 40.9%, hyperinsufflation in 17.1% and the FB was radio-opaque in 20.7%. FB time in the bronchial tree varied from hours to years. The most serious complications, as fibroatelectasis and difficult resolution pneumonia, were caused by the long time that the FB remained in the bronchial tree. FB extraction was by endoscopy in 89% of cases, while 6% required surgical extraction or resection of destroyed part of lung, and 5% spontaneously eliminated the FB. There was no mortality in this series. Coughing and choking were the commonest clinical findings. Most FBs were dried seeds. Complications were due to delays in diagnosis, and most would not have existed if the doctor had given credence to the history. Radiography can be normal as most FBs are radiotransparent. FB extraction was by endoscopy, but a few cases required surgery and others were spontaneously eliminated.
This retrospective study describes 14 cases of intercostal nerve mononeuropathy (INM) found in 5,... more This retrospective study describes 14 cases of intercostal nerve mononeuropathy (INM) found in 5,560 electromyography (EMG) exams performed between January 1991 and June 2004 in our University Hospital. Medical charts of all patients with history of thoracic pain and EMG diagnosis of intercostal mononeuropathy were reviewed. INM was detected in 14 patients; etiology was thoracic surgery in 6 (43%), post-herpetic neuropathy in 4 (28%), probable intercostal neuritis in 2 (14%), lung neoplasia in 1 (7%), and radiculopathy in 1 (7%). From this study, trauma and infection were the main etiologies in intercostal neuropathic pain development. Tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsants were the most common therapeutic drugs used.
Background. Clinical and surgical aspects of sternal cleft repair are presented. Primary repair i... more Background. Clinical and surgical aspects of sternal cleft repair are presented. Primary repair in the neonatal period is the best management for this rare condition, but none of the patients in this report were referred to us during that period. Autologous repair is suitable for older patients because it avoids problems related to the implant of prosthetic materials.
A 20-year experience with the treatment of 74 patients (83.8% children) for foreign body aspirati... more A 20-year experience with the treatment of 74 patients (83.8% children) for foreign body aspiration is reviewed. The object of this review is to show the clinical manifestations, the radiological findings, the nature and distribution in the bronchial tree, and complications due to longstanding (months or years) foreign bodies in the bronchial tree. The most common foreign bodies found were peanuts (13.5%), corn (13.5%), and beans (13.5%). The most frequent clinical manifestation was choking (67.5%), and the most frequent radiological finding was atelectasis (41.8%). The most serious complication was bronchiectasis needing resection in six patients who had the foreign body retained for years in the bronchial tree. In conclusion, in spite of an obvious foreign body in the tracheobronchial tree many cases are not diagnosed, and a longstanding foreign body in the airway may be responsible for irreversible complications.
VN2222 (1-(benzo[b]thiophen-3-yl)-3-[4-(2-methoxiphenyl piperazin-1-yl]propan-1-ol) is a potentia... more VN2222 (1-(benzo[b]thiophen-3-yl)-3-[4-(2-methoxiphenyl piperazin-1-yl]propan-1-ol) is a potential antidepressant with high affinity for the serotonin transporter and 5-HT(1A) receptors. Locally applied, VN2222 enhanced the extracellular 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) concentration (5-HT(ext)) in rat striatum to 780% of baseline whereas its systemic administration (1-10 mg/kg s.c.) reduced 5-HT(ext). In the presence of citalopram, 8-OH-DPAT or VN2222 applied in medial prefrontal cortex reduced 5-HT(ext). Fluoxetine, VN2222, and 8-OH-DPAT suppressed the firing rate of dorsal raphe 5-HT neurons (ED(50): 790, 14.9, and 0.8 microg/kg i.v., respectively). These effects were antagonized by WAY 100635. Administration of VN2222 for 2 weeks desensitized 5-HT(1A) receptors as assessed by microdialysis and single-unit recordings (ED(50) values for 8-OH-DPAT were 0.45 and 2.34 microg/kg i.v. for controls and rats treated with 6 mg/kg day VN2222). These results show that VN2222 is a mixed 5-HT reupt...
2006 First European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, 2006
Abstract Ground wave propagation is characteristic of lower frequency bands, as LF (30à ¿ 300 kH... more Abstract Ground wave propagation is characteristic of lower frequency bands, as LF (30à ¿ 300 kHz) and MF (300à ¿ 3000 kHz), and allows the radio coverage of extremely large areas from a single high-power transmitter. The use of these bands has gained interest in ...
The radio planning of systems in lower frequency bands, such as LF and MF, makes use of ground co... more The radio planning of systems in lower frequency bands, such as LF and MF, makes use of ground conductivity at these frequencies, as it determines the attenuation of the surface wave, characteristic of the propagation in these bands. In this paper, three alternative methods to obtain an estimation of the conductivity are presented and compared. The first one is based
A cytometric method for the estimation of end-point conjugation rates is developed and adapted to... more A cytometric method for the estimation of end-point conjugation rates is developed and adapted to surface conjugation. This method improves the through-put of conjugation assays based on replica-plating and results in less noisy experimental data. Although conjugation on solid surfaces deviates from ideal conditions in which cells are continuously mixed, results show that, within the limits of high initial population densities and short mating times, end-point estimates of the conjugation rates are robust measurements. They are independent of the donor/recipient ratios and, to some extent, of the sampling time. Remixing the mating population in the course of a conjugation experiment results in a boost in the frequency of transconjugants.
The gene regulation function (GRF) provides an operational description of a promoter behavior as ... more The gene regulation function (GRF) provides an operational description of a promoter behavior as a function of the concentration of one of its transcriptional regulators. Behind this apparently trivial definition lies a central concept in biological control: the GRF provides the input/output relationship of each edge in a transcriptional network, independently from the molecular interactions involved. Here we discuss how existing methods allow direct measurement of the GRF, and how several trade-offs between scalability and accuracy have hindered its application to relatively large networks. We discuss the theoretical and technical requirements for obtaining the GRF. Based on these requirements, we introduce a simplified and easily scalable method that is able to capture the significant parameters of the GRF. The GRF is able to predict the behavior of a simple genetic circuit, illustrating how addressing the quantitative nature of gene regulation substantially increases our comprehension on the mechanisms of gene control.
Introdução: Diversas variações da timectomia podem ser realizadas, dentre elas a transesternal am... more Introdução: Diversas variações da timectomia podem ser realizadas, dentre elas a transesternal ampliada. A literatura sugere que, quanto mais extenso o procedimento para ressecção da glândula e tecidos do mediastino anterior, melhores os resultados e prognóstico.
Persistent air leak after pulmonary resection is a difficult complication for thoracic surgeons t... more Persistent air leak after pulmonary resection is a difficult complication for thoracic surgeons to manage. To show the results of our experience treating persistent pleuropulmonary air leak with autologous blood and review the literature on this specific method of treatment. Retrospective study of patients with persistent aerial pleuropulmonary fistula treated with autologous blood. The patient's own blood was collected from a peripheral vein and directly introduced through the pleural drain. An inverted siphon was located in the drainage system to avoid prolonged clamping of the drain. This siphon impeded blood return but not air escape. Between January 2001 and August 2008, 27 patients were treated by the above method. Patient age ranged from 2 to 74 years, and 78% were male. Each procedure used a mean quantity of 92 ml blood. Mean persistent air leak time before pleurodesis was 10.6 days and mean time to fistula resolution after pleurodesis was 1.5 days. Twenty-three (85%) patients had persistent pleuropulmonary air leak closed with the above procedure. Treating persistent pleuropulmonary air leak with autologous blood is promising, but further studies are required to quantify its real effectiveness.
Background. Clinical and surgical aspects of sternal cleft repair are presented. Primary repair i... more Background. Clinical and surgical aspects of sternal cleft repair are presented. Primary repair in the neonatal period is the best management for this rare condition, but none of the patients in this report were referred to us during that period. Autologous repair is suitable for older patients because it avoids problems related to the implant of prosthetic materials.
To study cases of foreign bodies (FB) in the tracheobronchial tree investigating the clinical and... more To study cases of foreign bodies (FB) in the tracheobronchial tree investigating the clinical and radiological FB characteristics, complications and endoscopic and surgical intervention. Medical and radiological records review of all FB aspiration cases treated at São Paulo State University Hospital over the last 30 years. One hundred and sixty-four FB cases were analyzed; 57% were male, 84% of these were under 16 years old. The most common clinical manifestations were coughing (68.3%) and choking (54.9%). The most common FBs were seeds (peanut, bean, maize) and also small metal or plastic objects. Radiography was normal in 21.3%, atelectasis was present in 40.9%, hyperinsufflation in 17.1% and the FB was radio-opaque in 20.7%. FB time in the bronchial tree varied from hours to years. The most serious complications, as fibroatelectasis and difficult resolution pneumonia, were caused by the long time that the FB remained in the bronchial tree. FB extraction was by endoscopy in 89% of cases, while 6% required surgical extraction or resection of destroyed part of lung, and 5% spontaneously eliminated the FB. There was no mortality in this series. Coughing and choking were the commonest clinical findings. Most FBs were dried seeds. Complications were due to delays in diagnosis, and most would not have existed if the doctor had given credence to the history. Radiography can be normal as most FBs are radiotransparent. FB extraction was by endoscopy, but a few cases required surgery and others were spontaneously eliminated.
Patients with paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) present marked involvement of the lungs during the cou... more Patients with paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) present marked involvement of the lungs during the course of the mycosis. The purpose of this work was to obtain bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from these patients to study the cytopathology, TNF levels and the oxidative and fungicidal response of alveolar macrophages (AMs) to in vitro incubation with recombinant IFN-γ. To compare the lung and blood compartments, these determinations were also made in plasma and blood monocytes (BMs) obtained from the same patients. The cytopathology of BAL fluid revealed a predominance of macrophages, but with the presence of neutrophil exudation, and rare lymphocytes and epithelioid and giant cells. Comparison of the oxidative status and fungicidal activity of AMs and circulating BMs demonstrated that both cell types are highly activated for these two functions when compared to control cells. However, TNF levels were higher in BAL fluid than in plasma. The possible mechanisms involved in the hyperresponsiveness of cells from PCM patients are discussed.
To study cases of foreign bodies (FB) in the tracheobronchial tree investigating the clinical and... more To study cases of foreign bodies (FB) in the tracheobronchial tree investigating the clinical and radiological FB characteristics, complications and endoscopic and surgical intervention. Medical and radiological records review of all FB aspiration cases treated at São Paulo State University Hospital over the last 30 years. One hundred and sixty-four FB cases were analyzed; 57% were male, 84% of these were under 16 years old. The most common clinical manifestations were coughing (68.3%) and choking (54.9%). The most common FBs were seeds (peanut, bean, maize) and also small metal or plastic objects. Radiography was normal in 21.3%, atelectasis was present in 40.9%, hyperinsufflation in 17.1% and the FB was radio-opaque in 20.7%. FB time in the bronchial tree varied from hours to years. The most serious complications, as fibroatelectasis and difficult resolution pneumonia, were caused by the long time that the FB remained in the bronchial tree. FB extraction was by endoscopy in 89% of cases, while 6% required surgical extraction or resection of destroyed part of lung, and 5% spontaneously eliminated the FB. There was no mortality in this series. Coughing and choking were the commonest clinical findings. Most FBs were dried seeds. Complications were due to delays in diagnosis, and most would not have existed if the doctor had given credence to the history. Radiography can be normal as most FBs are radiotransparent. FB extraction was by endoscopy, but a few cases required surgery and others were spontaneously eliminated.
This retrospective study describes 14 cases of intercostal nerve mononeuropathy (INM) found in 5,... more This retrospective study describes 14 cases of intercostal nerve mononeuropathy (INM) found in 5,560 electromyography (EMG) exams performed between January 1991 and June 2004 in our University Hospital. Medical charts of all patients with history of thoracic pain and EMG diagnosis of intercostal mononeuropathy were reviewed. INM was detected in 14 patients; etiology was thoracic surgery in 6 (43%), post-herpetic neuropathy in 4 (28%), probable intercostal neuritis in 2 (14%), lung neoplasia in 1 (7%), and radiculopathy in 1 (7%). From this study, trauma and infection were the main etiologies in intercostal neuropathic pain development. Tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsants were the most common therapeutic drugs used.
Background. Clinical and surgical aspects of sternal cleft repair are presented. Primary repair i... more Background. Clinical and surgical aspects of sternal cleft repair are presented. Primary repair in the neonatal period is the best management for this rare condition, but none of the patients in this report were referred to us during that period. Autologous repair is suitable for older patients because it avoids problems related to the implant of prosthetic materials.
A 20-year experience with the treatment of 74 patients (83.8% children) for foreign body aspirati... more A 20-year experience with the treatment of 74 patients (83.8% children) for foreign body aspiration is reviewed. The object of this review is to show the clinical manifestations, the radiological findings, the nature and distribution in the bronchial tree, and complications due to longstanding (months or years) foreign bodies in the bronchial tree. The most common foreign bodies found were peanuts (13.5%), corn (13.5%), and beans (13.5%). The most frequent clinical manifestation was choking (67.5%), and the most frequent radiological finding was atelectasis (41.8%). The most serious complication was bronchiectasis needing resection in six patients who had the foreign body retained for years in the bronchial tree. In conclusion, in spite of an obvious foreign body in the tracheobronchial tree many cases are not diagnosed, and a longstanding foreign body in the airway may be responsible for irreversible complications.
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Papers by Raúl Ruiz