Local Field Potentials in the Gustatory Cortex Carry Taste Information

It has been recently shownthat localfield potentials (LFPs)fromthe auditory and visual cortices carry information about sensory stimuli, but whether this is a universal property of sensory cortices remains to be determined. Moreover, little is known about the temporal dynamics of sensory information contained in LFPs following stimulus onset. Here we investigated the time course of the amount of stimulus information in LFPs and spikes from the gustatory cortex of awake rats subjected to tastants and water delivery on the tongue. We found that the phase and amplitude of multiple LFP frequencies carry information about stimuli, which have specific time courses after stimulus delivery. The information carried by LFP phase and amplitude was independent within frequency bands, since the joint information exhibited neither synergy nor redundancy. Tastant information in LFPs was also independent and had a different time course from the information carried by spikes. These findings support the hypothesis that the brain uses different frequency channels to dynamically code for multiple features of a stimulus.

Sintomatologia depressiva e avaliação de níveis de TNFα IL-2 em indivíduos idosos e com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica

The aim of the present study was to assess the presence of depressive symptomatology among elderly residents in long-stay institutions (LSI) and in the community of Recife, Brazil. In total, 81 long-stay elderly patients (mean age of 75.55 ± 9.18 years) and 132 elderly (mean age of 73.14 ± 8.27 years) individuals from the community were evaluated. Depressive symptomatology was assessed by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), cognitive status by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and capacity to perform the activities of daily living (ADL) by the Katz Index. Comorbities and the use of medication were recorded. The LSI elderly exhibited more depressive symptoms (p < 0.001) and more dependency (p< 0.001). We observed no differences in MMSE (p = 0.058). The elderly in the community displayed more comorbidities and the LSI elderly consumed more medication (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). According to multivariate analysis (logistic regression), being male, having no spouse and having a low schooling level are risk factors for depressive symptoms. In conclusion, most elderly with depressive symptoms received no medication fordepression.

Avaliação gerontológica multidimensional das condições de saúde de idosos residentes em instituições de longa permanência

Introdução/objetivos: A avaliação do estado de saúde de idosos institucionalizados é considerada prática essencial à promoção e recuperação da sua saúde, a qual deve incluir a investigação de aspectos multidimensionais e multidisciplinares relacionados ao envelhecimento saudável. O estudo objetivou avaliar as condições de saúde dos idosos residentes em instituições de longa permanência (ILPI) do município de Natal RN. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, longitudinal, envolvendo seis ILPI filantrópicas, com uma população de 243 idosos. A coleta de dados se deu por meio de entrevistas com os idosos nas instituições mediante a aplicação de um questionário com informações sócio demográficas, saúde e institucionalização, além de várias facetas multidisciplinares que envolvem a escala de avaliação cognitiva (Mini Exame do Estado Mental); o índex de KATZ, para avaliação das atividades da vida diária e uma análise do estado nutricional com questões antropométricas (peso, estatura, circunferência abdominal) e Índice de Massa Corpórea. Participaram do estudo todos os idosos com idade igual ou superior a 60 anos, que aceitaram responder a entrevista e assinaram o Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido e/ou a impressão datiloscópica. O projeto foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, sob parecer n° 164/2011. Resultados: Os participantes do estudo incluem 243 idosos, sendo a maioria mulheres (172 = 70,7%), com média de idade de 79 ± 9,44 anos. 124 idosos são solteiros (51,0%) e 66 viúvos (27,0%). A prática de atividades físicas não é rotina nas instituições, onde a maioria dos idosos (82,7%; n = 201) não realiza nenhum tipo de atividade. 78% dos idosos (n = 192) chegou a instituição sendo levados por familiares, enquanto que apenas 18% (n = 44 idosos) por vontade própria e 4% (n = 7 idosos) não souberam responder. Quanto aos aspectos cognitivos, identificou-se que 64,2% dos idosos (n = 156) apresentaram alterações significativas dentro da pontuação dos escores com restrições em responder aos demais questionamentos durante a entrevista por apresentarem limitações cognitivas e/ou dificuldades senso perceptivas.Conclusão: O presente estudo evidenciou alterações cognitivas na maioria dos idosos institucionalizados impossibilitando-os a continuidade da realização da avaliação global da saúde. A identificação correta da perda cognitiva em idosos é de suma importância para a equipe de saúde a fim de promover a detecção precoce de alterações cognitivas e a adoção de tratamento adequado, no sentido de contribuir para uma melhor qualidade de vida desta população

Imunoglobulina e e eosinófilos em crianças de área tropical, infectadas por ascaris lumbricoides

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Matemática Védica no ensino das quatro operações

This paper describes a study on the possibilities of teaching Vedic Mathematics for teaching the four operations. For this various literature sources were consulted considering three main aspects. The first of a historical-cultural, in order to gather information about the Mathematics originated from Vedic civilization, which highlight (Plofker, 2009), (Joseph, 1996), (Bishop, 1999), (Katz, 1998), (Almeida , 2009). This sought to emphasize relationships of the development of this culture with the math involved in the book Vedic Mathematics written by Tirthaji and published in 1965. In this respect the work brings notes on the history of mathematics on the development of mathematics in ancient India. The second aspect was related to teaching mathematics through research activities in the classroom, in this sense, I sought a bibliography to assist in the construction of a proposed activity to teach the four operations, based on the sutras of Vedic Mathematics, but within an investigative approach, assisting in the development of mental calculation strongly stimulated by the Vedic Mathematics Sutras. The authors were adopted (Mendes, 2006, 2009a, 2009b), Bridge (2003). The third aspect considered to search for books on teaching Vedic Mathematics, written by other authors, based on the book by Tirthaji. This revealed Vedic Mathematics textbooks adopted in schools and free courses in the UK, USA and India, all based on the book Vedic Mathematics of Tirthaji. From the bibliographical studies were prepared didactic guidelines and suggested activities for the teacher, to assist in teaching the four operations. The educational product, consisting of Chapters 4 and 5, is the body of the dissertation and consists of didactic guidelines and suggestions for activities that aim to contribute to the teachers who teach initial years of elementary school

Local Field Potentials in the Gustatory Cortex Carry Taste Information

It has been recently shownthat localfield potentials (LFPs)fromthe auditory and visual cortices carry information about sensory stimuli, but whether this is a universal property of sensory cortices remains to be determined. Moreover, little is known about the temporal dynamics of sensory information contained in LFPs following stimulus onset. Here we investigated the time course of the amount of stimulus information in LFPs and spikes from the gustatory cortex of awake rats subjected to tastants and water delivery on the tongue. We found that the phase and amplitude of multiple LFP frequencies carry information about stimuli, which have specific time courses after stimulus delivery. The information carried by LFP phase and amplitude was independent within frequency bands, since the joint information exhibited neither synergy nor redundancy. Tastant information in LFPs was also independent and had a different time course from the information carried by spikes. These findings support the hypothesis that the brain uses different frequency channels to dynamically code for multiple features of a stimulus.