Rio de Janeiro State University

About: Rio de Janeiro State University is a education organization based out in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Large Hadron Collider. The organization has 16631 authors who have published 30919 publications receiving 465753 citations. The organization is also known as: UERJ & Rio de Janeiro State University.

Metformin Improves Endothelial Vascular Reactivity in First-Degree Relatives of Type 2 Diabetic Patients With Metabolic Syndrome and Normal Glucose Tolerance

Abstract: OBJECTIVE—Endothelial dysfunction is an early marker of atherosclerosis seen in type 2 diabetic subjects. Metformin is commonly used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and has known vasculoprotective effects beyond its hypoglycemic ones. We aimed to investigate the vascular effects of metformin in first-degree relatives with metabolic syndrome of type 2 diabetic patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—The study included 31 subjects (age 38.3 ± 7.6 years and BMI 36.3 ± 5.2 kg/m2), who were first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetic patients and who had metabolic syndrome and normal glucose tolerance. The subjects were randomly assigned 1:1 in a double-blind fashion to receive placebo (n = 15) or metformin (n = 16). Endothelial function was assessed by venous occlusion plethysmography, measuring forearm blood flow (FBF) and vascular resistance responses to three intra-arterial infusions of endothelium-dependent (acetylcholine 7.5, 15, and 30 μg/min) and independent (sodium nitroprusside 2, 4, and 8 μg/min) vasodilators. Weight, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, waist, and laboratory parameters (lipid profile and fasting plasma glucose [FPG]) were assessed at baseline and after treatment. RESULTS—The metformin and placebo groups did not differ in anthropometric, clinical, laboratory, and vascular measurements at baseline. The metformin group had decreased weight, BMI, systolic blood pressure, and FPG and improved lipid profile. Endothelium-dependent FBF responses were also improved, without any effect on endothelium-independent responses. There was no correlation between the improvement on FBF responses and the observed changes on anthropometric, clinical, and laboratory parameters. CONCLUSIONS—We concluded that metformin improved vascular endothelial reactivity in first-degree relatives with metabolic syndrome of type 2 diabetic patients, independently of its known antihyperglycemic effects.

Measurement of the shape of the boson-transverse momentum distribution in pp̄→Z/γ*→e+e-+X events produced at s=1.96TeV

Abstract: We present a measurement of the shape of the Z/gamma* boson transverse momentum (q(T)) distribution in p (p) over bar -> Z/gamma(*)-> e(+)e(-)+X events at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV using 0.98 fb(-1) of data collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. The data are found to be consistent with the resummation prediction at low q(T), but above the perturbative QCD calculation in the region of q(T)> 30 GeV/c. Using events with q(T)< 30 GeV/c, we extract the value of g(2), one of the nonperturbative parameters for the resummation calculation. Data at large boson rapidity y are compared with the prediction of resummation and with alternative models that employ a resummed form factor with modifications in the small Bjorken x region of the proton wave function.

Efficiency and Regulation in the Sanitation Sector in Brazil

Abstract: Regulation in the sanitation sector in Brazil is facing a great deal of debate regarding the government level in which conceding authority should reside and how private operators can fulfill social objectives. The main objective of this study is to show that these issues are not the crucial barriers to the development of the sector when one looks at the productivity performance of the operators. Therefore, we elaborate a detailed analysis of the productivity performance of the current structure of the sanitation sector in Brazil. In doing so, we are able to analyze how jurisdiction of operators, as well as the nature of the management, either private or public, has affected performance of the current operators. Moreover, we investigate how the absence of tariff regulation has dissipated efficiencies and allowed the practice of monopolistic tariffs.