Abstract Tea is identified as the second most consumed drink in the world, and its frequent intake is related to several benefits to human health, considering its antimutagenic, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, diuretic, calming, and above all, antioxidant effects. These effects are often associated with the action of the phenolic compounds contained in these infusions. In Brazil, among the most consumed infusions are the teas of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.), lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus (D.C.) Stapf), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.), anise (Pimpinella anisum L.), yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil), peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), and green/black tea (Camellia sinensis L.). Therefore, said popularity is the reason why the mentioned species were chosen to be evaluated on inflammatory enzymes. The activity of phospholipases A2 was reduced by more than 25% after treatment with black tea and yerba mate. The most significant inhibition of protease activity was observed after incubation with black tea (40.74%), green tea (31.48%) and yerba mate (25.93%). Infusions of black and green tea reduced hemolysis in semisolid and liquid media, and for the latter, reductions of up to 50% of hemolytic activity were observed, indicating an anti-inflammatory potential of the samples. Plasma incubations with green tea, black tea and lemon balm and subsequent addition of venom (1:10 ratio; tea:PBS, v:v) prolonged the coagulation time of citrated plasma by approximately twice compared to the positive control. All controls with pure tea had a thrombolytic character, in higher proportions than the venom control, especially chamomile (273.55% dissolution). Phenolic compounds derived from phenolic acids, flavonoids, and tannins are identified as the main agents that promote the biological effects observed in this study. This is mainly due to their anti-catalytic properties exerted on inflammatory enzymes and as chelating agents of enzymatic co-factors. The evaluated teas showed potential for nutraceutical use, thus pointing to the possibility of use as an adjuvant in the treatment of diseases linked to hemostasis.

RESUMO: Os objetivos deste estudo foram (1) comparar a vulnerabilidade de aviários com diferentes sistemas de resfriamento, e (2) avaliar a distribuição espacial interna das variáveis ambientais durante dias quentes. Quatro aviários comerciais potencialmente vulneráveis no sul do Brasil foram selecionados de acordo com os seguintes parâmetros de elegibilidade: ausência ou presença de diferentes sistemas de resfriamento; frangos de corte com mais de 28 dias de idade; e temperatura de bulbo seco do ar externa acima de 30 °C. A vulnerabilidade do aviário foi classificada de acordo com o sistema de resfriamento e ventilação mecânica, sendo: resfriamento por pad cooling (CPC), aspersão (SPK), nebulização (FOG) e ventilação mecânica sem sistema de resfriamento evaporativo (VTL). A temperatura de bulbo seco do ar (Tbs, °C) e a umidade relativa do ar (UR, %) foram coletadas por registradores de dados autônomos a cada 10 min. Para cada aviário foram avaliados: (1) eficiência relativa de resfriamento (RCE) e (2) distribuição espacial interna das variáveis ambientais por técnica de geoestatística. O CPC e SPK não diferiram (P>0,05) na RCE (81,6% e 80,7% respectivamente), mas ambos diferiram do FOG (23,8%) e VLT (1,87%). As maiores variações na Tbs do ar interno foram registradas no FOG (7 °C), seguido pelo SPK (4 °C) e CPC (3 °C). No CPC, houve um aumento da umidade relativa do meio para o final do aviário, próximo aos exaustores. Em conclusão, a eficiência relativa de resfriamento, assim como a distribuição espacial das variáveis ambientais internas foram influenciadas pelo sistema de resfriamento de cada aviário.

ABSTRACT: This study evaluated: (1) the vulnerability of broiler houses with different cooling systems, and (2) the spatial distribution of environmental variables during hot days. Four potentially vulnerable commercial broiler houses in southern Brazil were selected according to the following parameters: absence or presence of different cooling systems, broilers older than 28 days, and outside air dry-bulb temperature over 30°C. Broiler house vulnerability was classified according to the cooling and mechanical ventilation system: cellulose pad cooling (CPC), sprinkling (SPK), fogging (FOG), and mechanical ventilation without evaporative cooling system (VTL). The air dry-bulb temperature (Tdb, °C) and relative humidity (RH, %) were recorded every 10 min. For each broiler house, we evaluated: (1) relative cooling efficiency (RCE) and (2) inside spatial distribution of microclimate variables using a geostatistical technique. The CPC and SPK did not differ (P<0.05) in RCE (81.6% and 80.7%, respectively), but both differed from FOG (23.8%) and VLT (1.87%) systems. The highest variations in indoor Tdb were recorded in the FOG (7 °C), followed by the SPK (4 °C) and CPC (3 °C). In the CPC, there was an increase in RH from the middle to the end of the broiler house near the exhaust fans. In conclusion, the relative cooling efficiency and the inside spatial distributions of environmental variables in the broiler houses were influenced by the existing cooling system.

ABSTRACT The hatchery is one of the most important segments of the poultry chain, and generates an abundance of data, which, when analyzed, allow for identifying critical points of the process . The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of the data mining technique to databases of egg incubation of broiler breeders and laying hen breeders. The study uses a database recording egg incubation from broiler breeders housed in pens with shavings used for litters in natural mating, as well as laying hen breeders housed in cages using an artificial insemination mating system. The data mining technique (DM) was applied to analyses in a classification task, using the type of breeder and house system for delineating classes. The database was analyzed in three different ways: original database, attribute selection, and expert analysis. Models were selected on the basis of model precision and class accuracy. The data mining technique allowed for the classification of hatchery fertile eggs from different genetic groups, as well as hatching rates and the percentage of fertile eggs (the attributes with the greatest classification power). Broiler breeders showed higher fertility (> 95 %), but higher embryonic mortality between the third and seventh day post-hatching (> 0.5 %) when compared to laying hen breeders’ eggs. In conclusion, applying data mining to the hatchery process, selection of attributes and strategies based on the experience of experts can improve model performance.

Resumo Há evidências que o apoio e o comportamento parental interferem diretamente no comportamento saudável dos adolescentes. O objetivo deste estudo é identificar a relação do Perfil de Estilo de Vida (PEV) parental com os estudantes. Participaram 208 escolares, de 11 a 15 anos, e seus respectivos pais (mãe/pai). Para avaliar o PEV dos pais foi utilizado um instrumento que engloba cinco componentes associados ao estilo de vida: nutrição, atividade física, comportamento preventivo, relacionamentos e controle do estresse. Já, para os alunos foi aplicado o instrumento adaptado para adolescentes. A análise dos resultados foi através da estatística descritiva e o teste Qui-Quadrado. Os alunos, as mães e os pais apresentaram um comportamento positivo (CP) para os componentes PEV, a pontuação média das respostas na nutrição dos alunos e dos pais ficou próxima a um comportamento negativo (CN). A média de pontos das mães na atividade física correspondeu a um CN. Não houve relações significativas dos componentes do PEV do grupo casais com o grupo de filhos, somente no componente atividade física foi encontrada uma relação significativa. As relações estabelecidas entre os grupos nos componentes sugerem que uma postura conjunta positiva de ambos os pais possibilita aumentar a possibilidade de ter filhos com CP.

Abstract There is evidence that parental support and behavior impact the healthy behavior of adolescents directly. The scope of this study is to identify the relationship between students’ Lifestyle Profile (LP) and that of their parents. Two hundred and eight students aged between 11 and 15 and their respective parents participated in the study. An instrument that included five components was used to evaluate the parents’ LP. These components included nutrition, physical activity, preventive behavior, relationships, and stress management. An instrument adapted for adolescents was used to evaluate the students’ LP. Descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test were used for the data analysis. Students, mothers and fathers showed positive behavior (PB) for the LP, but when the different components of lifestyle were stratified, an average score of the nutritional responses of students and parents was bordering on negative behavior (NB). The average number of mothers’ points in physical activity corresponded to NB. There were no significant relationships between parents’ and students’ LP, though in the physical activity component alone a significant relationship was found. The relationships established between the groups in the LP suggest that PB of the parents increases the chances of having children with PB.

Resumo Há evidências que o apoio e o comportamento parental interferem diretamente no comportamento saudável dos adolescentes. O objetivo deste estudo é identificar a relação do Perfil de Estilo de Vida (PEV) parental com os estudantes. Participaram 208 escolares, de 11 a 15 anos, e seus respectivos pais (mãe/pai). Para avaliar o PEV dos pais foi utilizado um instrumento que engloba cinco componentes associados ao estilo de vida: nutrição, atividade física, comportamento preventivo, relacionamentos e controle do estresse. Já, para os alunos foi aplicado o instrumento adaptado para adolescentes. A análise dos resultados foi através da estatística descritiva e o teste Qui-Quadrado. Os alunos, as mães e os pais apresentaram um comportamento positivo (CP) para os componentes PEV, a pontuação média das respostas na nutrição dos alunos e dos pais ficou próxima a um comportamento negativo (CN). A média de pontos das mães na atividade física correspondeu a um CN. Não houve relações significativas dos componentes do PEV do grupo casais com o grupo de filhos, somente no componente atividade física foi encontrada uma relação significativa. As relações estabelecidas entre os grupos nos componentes sugerem que uma postura conjunta positiva de ambos os pais possibilita aumentar a possibilidade de ter filhos com CP.

Abstract There is evidence that parental support and behavior impact the healthy behavior of adolescents directly. The scope of this study is to identify the relationship between students’ Lifestyle Profile (LP) and that of their parents. Two hundred and eight students aged between 11 and 15 and their respective parents participated in the study. An instrument that included five components was used to evaluate the parents’ LP. These components included nutrition, physical activity, preventive behavior, relationships, and stress management. An instrument adapted for adolescents was used to evaluate the students’ LP. Descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test were used for the data analysis. Students, mothers and fathers showed positive behavior (PB) for the LP, but when the different components of lifestyle were stratified, an average score of the nutritional responses of students and parents was bordering on negative behavior (NB). The average number of mothers’ points in physical activity corresponded to NB. There were no significant relationships between parents’ and students’ LP, though in the physical activity component alone a significant relationship was found. The relationships established between the groups in the LP suggest that PB of the parents increases the chances of having children with PB.

Abstract In 1990, the first Teratogen Information Service in Brazil (SIAT) was implemented in the Medical Genetics Service at Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre. SIAT is a free-to-use information service both to health professionals and the general population, especially to women who are pregnant or planning pregnancy. The main objective of this paper is to present the activities of SIAT in its initial years (1990-2006), compared to those in the last decade (2007-2017). In addition we review the scientific contribution of SIAT in the field of human teratogenesis. Since 1990, SIAT received 10,533 calls. Use of medications were the main reason for concern, accounting for 74% of all questions, followed by other chemical exposures (occupational, cosmetics, environmental), and maternal infectious diseases. Among its main contributions to scientific knowledge was the collaboration for the identification of two new human teratogens: misoprostol in the 1990s and Zika virus in 2015/16. In conclusion, SIAT is still evolving, as is the Medical Genetics Service that hosts it. Through its 27 years of existence more than 300 undergraduate and graduate students have rotated at SIAT. Presently, SIAT is expanding the research to experimental teratogenesis and to investigation of molecular mechanisms of teratogens.

ABSTRACT. The management of poultry feed is an important welfare promoter and the glycemic index a noninvasive evaluation. The aim was to evaluate the glycemic response of broiler breeders in restricted feeding system, and broilers receiving ad libitum feeding. Two experiments were carried out: I) 39-week-oldbroiler breeders, fed with three sources of fiber, in a completely randomized design in factorial scheme (3 fiber diets x 7 collection periods); and II) broilers, 42 days old, housed in different light systems, in a completely randomized design in factorial design (2 sexes x 2 lighting conditions x 13 collection periods). Blood glucose levels were measured at random collecting one blood drop from foot, with three replicates in each condition and treatment. In broiler breeder different fiber sources had no effect on glycemia, but the period affected circulating glucose levels, presenting a minimum of 184.3 mg dL-1 before feed and, a maximum of 242.5 mg dL-1 four hours after feeding. In broilers, there was a significant effect in glycemia for collection period and for sex, and interaction between lighting conditions and collection period. Further studies are needed to establish reference values to compare blood glucose levels in poultry.

RESUMO. O objetivo foi avaliar o desempenho, peso relativo de órgãos, morfometria, comprimento intestinal e atividade de enzimas pancreáticas de frangos de corte recebendo suplemento neonatal. Foram utilizados 900 pintos de corte da linhagem Cobb 500, alojados em 30 boxes de 2,5 m². Os tratamentos foram divididos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com seis repetições, e consistiram em cinco níveis de inclusão (0,0; 2,5; 5,0; 7,5 e 10 gramas por ave). O suplemento utilizado foi à base de aminoácidos, vitaminas e minerais, o qual foi fornecido no primeiro dia de alojamento sobre a ração. A análise estatística foi realizada utilizando o SAS (2008) e quando significativos desdobrados em regressão polinomial. Em função da inclusão do suplemento neonatal no período de um a sete e de um a 21 dias de idade o consumo de ração apresentou efeito linear e o ganho de peso efeito quadrático. Os pesos relativos da moela e do fígado apresentaram efeito quadrático, e as inclusões de 4,18 e 3,41 gramas/ave proporcionaram os menores pesos respectivamente. A altura das vilosidades do jejuno diminuiu com a suplementação assim como a atividade da lipase pancreática. Conclui-se que a suplementação neonatal beneficiou o desempenho das aves até os 21 dias de idade.

ABSTRACT. The objective was to evaluate the performance, relative organ weight, morphometry, intestinal length and pancreatic enzyme activity of broilers receiving neonatal supplementation. A total of 900 Cobb 500 broiler chicks was housed in 30 boxes of 2.5 m². The treatments were divided in a completely randomized design with six replications, and consisted of five inclusion levels (0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 grams per bird). The supplement used was based of amino acids, vitamins and minerals, which was provided on the ration on the first day in the housing. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS (2008) and when significant broken down using a polynomial regression. Due to the inclusion of the neonatal supplement in the period from one to seven and one to 21 days of age, the feed intake presented a linear effect and the weight gain, a quadratic effect. The relative weights of the gizzard and liver showed a quadratic effect, and the inclusions of 4.18 and 3.41 grams/bird provided the lowest weights, respectively. The jejunum villi height decreased with supplementation as well as the activity of pancreatic lipase. It can be concluded that neonatal supplementation benefited the performance of birds up to 21 days of age.

BACKGROUND The main clinical forms of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) are the acute/subacute form (AF) and the chronic form (CF), and they both display considerable clinical variability. The immune responses of PCM patients, during and after treatment, remain neglected, mainly in the case of CF patients, due to the high prevalence of pulmonary sequelae. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the distribution of whole blood T cell subsets, serum cytokines, and biomarkers of pulmonary fibrosis in PCM patients, according to the clinical form and at different time points, during the antifungal therapy. METHODS Eighty-seven PCM patients, from an endemic area in Brazil, were categorised into groups, according to the clinical form (AF or CF) and the moment of treatment. The peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets of these patients were analysed using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. The serum levels of cytokines, basic fibroblast growth factor and surfactant protein-D (SP-D) were also analysed. FINDINGS In the CF patients, an expansion of the peripheral blood TCD4+ cells was observed during the treatment, and this persisted even after two years of antifungal treatment. In addition, these patients showed high serum levels of SP-D. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight the immunological changes CF patients undergo, during and after treatment, possibly due to the hypoxia triggered by pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema.

Resumo Procurando entender o problema do declínio da atividade física (AF) entre os adolescentes, cresce a importância de se identificar quais as barreiras percebidas (BP) que podem reduzir a chance de envolvimento na prática de AF. Objetivou-se identificar as BP à prática de AF pelos escolares do Ensino Médio (EM) de uma escola pública federal. Participaram 348 escolares, de 14 a 19 anos, 46,8% do sexo feminino e 53,2% do sexo masculino. Para investigar as BP foi utilizado um instrumento composto por 12 afirmativas, validado para a população do estudo. Foi realizada análise dos resultados por estatística descritiva, teste de Kruskal Wallis para verificar a possível diferença das BP entre os anos de EM e Qui-quadrado para a diferença de proporções das barreiras. Ter muitas tarefas para fazer, a falta de tempo e as adversidades climáticas, foram as BP que receberam maiores frequências de respostas positivas. Não foi encontrada diferença na percepção das barreiras entre os anos de EM (masculino: p=0,44; feminino: p=0,23). As barreiras “não tenho como ir ou voltar” (p=0,04), “o clima dificulta” e “tenho preguiça” (p=0,02), “falta tempo” (p=0,01) e “em casa ninguém faz” (p=0,04) apresentaram diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os sexos. Ambos os sexos relataram barreiras semelhantes, porém, as meninas referiram um maior número de BP e com maiores frequências de respostas. A identificação de quais as BP que dificultam ou impedem a adoção de um estilo de vida fisicamente ativo, pode ser o início de soluções que minimizem os efeitos negativos destas.

Abstract In an attempt to understand the problem of declining physical activity (PA) among adolescents, there has been an increasing interest in identifying perceived barriers (PB) that can reduce the involvement of adolescents in PA. The aim of this study was to identify PB to PA practice among public high school students. The samples was composed of 348 students aged 14-19 years, 46.8% females and 53.2% males. To investigate BP, an instrument consisting of 12 statements and validated for the study population was used. The analysis of results was carried out by descriptive statistics, Kruskal Wallis test to check the possible differences in PB throughout high school years and chi-square for the difference in proportions of barriers. Having many tasks to do, lack of time and adverse weather conditions were the most cited PB. There was no difference in the perception of barriers among high school years (males: p = 0.44; females: p = 0.23). PB “not having how to go or return” (p = 0.04), “adverse weather conditions” and “laziness” (p = 0.02), “lack of time” (p = 0.01) and “at home nobody performs PA” (p = 0.04) showed statistically significant differences between sexes. Both sexes reported similar barriers; however, girls reported higher number of PB and with greater frequency. Identifying which PB prevent the adoption of a physically active lifestyle may be the beginning of solutions to minimize the negative effects.

Objectivos: avaliar a concordância entre Escalas Visuais Analógicas (EVA) e perguntas numéricas para aferir a percepção de risco teratogênico de medicamentos e radioterapia. Métodos: a amostra foi constituída por 144 gestantes e 143 não gestantes recrutadas consecutivamente em centros públicos de saúde de Porto Alegre, RS, entre fevereiro e agosto de 2011. A percepção de risco de malformações congênitas na população geral e as percepções de risco teratogênico das exposições a paracetamol, metoclo-pramida, misoprostol e radioterapia na gestação foram aferidas por EVA e perguntas numéricas. A concordância entre as duas técnicas foi avaliada pela análise gráfica de Bland-Altman Resultados: as medianas das percepções de risco teratogênico medidas por EVA foram superiores às obtidas através da pergunta numérica, para todas as variáveis. A percepção de risco ao paracetamol apresentou o menor viés entre as duas técnicas de aferição (viés=13,17; p<0,001) e a exposição à radioterapia, o maior (viés=25,02;p<0,001). Conclusões: não houve concordância entre as duas técnicas, para nenhuma das percepções de risco estudadas. As percepções de risco foram maiores para EVA, para todas as exposições. Sugerimos a realização de estudos que avaliem se também ocorre superestimação em outras situações e contextos sociais, em função do uso de EVA.

Objectives: to evaluate the agreement between Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) and numerical questions as a way of assessing the perception of teratogenic risk of treatment with drugs and radiotherapy. Methods: the sample comprised 144 pregnant and 143 non-pregnant women consecutively recruited at public health centers in Porto Alegre, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, from February to August 2011. The perception of risk for congenital malformations in the general population and the perceptions of teratogenic risk for exposure to acetaminophen, meto-clopramide, misoprostol and radiotherapy were measured using VAS and numerical questions. The agreement between the results of the two techniques was tested using a Bland-Altman plot. Results: the medians for the perceptions measured using VAS were higher than those obtained using numerical questions for all variables. The perception of risk for acetaminophen showed the lower bias of the two techniques (bias=13.17; p<0.001) and exposure to radiotherapy, the higher (bias=25.02; p<0.001). Conclusion: there was no agreement between the measurements obtained using the two techniques for any of the risk perceptions under study. Risk perceptions were higher using VAS, for all kinds of exposure. Studies should be conducted to assess whether there is overestimation in other situations and social contexts owing to the use of VAS.

As discussões a respeito das condutas de limitação de esforço terapêutico (LET) são frequentes nas unidades de terapia intensiva e na especialidade médica oncológica e são também importantes em contextos hospitalares de internação de longa permanência para vítimas de grandes traumas e agravos que necessitam de cuidados prolongados à saúde e de reinserção social. Na prática clínica, a tomada de decisão para LET é complexa e deve envolver o indivíduo, a família e a equipe multiprofissional. O objetivo deste artigo é discorrer a respeito da LET como um abrangente processo de "adequação de medidas" por agregação consensual de fatores centrado na pessoa, pautado por intensificação dos cuidados paliativos.

Discussions about the limitation of therapeutic effort are common in intensive care units and oncology and are also important in long stay hospitals for victims of major trauma and injuries that require long-term health care and social reintegration. In clinical practice, the decision making for limitation of therapeutic effort is complex and multifactorial and should involve the individual, the family and the multidisciplinary team. The purpose of this article is to discuss about limitation of therapeutic effort as a comprehensive process of "adjustment of measures" for consensual aggregation of person-centered factors, marked by intensification of palliative care.

Las discusiones acerca de las conductas de limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico (LET) son comunes en las unidades de cuidados intensivos y oncología y también son importantes en hospitales de larga estancia para las personas víctimas de traumatismos graves y lesiones que requieren atención de salud a largo plazo y la reintegración social. En la práctica clínica, la toma de decisiones para la LET es compleja y debe abordar al individuo, la familia y el equipo multiprofesional. El propósito de este artículo es discutir sobre LET como un proceso integral de "adecuación de medidas" mediante la agregación consensual de factores centrados en la persona, marcado por la intensificación de los cuidados paliativos.

Este artigo tem o intuito de avaliar as mudanças no consumo de alimentos na China e seu impacto sobre as exportações agroindustriais brasileiras. O crescimento econômico chinês provocou nas últimas décadas importantes mudanças na estrutura mundial da demanda por alimentos. Em decorrência dessas transformações, ocorreram importantes aumentos das exportações brasileiras de origem agrícola para a China. As análises apresentadas no trabalho baseiam-se na sistematização de informações sobre o consumo disponíveis no site da Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) e sobre o comércio exterior do Brasil fornecidas pela Secretaria de Comércio Exterior (SECEX) e pelo Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (MAPA). Dentre os resultados encontrados, podem ser destacadas a redução já observada do dinamismo em muitos dos mercados de alimentos na China, a baixa penetração das importações nos mercados chineses de alimentos para uso humano e a forte concentração das exportações agroindustriais brasileiras para o país em um número pequeno de cadeias produtivas.

This paper analyzes the changes in food consumption in China and its impact on Brazilian agribusiness exports. Chinese economic growth in recent decades has caused major structural changes in world demand for food and huge increases in Brazilian exports of agricultural origin to China. The analysis is based on consumption information made available by FAO and the foreign trade of Brazil provided by SECEX. We have analyzed the data on Chinese consumption of most food products and by contrasting them with the path of consumption in richer countries, searched for evidences of market saturation. The main findings are: (i) evidences of declining growth rates in most food markets in China; (ii) for some very important foodstuffs, the achievement of consumption levels close to the Japanese and Korean standards; (iii) low penetration of imports in the Chinese markets of final food products for human use; and (iv) high concentration of Brazilian agribusiness exports to the country in a small number of productive chains.

INTRODUÇÃO: As ações androgênicas são exercidas por meio do receptor androgênico (AR), e a completa virilização genital de indivíduos 46,XY normais depende de adequada expressão do gene AR de forma tecido específica. OBJETIVO: Padronizar valores normais de ARmRNA em tecidos sensíveis aos andrógenos. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Neste estudo, determinamos as quantidades de ARmRNA em células mononucleares do sangue periférico e em células da mucosa uretral e pele do prepúcio de indivíduos controles com fimose, utilizando RT-PCR. RESULTADOS: A média (dp) dos valores de expressão do AR em sangue, uretra e prepúcio foram: 0,01 (0,01); 0,43 (0,32); 0,31 (0,36), respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: A expressão do AR é baixa em sangue periférico e equivalente em mucosa uretral e pele prepucial, sendo sua quantificação útil no diagnóstico de indivíduos com alterações da genitália externa.

INTRODUCTION: Androgen actions are exerted upon the androgen receptor (AR), and complete genital virilization of normal 46,XY individuals depends on adequate function and expression of the AR gene in a tissue-specific manner. OBJECTIVE: Standardization of normal ARmRNA in androgen-sensitive tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we determined the quantitative amounts of ARmRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear, urethral mucosa and preputial skin cells of control subjects with phimosis by using RT-PCR. RESULTS: The mean (SD) values of AR expression in blood, urethra and prepuce were: 0.01 (0.01); 0.43 (0.32); 0.31 (0.36), respectively. CONCLUSION: The AR expression is low in blood and equivalent in urethral mucosa and preputial skin, which may be useful in the diagnosis of individuals with abnormal external genitalia.

As empresas de base tecnológica (EBTs) são firmas cuja intensa dinâmica inovativa se sustenta em sólidas competências técnicas, havendo em relação a elas uma expectativa de crescimento acelerado. No entanto, mesmo em países desenvolvidos, as evidências demonstram que ritmos de crescimento realmente elevados são mais exceção do que regra. No Brasil, o foco da maioria dos estudos sobre EBTs é diferente, concentrando-se em fatores que restringem seu sucesso, como experiência gerencial e disponibilidade de capital. Baseando-se em ampla pesquisa de campo e num indicador robusto de crescimento empresarial, este artigo pretende abordar a questão da expansão dessas empresas, analisando sua relação com elementos que as caracterizam, como grau de consolidação, inserção de mercado e apoio por políticas públicas. Entre os resultados, destacam-se uma taxa de crescimento que, embora muito variada, é geralmente expressiva - mediana de 15,3% - e não se relaciona diretamente com a intensidade do apoio por políticas públicas.

Technology-Based Firms (TBFs) are companies with intensive innovation dynamics based on technical competences, and for which high growth rates are expected. Nevertheless, even in developed countries, the evidence suggests that significantly high growth rates are more the exception than the rule. In Brazil, most studies on TBFs focus on factors that limit their success, such as managerial experience and capital availability. Based on extensive field research and on a reliable enterprise growth rate indicator, this article aims to evaluate the expansion of those firms, analyzing its relation to key elements such as degree of consolidation, market insertion, and public policy support. We found a growth rate which, although widely varied amongst firms, was significant and was not directly related to the amount of public policy support.