Sol-Gel TiO2 thin films sensitized with the mulberry pigment cyanidin

TiO2 films have various applications, among them solar cells and photodegradation of pollutants. In this study, we investigated TiO2 films functionalized with the organic dye cyanidin extracted from black mulberry (Morus nigra). The TiO2 was functionalized by the sol-gel method and the film was deposited on glass substrates by dip-coating. Our aim was to investigate the interaction between the semiconductor and the dye, as well as the influence of the velocity and number of deposits on the characteristics of the film. Using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, we observed a shift from the maximum absorption band at 545 nm for the dye’s ethanol solution to 595 nm for the film, indicating interaction of the cyanidin with the TiO2. The absorption spectra in the infrared region of the functionalized TiO2 particles showed bands characteristic of the oxide and indicated their interaction with the dye. Using profilometry and m-line techniques, we found that the films presented thicknesses in the order of 100 nm. A SEM analysis confirmed the high density of the films

Correlação clinica entre a mielopatia cervical e o índice de Torg Correlation between the clinic and the index of cervical myelopathy Torg

OBJETIVO: A mielopatia cervical é uma disfunção da medula espinhal relacionada a degeneração típica do envelhecimento, cuja patologia se relaciona com a isquemia e compressão da medula. Muitos são os problemas clínicos apresentados por portadores de mielopatia, nos casos mais graves este acometimento pode levar a para ou tetraplegia quando não tratado. Devido a patologia primária desta doença ser causada por compressão gerando isquemia medular, julgamos poder existir uma correlação entre o grau de compressão e clínica dos pacientes portadores de mielopatia cervical, porém não encontramos nenhum estudo na literatura que realizou esta correlação, por existir esta dúvida na literatura é que objetivamos em nosso estudo analisar a correlação entre o grau do comprometimento clínico dos pacientes com mielopatia cervical e o índice de Torg. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo, de caráter descritivo, avaliados 46 pacientes, realizado mensuração radiográfica do índice de Torg e análise clínica através da escala de JOA e Nurick. RESULTADOS: Dos 46 pacientes, 100% apresentaram Torg <0,8. A diminuição dos valores de Torg foi diretamente proporcional a piora clinica na escala de Nurick e JOA. CONCLUSÕES: O comprometimento clinico na mielopatia cervical está diretamente relacionado com o grau de estenose do canal vertebral. Nível de Evidência I, Estudos Prognósticos - Investigação do efeito de característica de um paciente sobre o desfecho da doença.<br>OBJECTIVE: Cervical myelopathy is a spinal cord dysfunction related to degeneration typical of aging. Its primary pathology is related to ischemia and spinal cord compression. Patients with myelopathy present many clinical problems; more severe cases may lead to quadriplegia if not treated in a timely manner. Because the primary pathology of this disease is caused by compression, thus generating spinal cord ischemia, we believed there must be a correlation between the degree of compression and the clinical assessment of patients with cervical myelopathy, but we did not find any study in the literature that made this correlation. Because there is doubt the literature we aimed, in our study, to analyze the correlation between the degree of clinical impairment of patients with cervical myelopathy and the Torg index. METHODS: A prospective, descriptive study, evaluating 46 patients, in which radiographic measurements of the Torg index were performed, with clinical analysis through the Nurick and JOA scale. RESULTS: Of the 46 study patients included in the study, 100% presented a Torg score <0.8. The decrease in Torg values was directly proportional to clinical worsening on the Nurick and JOA scale. CONCLUSIONS: The degree of clinical impairment in patients with cervical myelopathy is directly related to the degree of spinal canal stenosis. Level of Evidence I, Prognostic Studies - Investigating the effect of the characteristics of a patient on the outcome of the disease

Expression of the Fas-ligand gene in ejaculated sperm from adolescents with and without varicocele

To assess FasL mRNA levels in ejaculated sperm from adolescent patients with and without varicocele.Semen was obtained by masturbation following 2-4 days of ejaculatory abstinence, from 14 adolescents with varicocele grades II and III (study group), and 20 adolescents without varicocele (control group). Seminal analysis was done according to World Health Organization guidelines and morphology using Kruger's strict criteria. the Fas-ligand (FasL) gene expression was performed using reverse transcription and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) analysis, according to the expression level of the housekeeping cyclophilin A gene. A Student's t-test was applied to compare the groups, and Spearman's rank test in order to verify possible correlations (p < 0.05).Quantitative RQ-PCR demonstrated that the expression of FasL mRNA in sperm from the varicocele group was higher than in the control group. Also, sperm concentration was higher in the controls, when compared to the varicocele group. When submitted to correlation analysis, adolescents with varicocele presented a correlation between sperm concentration and FasL gene expression levels (r = -0.470), not observed in controls.Our results allow us to conclude that, in adolescents with varicocele presenting lower sperm concentration, FasL mRNA levels are higher than in adolescents without varicocele.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Surg, Div Urol, BR-03320000 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Med, Div Nephrol, BR-03320000 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, BR-04038032 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Surg, Div Urol, BR-03320000 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Med, Div Nephrol, BR-03320000 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, BR-04038032 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc