Estudo do efeito neuroprotetor da oxcarbazepina em culturas organot��picas de hipocampo �� privação de oxig��nio e glicose

Muitas similaridades existem entre isquemia cerebral e epilepsia a respeito de dano cerebral e mecanismos de autoprote����o que s��o ativados pr��ximos �� les��o. Oxcarbazepina (OXC), droga anticonvulsivante, atua bloqueando os canais de s��dio voltagem-dependentes, aumentando a condut��ncia de pot��ssio e modulando os canais de c��lcio voltagem-dependentes. Nosso objetivo nesse trabalho foi analisar o perfil de neuroprote����o da OXC e investigar o poss��vel envolvimento da via de sinaliza����o celular PI3-K (fosfatidil inositol 3-cinase), uma via conhecida por seus efeitos proliferativos e antiapopt��tico. Para mimetizar uma isquemia, culturas organot��picas de fatias hipocampais de ratos Wistar de 6-8 dias foram expostas �� privação de oxig��nio e glicose (POG). A adi����o da OXC (30��M) antes da indu����o da les��o aumentou a sobreviv��ncia neuronal no hipocampo de culturas organot��picas expostas a POG por 60 minutos, observado pela diminui����o da incorpora����o de IP.Este efeito neuroprotetor foi prevenido por LY294002 (inibidor de PI3-K). Este resultado indica um poss��vel envolvimento da via Akt na neuroprote����o. Para investigar se a prote��na Akt, uma cinase ativada pela PI3-K, estava envolvida na neuroprote����o das c��lulas as condi����es de POG, analisamos a fosforila����o e o imunoconte��do dessa cinase em 1, 6 e 24 horas depois da reperfus��o. Nenhuma altera����o foi observada nesses par��metros, sugerindo que, nesse caso, a fosforila����o da Akt n��o est�� envolvida na neuroprote����o mediada pela OXC. Da mesma maneira n��o foi observada altera����o em 1, 6 e 24 horas na GSK-3��, uma cinase logo abaixo na via Akt, e pr��-apopt��tica, sugerindo que, nesse caso, a fosforila����o da GSK-3�� n��o est�� envolvida na neuroprote����o mediada pela OXC. Juntos, os resultados deste trabalho mostram um claro efeito neuroprotetor da OXC contra a les��o isqu��mica, que entretanto, n��o envolve a via de sinaliza����o da Akt/GSK-3��. Embora a revers��o da prote����o ao tratamento, com o inibidor da PI3-K, seja um ind��cio de que uma via possa ser ativada pela PI3-K e estar envolvida na neuroprote����o. Os dados suportam a id��ia que a OXC poderia ser utilizada na profilaxia e/ou tratamento da isquemia cerebral.

Ra��a, etnia e as complicações cr��nicas do diabetes melito tipo 2

Fatores gen��ticos e ambientais s��o apontados como fatores causais para explicar as diferen��as no desenvolvimento de problemas de sa��de entre grupos ��tnicos. O conceito de ra��a/etnia �� definido, assim como as indica����es de seu uso. Diabetes melito (DM) como um estado de doen��a com uma marcada variabilidade ��tnico-racial �� utilizado como exemplo de an��lise. Atrav��s de estudo transversal avaliou-se a preval��ncia das complicações vasculares em uma amostra de pacientes com DM tipo 2. Um total de 864 pacientes, incluindo 656 brancos, 104 mulatos e 104 pretos, classificados por auto-defini����o, foram avaliados atrav��s de protocolo padr��o para doen��a arterial coronariana (DAC), doen��a vascular perif��rica (DVP), acidente vascular cerebral (AVC), retinopatia diab��tica (RD), nefropatia diab��tica (ND) e neuropatia diab��tica sens��rio-motora distal (NSMD). Pacientes brancos e mulatos eram mais velhos que os pacientes pretos (61,0 �� 9,3 vs. 60,1 �� 10,3 vs. 56,0 �� 10,3 anos; P <0,001), embora o tempo de dura����o do DM fosse semelhante entre os grupos (14,8 �� 8,2 vs. 14,2 �� 6,7 vs. 13,3 �� 7,0 anos; P = 0,169). Par��metros antropom��tricos (��ndice de massa corporal e medida da cintura), preval��ncia de s��ndrome metab��lica, hipertens��o arterial sist��mica, n��veis de hemoglobina glicada, tamb��m foram similares entre os grupos. Em rela����o ��s complicações cr��nicas do DM, brancos, mulatos e pretos apresentaram-se com uma preval��ncia similar de DVP, AVC e NSMD. Mulatos e pretos, quando comparados com brancos, apresentaram uma maior preval��ncia de DAC (45,4% vs. 60,4% vs. 39,2% ; P=0,004). As preval��ncias de microalbumin��ria (22,4%, 21,2 e 22,1%; P= 0,906) e macroalbuminuria (16,2%, 19,2% and 13,5%; P= 0,915) foram similares entre os grupos. Doen��a renal avan��ada (di��lise) (9% vs. 8,7% vs. 18,3%; P=0,012) e RDP (21,5% vs. 15,4% vs. 34,6%; P=0,005) foram mais freq��entes em pretos. Estas diferen��as se mantiveram ap��s ajustes para poss��veis fatores de confus��o. Concluindo, em pacientes com DM tipo 2 com o mesmo tipo de assist��ncia m��dica, controle press��rico e metab��lico, foi observada uma preval��ncia maior de DAC, RDP e doen��a renal avan��ada em pacientes pretos. Os mecanismos pelos quais estas diferen��as ocorrem n��o s��o claros e componentes gen��ticos e/ou ambientais devem ser melhor explorados. Entretanto, at�� que este melhor entendimento seja dispon��vel, uma abordagem mais agressiva na avalia����o e manejo dos fatores de risco para as complicações do DM nos indiv��duos pretos deve ser pensada.

O processo de letramento como ajustamento secund��rio numa situa����o de privação de liberdade : estudo de caso em uma unidade para adolescentes infratores

Nessa disserta����o, s��o analisados os eventos de letramento que ocorrem na sala da Biblioteca Dona Margarida do Centro de Interna����o Provis��ria Carlos Santos ��� CIPCS, da Funda����o de Atendimento S��cio-Educativo do Rio Grande do Sul - FASE-RS, com adolescentes de 12 a 18 anos, autores de atos infracionais. Observa-se, que a privação de liberdade pode oportunizar ganhos para as pr��ticas de letramento. Utiliza-se a teoria de Erving Goffman sobre Institui����o Total e Ajustamentos Secund��rios, e as concep����es de letramento desenvolvida por diferentes autores contempor��neos. Constata-se que o letramento pode ser visto como forma de ajustamento secund��rio, em que os adolescentes internos desenvolvem atitudes letradas para sanar o ��cio, buscar prazer, comunicar-se a realidade externa �� Institui����o e conviver a solidariedade. O objetivo maior desse trabalho �� tentar inserir um novo debate sobre as ambig��idades e possibilidades da interna����o: em especial, analisar como e de que forma a privação de liberdade, em certos contextos, pode facilitar o letramento. Foi analisado um processo di��rio de resignifica����o da lecto-escrita com grupos heterog��neos de adolescentes, que t��m algo em comum: o desejo de liberdade numa situa����o de privação da mesma.

Avalia����o do sono e sua rela����o com sintomas depressivos e ansiosos em pacientes do sexo feminino com transtornos psiqui��tricos hospitalizadas

Resumo n��o dispon��vel

Menino com sono - olhos.

Ilustra����o componente do jogo ���Escola M��gica (http://www.loa.sead.ufscar.br/escola-magica.html)��� desenvolvido pela equipe do Laborat��rio de Objetos de Aprendizagem da Universidade Federal de S��o Carlos (LOA/UFSCar).

Estudos anal��ticos dos grafoelementos do eletroencefalograma em sono: fusos do sono, ondas agudas do v��rtex e o gradiente de freq����ncia e amplitude, como indicadores de comprometimento neurol��gico na crian��a

Innumerable studies have focused been reported on the sleep spindles (SS), Sharp Vertex Waves (SVW) and REM, NREM Sleep as indicators interpreting EEG patterns in children. However, Frequency and Amplitud Gradient (FAG) is rarely cited sleep parameter in children,that occurs during NREM Sleep. It was first described by Slater and Torres, in 1979, but has not been routinely evaluated in EEG reports. The aim of this study was to assess the absence of SS, SVW and FAG, as an indication of neurological compromise in children. The sample consisted of 1014 EEGs of children referred to the Clinical Neurophysiology Laboratory, Hospital Universit��rio de Bras��lia (HUB), from January 1997 to March 2003, with ages ranging from 3 months to 12 years old, obtained in spontaneous sleep or induced by choral hydrate. The study was transversal and analytical, in which, visual analysis of EEG traces was perfumed individually and independently by two electroencephalographers without prior knowledge of the EEG study or neurological findings. After EEG selection, the investigators analyzed the medical reports in order to define and correlate neurological pattern was classified according to the presence or absence of neurological compromise, as Normal Neurological Pattern (NNP), and Altered Neurological Pattern (ANP) respectively. From the visual analysis of the EEG(s), it was possible to characterize 6 parameters: 1- FAG present (64,1%); 2- FAG absent (35,9%); 3 - normal SS (87,9%); 4 - altered SS s (12,1%); 5 - normal SVW s (95,7%); 6 - altered SVW s (4,3%). The prevalence of well-formed FAG is found in the 3 months to 5 years age group in the children with NNF. FAG was totally absent from the age of 10 years. When comparing the three sleep graphielements, it was observed that SVW and SS were predominant in children with NNF. However, FAG absent was more prevalent in the ANF than in altered SS an SVW. The statistical analysis showed that there is a strong association of FAG absent, with isolated alteration, in ANF patients, in that the prevalence ratio was 6,60. The association becomes stronger when FAG absent + altered SS(s) is considered (RP= 6,68). Chi-square test, corrected by Yates technique, showed a highly significant relation for FAG &#961;= 0,00000001, for error X of 5%, or else the 95% confidence interval (&#961;<0,05). Thus, the FAG absent were more expressive in ANF patient than altered SS(s) and SVW(s). The association becomes stronger in order to establish a prognostic relation, when the FAG is combined with the SS. The results os this study allow us to affirm that the FAG, when absent at ages ranging from 3 months to 5 years , is an indication of neurological compromise. FAG is an age-dependent EEG parameter and incorporated systematically, in the interpretation criteria of the EEG of children s sleep, not only in the maturational point of view, but also neurological disturbances with encephalic compromise

Dist��rbios do sono em pacientes com transtorno depressivo

To evaluate sleep disorder complaints in outpatients with depressive disorder from a general hospital. Methods: An observational, cross-sectional study was carried out with a study sample composed of 70 patients (44 women and 26 men) with diagnosis of depressive disorder, according to the DSM-IV criteria. The patients were interviewed and evaluated by the Identification Questionnaire, the Sleep Habits Questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results: In this study, 50 (71.3%) patients had recurrence of sleep disorder complaints. Mean BDI score was 35.83+8.85, with significant differences between patients with (38.50+8.70) and without (29.60+7.80) recurrence (p<0.05) and among patients with 1, 2, 3 and >3 episodes (p<0.05). In this study, 49 (70%) patients had insomnia and 21 (30%) had subjective excessive sleepiness. Significant differences were observed between the mean duration in months of the sleep disorders (7.16+2.10) and the depressive disorder (6.12+1.90) (p<0.05). Discussion: In the study sample, recurrence of sleep disorder complaints was high and significantly associated with severe depression. Insomnia was prevalent and the mean duration of sleep disorders was higher in relation to depressive disorder

Diferen��as de g��nero na produ����o de associa����es livres de palavras atrav��s do ciclo sono-vig��lia

Although several studies, have shown differences in cognitive performance between men and women, it not yet known whether these differences occur in tasks involving free association of words (WA). Studies across the sleep-wake cycle (SWC) suggest that rapid eye movement sleep (REM) favors semantic flexibility, in comparison with pre-sleep waking (Pre-WK), slow-wave sleep (SWS) and post-sleep waking (Post-WK). The present work has two aims: (1) to evaluate the semantic distances of word pairs produced by AP, comparing men and women, (2) to evaluate semantic distance in word pairs produced by free association across the SWC in young adults of both sexes. To achieve aim (1), we applied a task of WA in 68 adult volunteers during waking (52 women and 16 men). The WA task consisted of writing the first word that came to mind after viewing another word offered as a stimulus (root Word). To achieve aim (2), we performed polysomnography to identify specific stages of the SWC. The experimental subjects were then awakened (if they were asleep) and were immediately given a WA task. The task was administered to 2 groups of 10 subjects each (G1 and G2). G1 subjects were stimulated with the same set of root words after waking from various states of SWC, while G2 subjects received sets of different root words at each state of the SWC. In the absence of a Portuguese corpus suitable for the measurement of semantic distances, the words collected in our experiments were translated to English, and semantically quantified within a systematic and representative corpus of that language (Wordnet). This procedure removed the polysemies typical of Portuguese, but preserved the semantic macrostructure common to both languages. During waking, we found that semantic distances are significantly lower in WA produced by women, in comparison with the distances observed in men. Through the SWC, there were no statistically significant differences in G1. In G2 women, we detected a significant increase of semantic distances upon being awakened from SWS. In contrast, G2 men showed a significant increase in semantic distances upon being awakened from REM. The results of the first experiment are consistent with the notion that women have a more concrete reasoning than men. The results of the second experiment indicate that men awakened from REM present more flexibility in word association than when being awakened from other states. In contrast, women showed more flexible word association after being awakened from SWS, in compared with other states. The results indicate that the cognitive flexibility attributed to different states of the SWC shows gender dependency

Limiar e toler��ncia �� dor em mulheres com fibromialgia: correla����o com a capacidade funcional, qualidade do sono e for��a muscular

O estudo tem como objetivo principal comparar o limiar e a toler��ncia �� dor em mulheres com fibromialgia e mulheres sem sintomas de dor, correlacionando com capacidade funcional, qualidade do sono e for��a de preens��o manual. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo de corte transversal realizado na Universidade Potiguar e na Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, envolvendo uma equipe multidisciplinar com fisioterapeutas, m��dicos e educadores f��sicos. Setenta e duas mulheres foram divididas em dois grupos: grupo com fibromialgia (GF, n = 40) e grupo controle (GC, n = 32) sem sintomas de dor, pareadas por idade e ��ndice de massa corporal. Question��rios foram usados para medir capacidade funcional (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire FIQ) e qualidade do sono (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index - PSQI). Limiar e toler��ncia �� dor foram medidas por um alg��metro de press��o e para determinar for��a foi usado um dinam��metro de preens��o manual. Na an��lise estat��stica o teste T de Student foi usado para comparar grupos e o coeficiente de correla����o de Spearman foi usado no GF para correlacionar limiar e toler��ncia �� dor com as demais medidas. O GF mostrou piores resultados nas medianas comparado ao GC: limiar de dor 2 kg/cm2 versus 5,5 kg/cm2 (p <0,001), toler��ncia �� dor 2,8 kg/cm2 versus 7,2 kg/cm2 (p <0,001) e for��a de preens��o manual 14,5 kgf versus 25,2 kgf (p <0,001). Adicionalmente os dois question��rios apresentaram resultados piores tamb��m no GF em rela����o ao GC, respectivamente: FIQ 65 versus 14,3 (p <0,001) e PSQI 13 versus 5 (p <0,001). No GF foi observada correla����o negativa tanto entre o limiar de dor quanto a toler��ncia �� dor com os escores do FIQ e do PSQI. No GF foram observadas correla����es positivas tanto entre o limiar de dor (p <0,01) quanto a toler��ncia �� dor (p <0,01) com for��a de preens��o manual. �� poss��vel concluir que limiar de dor e toler��ncia �� dor est��o correlacionados com capacidade funcional, qualidade do sono e for��a de preens��o manual em mulheres com fibromialgia

Efeito de diferentes fontes de carboidrato e da privação de alimento sobre aspectos biol��gicos de Telenomus remus Nixon (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae)

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)

Din��mica da Plasticidade Sin��ptica em neur��nios do hipocampo durante ciclos de sono: um estudo computacional

Several research lines show that sleep favors memory consolidation and learning. It has been proposed that the cognitive role of sleep is derived from a global scaling of synaptic weights, able to homeostatically restore the ability to learn new things, erasing memories overnight. This phenomenon is typical of slow-wave sleep (SWS) and characterized by non-Hebbian mechanisms, i.e., mechanisms independent of synchronous neuronal activity. Another view holds that sleep also triggers the specific enhancement of synaptic connections, carrying out the embossing of certain mnemonic traces within a lattice of synaptic weights rescaled each night. Such an embossing is understood as the combination of Hebbian and non-Hebbian mechanisms, capable of increasing and decreasing respectively the synaptic weights in complementary circuits, leading to selective memory improvement and a restructuring of synaptic configuration (SC) that can be crucial for the generation of new behaviors ( insights ). The empirical findings indicate that initiation of Hebbian plasticity during sleep occurs in the transition of the SWS to the stage of rapid eye movement (REM), possibly due to the significant differences between the firing rates regimes of the stages and the up-regulation of factors involved in longterm synaptic plasticity. In this study the theories of homeostasis and embossing were compared using an artificial neural network (ANN) fed with action potentials recorded in the hippocampus of rats during the sleep-wake cycle. In the simulation in which the ANN did not apply the long-term plasticity mechanisms during sleep (SWS-transition REM), the synaptic weights distribution was re-scaled inexorably, for its mean value proportional to the input firing rate, erasing the synaptic weights pattern that had been established initially. In contrast, when the long-term plasticity is modeled during the transition SWSREM, an increase of synaptic weights were observed in the range of initial/low values, redistributing effectively the weights in a way to reinforce a subset of synapses over time. The results suggest that a positive regulation coming from the long-term plasticity can completely change the role of sleep: its absence leads to forgetting; its presence leads to a positive mnemonic change