Limiting glutamate transmission in a Vglut2-expressing subpopulation of the subthalamic nucleus is sufficient to cause hyperlocomotion

The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is a key area of the basal ganglia circuitry regulating movement. We identified a subpopulation of neurons within this structure that coexpresses Vglut2 and Pitx2, and by conditional targeting of this subpopulation we reduced Vglut2 expression levels in the STN by 40%, leaving Pitx2 expression intact. This reduction diminished, yet did not eliminate, glutamatergic transmission in the substantia nigra pars reticulata and entopeduncular nucleus, two major targets of the STN. The knock-out mice displayed hyperlocomotion and decreased latency in the initiation of movement while preserving normal gait and balance. Spatial cognition, social function, and level of impulsive choice also remained undisturbed. Furthermore, these mice showed reduced dopamine transporter binding and slower dopamine clearance in vivo, suggesting that Vglut2-expressing cells in the STN regulate dopaminergic transmission. Our results demonstrate that altering the contribution of a limited population within the STN is sufficient to achieve results similar to STN lesions and high-frequency stimulation, but with fewer side effects.

O homem na estratégia de saúde da família

The research aimed to understand the general perception of men about their health care in a health unit família. This is an exploratory and descriptive qualitative approach, developed at the Center for Health Dr Vulpiano Cavalcante in the City of Parnamirim / RN. Participated in the investigation 12 men enrolled in the Estratégia de Saúde da Família ESF (Family Health Strategy), in the age-group 20 to 59 years lived in the catchment area of one of the ESF teams unit above. Data were collected from July to August 2009, through structured interviews, which, after transcription have undergone a process of identifying meaning units, coded and categorized according to the precepts of content analysis according to Bardin. Following in the footsteps of this method, originated the following themes: "Revealing what motivates men to seek assistance in the Estratégia de Saúde da Família," "Expressing knowledge of the Estratégia de Saúde da Família ", "an opinion about the care health and relationship with the ESF. The analysis was processed according to the principles of symbolic interactionism as Blumer. To support the discussions were used literary themes about man in the context of public health policies and the man in the family and the influences of gender. These, when they had their properties and dimensions analyzed, raised the central category Man on the Estratégia de Saúde da Família . The results show that respondents have limited knowledge about the ESF, your actions turn to use the service when no obligation arising from discomforts and accuracy of care. Moreover, delivering the opinion of the care with your health, even need, but recognizing that do not perform self-care. Given this reality, we can conclude that the perception of the man about his health in the ESF permeates gender issues that influence their behavior toward disease prevention and health promotion. This situation requires that the professionals and managers of health initiatives for the inclusion of man in the actions of the ESF assistance starting from the understanding of their conceptions of health care.

À beira do leito : sentimentos de pacientes durante a passagem de plantão em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva

This study aims to understand the feelings of patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) that experienced a change of shift at the bedside. The change of shift is one of the routines used by nursing in their work process and of great significance for the patient; therefore, deserves careful analysis in seeking to perfect themselves for the improvement of nursing care. It is a descriptive research, with a qualitative approach. The collection of information was performed using semi-structured interview, in August and September of 2011, after authorization from the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, as opinion 290/2011. The analysis, based on interviews of patients, took the humanization as the thread of investigation backed by authors who deal on the subject and the theory of the gift of Marcel Mauss that sits on drug give-receive-return. The results indicate that the change of shift at the bedside but has not configured, the content of the speech of patients interviewed, as a moment that has generated fear and anxiety, could be deduced by the expression of silence, tears and other signs during interviews, how hard it is to live this experience. Nevertheless, despite this apparent tranquility, revealed uncertainty and apprehension face the speech of professional, during the visit at the bedside, particularly when referring to their health and their neighbors. On the other hand, the indifference to the participation of the patient at the time of the visit, expressing an attitude of merely technical nature, dehumanizes the act of taking care, the essence of nursing. And, for all the patients that we understand, about the visit to the bedside, as well as the ICU, we can infer that there is suffering for them. However, we understand your feelings and revelations seeking support in the theory of Mauss's gift: the patient receives the gift (care), and imbued with a feeling of gratitude, the rewards in the form of compliments and courtesies. Precisely for this reason, we need to sharpen our sensitivity to deal about the human condition in all its vulnerability.

Limiting glutamate transmission in a Vglut2-expressing subpopulation of the subthalamic nucleus is sufficient to cause hyperlocomotion

The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is a key area of the basal ganglia circuitry regulating movement. We identified a subpopulation of neurons within this structure that coexpresses Vglut2 and Pitx2, and by conditional targeting of this subpopulation we reduced Vglut2 expression levels in the STN by 40%, leaving Pitx2 expression intact. This reduction diminished, yet did not eliminate, glutamatergic transmission in the substantia nigra pars reticulata and entopeduncular nucleus, two major targets of the STN. The knock-out mice displayed hyperlocomotion and decreased latency in the initiation of movement while preserving normal gait and balance. Spatial cognition, social function, and level of impulsive choice also remained undisturbed. Furthermore, these mice showed reduced dopamine transporter binding and slower dopamine clearance in vivo, suggesting that Vglut2-expressing cells in the STN regulate dopaminergic transmission. Our results demonstrate that altering the contribution of a limited population within the STN is sufficient to achieve results similar to STN lesions and high-frequency stimulation, but with fewer side effects.