16 research outputs found
Subthalamic deep brain stimulation and trunk posture in Parkinson's disease
No full textThis is the peer reviewed version of the following article: [Artusi, C.A., Zibetti, M., Romagnolo, A., Rizzone, M.G., Merola, A., and Lopiano, L. (2017). Subthalamic deep brain stimulation and trunk posture in Parkinson's disease. Acta Neurologica Scandinavica 137, 481–487.], which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/ane.12889. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions: https://authorservices.wiley.com/author-resources/Journal-Authors/licensing/self-archiving.html#3. Deposited by shareyourpaper.org and openaccessbutton.org. We've taken reasonable steps to ensure this content doesn't violate copyright. However, if you think it does you can request a takedown by emailing [email protected]
Desenvolvimento de um processo de separação de compostos bioativos de Rosmarínus officinalis
No full textTese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico, Programa de Pós-graduação em Engenharia Química, Florianópolis, 2012O presente trabalho tem o objetivo principal de desenvolver um processo para separar compostos bioativos do alecrim (Rosmarinus officinalis). Visando a aplicacao desses compostos como conservador de alimentos, utilização em farmacos e outras aplicacoes, onde podem ser requeridos solventes considerados GRAS (Generally Reconized as Safe), durante etapas de sua obtencao. O alecrim e uma erva aromatica amplamente estudada e bem conhecida por suas propriedades antimicrobianas e antioxidantes. Este conjunto de caracteristicas o torna um potencial ingrediente para aumentar a vida de prateleira de alimentos. Ate o momento, poucos estudos foram realizados com a erva cultivada no sudeste do Brasil, pois sua composição quimica depende de inumeros fatores, entre eles as caracteristicas regionais. Dentre os compostos da planta, valem citar os diterpenos fenolicos, como o acido rosmarinico, acido carnosico e carnosol, que possuem comprovada e potente atividade antioxidante, e os compostos terpenicos como a canfora, borneol, eucaliptol e verbenona, com propriedades antimicrobianas. O presente projeto faz uma avaliacao dessa planta cultivada no Brasil, desde a sua extração ate sua aplicacao. O trabalho foi distribuido em seis etapas. A primeira compreendeu as avaliacoes de extracao por hidrodestilacao e com CO2 supercritico, além da caracterizacao morfologica da planta e da composição quimica de seus extratos. Nesses ensaios de extracao, se observou um maior rendimento quando com o uso de CO2 supercritico. Foi possivel notar a diferenca na composição da planta de origem brasileira com aquelas provenientes de outras regioes de cultivo no mundo. Na etapa seguinte foi avaliado o potencial antimicrobiano in vitro e a aplicação dos extratos, como conservador de alimento (presunto cozido embalado a vacuo), onde demonstraram seu potencial na conservacao desse produto. Desta forma, o potencial antimicrobiano do extrato da planta frente a microrganismos gram-positivos proporcionou um aumento da vida de prateleira (5-7 dias) do presunto embalado a vacuo quando tratado com extrato de alecrim. Na terceira etapa foi realizada a avaliacao da composicao da fase vapor (aroma) do alecrim, como uma tecnica que pode ser utilizada como marcador da qualidade da planta. Com a tecnica de múltipla extracao de headspace (MHE) foi possivel quantificar os compostos presentes no aroma percebido pelo olfato humano e demonstrar a influencia do processo de secagem nessa composicao. Alem disso, determinaram-se os compostos responsaveis pelo aroma caracteristico do alecrim e seus extratos. Os ensaios de fracionamento (quarta etapa), durante as extracoes com CO2 supercritico, visando separação dos grupos de compostos bioativos, demonstraram bons resultados, quando se busca extratos com diferentes caracteristicas na sua composicao quimica. Duas técnicas de fracionamento foram avaliadas, fracionamento durante a extracao e durante a separacao. O uso do fracionamento, de ambas as tecnicas e sugerido como um processo de separação para os grupos de compostos de interesse. Durante essa etapa foram quantificados os compostos majoritários das fracoes obtidas. Na quinta etapa, foi objetivada a extração e purificacao do acido rosmarinico (AR) oriundo da matriz vegetal. Duas metodologias de extracao foram avaliadas, em modo normal e auxiliada por ultrassom 30 °C e 60 °C. Foi desenvolvida uma metodologia de analise (HPLC) utilizando solventes GRAS. A mesma metodologia foi aplicada na purificacao do AR, na ampliacao de escala desse processo (500x a escala analitica), com um HPLC preparativo. A extracao do AR foi avaliada nos residuos solidos do alecrim, provenientes da extracao supercritica, onde os resultados demonstram a possibilidade de recuperacao desse composto de alto valor agregado. A purificacao do AR foi alcancada, estimada com uma pureza de 98 % em relacao a area do cromatograma. Na ultima etapa do trabalho foi realizada uma avaliacao econômica dos processos envolvidos na obtencao e purificação dos compostos bioativos do alecrim. Os resultados dessa analise de custo sugerem que os processos envolvidos são economicamente viaveis, no ponto de vista do custo final do produto manufaturado. Foi sugerido o acoplamento dos processos de extracao supercritica, seguida da extração de AR do residuo vegetal e consequente procedimento de separacao e purificacao por cromatografia. Ainda, com o reaproveitamento energetico utilizando a matriz vegetal esgotada como fonte geradora de energia.Abstract : The main goal of the present work is to develop a process that separates bioactive compounds of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). Aiming to the application of these compounds as food conservatives, to the use in pharmaceuticals and other applications, in which solvents considered GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) may be required during the stages of its attainment. Rosemary is an aromatic herb broadly studied and acknowledged by its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. This set of features makes it a potential ingredient to increase shelf life of food products. Few studies have been conducted with the herb grown in southeast of Brazil so far because its chemical composition depends on several factors, including regional characteristics. Among the compounds of the plant, it is worth mentioning the phenolic diterpenes, such as rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid and carnosol, which feature proven and strong antioxidant activity, and terpene compounds such as camphor, borneol, eucalyptol and verbenone, with antimicrobial properties. The present project performs an assessment of this plant grown in Brazil, from its extraction to its application. The work was distributed in six stages. The first stage included the assessments of extraction by hydrodistillation and using supercritical CO2, in addition to the morphologic assessments of the plant and the chemical composition of its extracts. In these extraction trials, a higher output was observed when using supercritical CO2. It was possible to note the difference in the composition of the plant originally from Brazil comparing to other cultivation regions in the world. On the next stage the antimicrobial potential in vitro and the application of extracts as food conservative (vacuum sealed cooked ham) was assessed, demonstrating the conservation potential of this product. Thus, the antimicrobial potential of the extract of the plant facing gram positive microorganisms promoted an increase in shelf life (5-7 days) of the vacuum sealed ham when treated with rosemary extract. On the third stage an assessment of the composition of the vapor phase (aroma) of rosemary was performed, as a technique that may be used as quality marker for the plant. With techniques of multiple headspace extraction (MHE) it was possible to quantify the compounds present in the aroma perceived by human olfaction, and to demonstrate the influence of the drying process in this composition. Moreover, the compounds responsible for the feature aroma of rosemary and its extracts were determined. The fractioning trials (fourth stage), during the extractions with supercritical CO2, aiming to separate the groups of bioactive compounds, showed satisfactory results when seeking for extracts with different characteristics of chemical composition. Two fractioning techniques were evaluated, fractioning during extraction and during separation. The use of fractioning in both techniques is suggested as a separation process of interest compound groups. During this stage the major compounds of the fractions achieved were quantified. The fifth stage aimed to extract and purify the rosmarinic acid (RA) originated from the mother plant. Two methods of extraction were evaluated, in normal mode and aided by ultrasound (30°C e 60°C). An analysis method (HPLC) was developed using GRAS solvents. The same method was applied on the purification of the RA, on the scaling of this process (500x the analytical scale), with a preparative HPLC. The RA extraction was assessed in solid residues of rosemary from the supercritical extraction, where results showed the possibility of recovery of this high added value compound. The purification of the RA was attained, with an estimated purity of 98% concerning the chromatogram area. On the last stage of the work, an economical assessment of the processes involved on the achievement and purification of bioactive compounds of rosemary was performed. The results of this cost analysis suggest that the processes involved are economically viable from the standpoint of the final cost of the product manufactured. It was suggested joining the processes of supercritical extraction, followed by the RA extraction of the plant residue, and subsequent procedure of separation and purification by chromatography. Yet, with the energetic recycling using the depleted raw material plant as generating source of energy
Sudden onset, fixed dystonia and acute peripheral trauma as diagnostic clues for functional dystonia
No full textBackground The differentiation of functional dystonia from idiopathic dystonia may be clinically challenging. Objective To identify clinical features suggestive of functional dystonia to guide physicians to distinguish functional dystonia from idiopathic dystonia. Methods Patient data were extracted from the Italian Registry of Functional Motor Disorders and the Italian Registry of Adult Dystonia. Patients with functional and idiopathic dystonia were followed up at the same clinical sites, and they were similar in age and sex. Results We identified 113 patients with functional dystonia and 125 with idiopathic dystonia. Sudden onset of dystonia, evidence of fixed dystonia, and acute peripheral trauma before dystonia onset were more frequent in the functional dystonia group. No study variable alone achieved satisfactory sensitivity and specificity, whereas a combination of variables yielded 85% sensitivity and 98% specificity. A diagnostic algorithm was developed to reduce the risk of misclassifying functional dystonia. Conclusion Our findings extend the current diagnostic approach to functional dystonia by showing that clinical information about symptom onset, fixed dystonia, and history of peripheral trauma may provide key clues in the diagnosis of functional dystonia
Long-term adherence to CPAP treatment in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: importance of educational program
No full text
A scaling-relation for disc galaxies: circular-velocity gradient versus central surface brightness
No full textFor disc galaxies, a close relation exists between the distribution of light and the
shape of the rotation curve. We quantify this relation by measuring the inner circular-
velocity gradient dRV (0) for spiral and irregular galaxies with high-quality rotation
curves. We find that dRV (0) correlates with the central surface brightness μ0 over
more than two orders of magnitude in dRV (0) and four orders of magnitudes in μ0.
This is a scaling-relation for disc galaxies. It shows that the central stellar density of a
galaxy closely relates to the inner shape of the potential well, also for low-luminosity
and low-surface-brightness galaxies that are expected to be dominated by dark matter.
Key words: dark matter – galaxies: kinematics and dynamics – galaxies: structure
Observational hints of radial migration in disc galaxies from CALIFA
No full textContext. According to numerical simulations, stars are not always kept at their birth galactocentric distances but they have a tendency to migrate. The importance of this radial migration in shaping galactic light distributions is still unclear. However, if radial migration is indeed important, galaxies with different surface brightness (SB) profiles must display differences in their stellar population properties.
Aims: We investigate the role of radial migration in the light distribution and radial stellar content by comparing the inner colour, age, and metallicity gradients for galaxies with different SB profiles. We define these inner parts, avoiding the bulge and bar regions and up to around three disc scale lengths (type I, pure exponential) or the break radius (type II, downbending; type III, upbending).
Methods: We analysed 214 spiral galaxies from the CALIFA survey covering different SB profiles. We made use of GASP2D and SDSS data to characterise the light distribution and obtain colour profiles of these spiral galaxies. The stellar age and metallicity profiles were computed using a methodology based on full-spectrum fitting techniques (pPXF, GANDALF, and STECKMAP) to the Integral Field Spectroscopic CALIFA data.
Results: The distributions of the colour, stellar age, and stellar metallicity gradients in the inner parts for galaxies displaying different SB profiles are unalike as suggested by Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Anderson-Darling tests. We find a trend in which type II galaxies show the steepest profiles of all, type III show the shallowest, and type I display an intermediate behaviour.
Conclusions: These results are consistent with a scenario in which radial migration is more efficient for type III galaxies than for type I systems, where type II galaxies present the lowest radial migration efficiency. In such a scenario, radial migration mixes the stellar content, thereby flattening the radial stellar properties and shaping different SB profiles. However, in light of these results we cannot further quantify the importance of radial migration in shaping spiral galaxies, and other processes, such as recent star formation or satellite accretion, might play a role
Effects of dance therapy on balance, gait and neuro-psychological performances in patients with Parkinson's disease and postural instability
No full textPostural Instability (PI) is a core feature of
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and a major cause of falls and disabilities. Impairment of executive functions has been called as an aggravating factor on motor performances. Dance therapy has been shown effective for improving gait and has been suggested as an alternative rehabilitative method.
To evaluate gait performance, spatial-temporal (S-T) gait
parameters and cognitive performances in a cohort of patients with PD and PI modifications in balance after a cycle of dance therapy
Two fossil groups of galaxies at z≈ 0.4 in the Cosmic Evolution Survey: accelerated stellar-mass build-up, different progenitors
No full textWe report on two fossil groups of galaxies at redshifts z= 0.425 and 0.372 discovered in the Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS) area. Selected as X-ray extended sources, they have total masses (M_(200)) equal to 1.9(±0.41) × 10^(13) and 9.5(±0.42) × 10^(13) M_⊙, respectively, as obtained from a recent X-ray luminosity–mass scaling relation. The lower mass system appears isolated, whereas the other sits in a well-known large-scale structure (LSS) populated by 27 other X-ray emitting groups. The identification as fossil is based on the i-band photometry of all the galaxies with a photometric redshift consistent with that of the group at the 2σ confidence level and within a projected groupcentric distance equal to 0.5R_(200), and i_(AB)≤ 22.5 mag limited spectroscopy. Both fossil groups exhibit high stellar-to-total mass ratios compared to all the X-ray selected groups of similar mass at 0.3 ≤z≤ 0.5 in the COSMOS. At variance with the composite galaxy stellar mass functions (GSMFs) of similarly massive systems, both fossil group GSMFs are dominated by passively evolving galaxies down to M^(stars)∼ 10^(10) M_⊙ (according to the galaxy broad-band spectral energy distributions). The relative lack of star-forming galaxies with 10^(10) ≤ M^(stars) ≤ 10^(11) M_⊙ is confirmed by the galaxy distribution in the b−r versus i colour–magnitude diagram. Hence, the two fossil groups appear as more mature than the coeval, similarly massive groups. Their overall star formation activity ended rapidly after an accelerated build up of the total stellar mass; no significant infall of galaxies with M^(stars) ≥ 10^(10) M_⊙ took place in the last 3 to 6 Gyr. This similarity holds although the two fossil groups are embedded in two very different density environments of the LSS, which suggests that their galaxy populations were shaped by processes that do not depend on the LSS. However, their progenitors may do so. We discuss why the late merging of a compact group is favoured over the early assembly as a formation scenario for the isolated, low-mass fossil group
