Altered Structural Covariance of Insula, Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex Is Associated with Somatic Symptom Levels in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Somatization, defined as the presence of multiple somatic symptoms, frequently occurs in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and may constitute the clinical manifestation of a neurobiological sensitization process. Brain imaging data was acquired with T1 weighted 3 tesla MRI, and gray matter morphometry were analyzed using FreeSurfer. We investigated differences in networks of structural covariance, based on graph analysis, between regional gray matter volumes in IBS-related brain regions between IBS patients with high and low somatization levels, and compared them to healthy controls (HCs). When comparing IBS low somatization (N = 31), IBS high somatization (N = 35), and HCs (N = 31), we found: (1) higher centrality and neighbourhood connectivity of prefrontal cortex subregions in IBS high somatization compared to healthy controls; (2) higher centrality of left cerebellum in IBS low somatization compared to both IBS high somatization and healthy controls; (3) higher centrality of the anterior insula in healthy controls compared to both IBS groups, and in IBS low compared to IBS high somatization. The altered structural covariance of prefrontal cortex and anterior insula in IBS high somatization implicates that prefrontal processes may be more important than insular in the neurobiological sensitization process associated with IBS high somatization.

Effect of Twice Stablizing Heat Treatment on the Properties of 347H Stainless Steel

In this study, the mechanical properties and intergranular corrosion properties of 347H austenitic stainless steel were studied by tensile test, impact test, double-ring electrochemical potentiodynamic reactivation test (DL-EPR) and microstructure observation in three states of solution, primary and twice stabilized state. Results showed that the key mechanical properties of 347H stainless steel under three different conditions had little change, and the mechanical properties at room temperature were not affected by the stabilizing heat treatment. After 12h of sensitization, the solution material showed obvious sensitization behavior, and the Ir/Ia index exceeded 0.3, indicating that the material entered the range of complete sensitization. Both primary and twice stabilizing heat treatment can significantly reduce the occurrence time of sensitization and prevent the sensitization process. However, the stabilizing heat treatment cannot completely prevent the material sensitization, and it must be combined with other methods .

The Effect of Heat Treatment on Mechanical Properties of J4 Series Stainless Steel Metals

J4 series stainless steel (SS) is austenitic alloy steel containing chromium and mangan, which has moderate strength and corrosion resistance. However, austenitic SS alloys generally undergo a sensitization process during heat treatment that decreases metal mechanical properties. The investigation of mechanical properties effect on J4 series SS toward the various temperature of metal was carried out at the temperature range of 600oC – 1050oC. The decrease of tensile strength, yield strength, and hardness are followed by increasing toughness and elongation in an increasing metal temperature up to 1050oC. This behavior of mechanical properties is caused by the transformation of α’-martensite phase to the austenitic phase with increasing heating temperature. On the other side, a significant decrease in toughness, yield strength, and elongation at the temperature of 700oC indicate a sensitization process on J4 stainless steel. The process of sensitization will correspond to the susceptibility of stress corrosion cracking on stainless steel.

Problemática ambiental em nascentes Potiguares: subsídios e projetos de Educação Ambiental para recuperação de áreas degradadas

Os recursos hídricos são uma das principais preocupações com relação às problemáticas ambientais no Brasil. A região Nordeste possui fatores como o crescimento populacional, poluição, desmatamento e a escassez de chuvas, que têm comprometido a qualidade e a quantidade de água disponíveis na região. Dessa forma, o presente estudo objetivou identificar as principais nascentes existentes nos municípios potiguares de Coronel João Pessoa e Doutor Severiano (RN) e quais as suas influências antrópicas. Inicialmente, foi feito um levantamento bibliográfico e cartográfico para subsidiar o georreferenciamento e a coleta dos dados primários. Foram realizadas visitas nos municípios, entre os meses de junho a julho de 2018, suficientes para identificação e delimitação das áreas das nascentes com Global Position System, já que os dois municípios tinham poucas nascentes perenes para investigar. As nascentes foram sistematizadas cartograficamente e tiveram suas APP mapeadas e por fim, foram realizadas duas oficinas temáticas, uma em cada município, com duração média de 4 horas. Na maioria das APP não há cerca de proteção ou placa informativa ao redor das nascentes. Encontrou-se evidências do uso das águas de afloramento para dessedentação de animais, abastecimento rural, atividades agropecuárias e perfuração de poços. Os regimes de água das nascentes são perenes. Vale ressaltar que tanto a preservação quanto a recuperação dos olhos d’água necessitam do envolvimento das comunidades locais, por isso, a importância da conscientização ambiental, por meio de campanhas e ações educacionais, no intuito de promover o cuidado, o manejo adequado e a conservação no entorno das nascentes. Environmental problems in potiguares springs: subsidies and environmental education projects for the recovery of degraded areas A B S T R A C TWater resources have been one of the main concerns regarding environmental problems in Brazil. The Northeast region has characteristics such as population growth, pollution, deforestation and the scarcity of rainfall, which at times have compromised the quality and quantity of water available to municipalities in the region. Thus, the present study seeks to (i) identify the main springs existing in the municipalities of Coronel João Pessoa and Doutor Severiano (RN) and what are their anthropic influences; (ii) as well as map and georeference the springs APPs; (iii) elaborate and carry out data presentation workshops and contribute to the awareness and sensitization process of the local community. Initially, a bibliographic and cartographic survey was carried out to support georeferencing and the collection of primary data. A was carried out in the municipalities, from June to July 2018, to identify and delimit the areas of the springs with the Global Position System. The diagnosed springs were systematized cartographically and had their APP mapped and, finally, 02 (two) thematic workshops were held, one in each municipality, with an average duration of 4 hours. The results of the Permanent Preservation Areas, most have no protection fence or information sign around the springs. There is evidence of the use of outcrop waters for animal feed, rural supply, agricultural activities and well drilling. The spring water regimes are perennial. It is worth mentioning that both the preservation and the recovery of water eyes, require the involvement of local communities, therefore, it is important to raise the population's environmental awareness, through educational campaigns and actions, in order to promote care, management and conservation around the springs.Keywords: Permanent preservation area, Anthropic actions, Environmental degradation.

Translational evidence for lithium-induced brain plasticity and neuroprotection in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders

Increasing evidence indicates lithium (Li+) efficacy in neuropsychiatry, pointing to overlapping mechanisms that occur within distinct neuronal populations. In fact, the same pathway depending on which circuitry operates may fall in the psychiatric and/or neurological domains. Li+ restores both neurotransmission and brain structure unveiling that psychiatric and neurological disorders share common dysfunctional molecular and morphological mechanisms, which may involve distinct brain circuitries. Here an overview is provided concerning the therapeutic/neuroprotective effects of Li+ in different neuropsychiatric disorders to highlight common molecular mechanisms through which Li+ produces its mood-stabilizing effects and to what extent these overlap with plasticity in distinct brain circuitries. Li+ mood-stabilizing effects are evident in typical bipolar disorder (BD) characterized by a cyclic course of mania or hypomania followed by depressive episodes, while its efficacy is weaker in the opposite pattern. We focus here on neural adaptations that may underlie psychostimulant-induced psychotic development and to dissect, through the sensitization process, which features are shared in BD and other psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. The multiple functions of Li+ highlighted here prove its exceptional pharmacology, which may help to elucidate its mechanisms of action. These may serve as a guide toward a multi-drug strategy. We propose that the onset of sensitization in a specific BD subtype may predict the therapeutic efficacy of Li+. This model may help to infer in BD which molecular mechanisms are relevant to the therapeutic efficacy of Li+.

X-ray and UV Radiation Damage of dsDNA/Protein Complexes

Radiation and photodynamic therapies are used for cancer treatment by targeting DNA. However, efficiency is limited due to physico-chemical processes and the insensitivity of native nucleobases to damage. Thus, incorporation of radio- and photosensitizers into these therapies should increase both efficacy and the yield of DNA damage. To date, studies of sensitization processes have been performed on simple model systems, e.g., buffered solutions of dsDNA or sensitizers alone. To fully understand the sensitization processes and to be able to develop new efficient sensitizers in the future, well established model systems are necessary. In the cell environment, DNA tightly interacts with proteins and incorporating this interaction is necessary to fully understand the DNA sensitization process. In this work, we used dsDNA/protein complexes labeled with photo- and radiosensitizers and investigated degradation pathways using LC-MS and HPLC after X-ray or UV radiation.

Manajemen Nyeri Terkini pada Pasien Pasca Seksio Sesarea

Prosedur Seksio Sesarea (SS) seringkali menyebabkan nyeri sedang hingga berat selama 48 jam. Tujuan manajemen nyeri pascabedah adalah untuk memberikan kenyamanan pada pasien, menghambat impuls nosiseptif, dan menumpulkan respon neuroendokrin terhadap nyeri, yang dengan demikian mempercepat kembalinya fungsi fisiologis. Selain itu, manajemen nyeri yang adekuat pada pasien SS memungkinkan mobilisasi dini untuk mencegah risiko tromboemboli yang meningkat selama kehamilan dan pasien perlu bebas nyeri untuk merawat bayi serta memberikan ASI secara efektif. Mekanisme nyeri pascabedah terdiri dari sensitisasi perifer dan senstisasi sentral dari susunan saraf. Dampak klinik sensitisasi sistem saraf berupa hiperalgesia dan alodinia. Sensitisasi pascabedah akan mengakibatkan penderitaan bagi pasien sehingga pada akhirnya dapat meningkatkan angka morbiditas dan mortalitas pascabedah, oleh karena itu manajemen nyeri pascabedah harus ditujukan ke arah pencegahan dan meminimalkan terjadinya proses sensitisasi. Analgesia multimodal dengan mengkombinasi obat yang menghambat sensitisasi perifer dan sentral, dengan opioid sebagai analgesia penyelamat dapat menjadi pilihan untuk memberikan manajemen nyeri yang adekuat dan meminimalkan efek samping. Current Practice for Post Operative Pain Management in Caesarean Section Abstract Caesarean section (CS) is frequently followed by moderate to severe pain up to 48 hours after surgery. Postoperative pain management is aimed to provide postoperative comfortness, inhibits nociceptive impulse, and blunts neuroendocrine response to pain, thus enhance the return of physiological function. Moreover, an adequate pain management in CS patients allows early mobilization in preventing the increased of thromboemboli risk during pregnancy, the need of patients to be pain free in taking care of the baby as well as effective breastfeeding. Postoperative pain mechanism consists of peripheral and central senzitisation of nervous system. Clinical impact of nervous system sensitization including hyperalgesia and allodynia. Postoperative sensitization resulted in patient’s suffering that increase morbidity and mortality rate eventually. Therefore, postoperative pain management should be directed to prevent and minimalize sensitization process. Multimodal analgesia by combining analgesics inhibited peripheral and central sensitization, with opioid as rescue analgesic may be preferred to provide adequate pain management and to minimalize the adverse effects.