Critical analysis of the international classification of headache disorders diagnostic criteria (ICHD I-1988) and (ICHD II-2004), for migraine in children and adolescents

The present study analyzed the (ICHD I-1988) and ( ICHD II-2004) diagnostic criteria in children and adolescents. Our population consisted of 496 patients of the Headache Outpatient Ward for Children and Adolescents retrospectively studied from 1992 to 2002. Individuals were classified according to three diagnostic groups: Intuitive Clinical Diagnosis ( Gold Standard), ICHD I-1988 and ICHD II-2004. They were statistically compared using the variables: Sensitivity ( S), Specificity (Sp), Positive Predictive Value (PPV), Negative Predictive Value (NPV). When ICHD I-1988 was used, the sensitivity of migraine without and with aura was 21% and 27%, respectively, whereas in ICHD II-2004 it changed to 53% and 71% without affecting specificity. As a conclusion, the current classification criteria ( ICHD II-2004) showed greater sensitivity and high specificity for migraine than ICHD I-1988, although it improved migraine diagnosis in children and adolescents, the sensitivity remains poor.

A critical analysis of isolation of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis from soil

The present review is a critical analysis of positive and negative reports of the isolation of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis from soil. The strains isolated from soil or soil-contaminated material (dogfood, penguin feces) by Batista et al. in Recife, Brazil, Negroni in the Argentinian Chaco, Albornoz in rural Venezuela, Silva-Vergara et al, in Ibia, Brazil, Ferreira et al, in Uberlandia, Brazil, and Gezuele et al. at the Uruguayan base in the Antarctic region, presented mycological characteristics consistent with P. brasiliensis. In most of these studies, morphological characterization was complemented with an evaluation of virulence and antigenicity, and biochemical or molecular analysis. These isolations, therefore, can be considered true, supporting the concept of soil as an important element in the ecology of the pathogen. The large number of negative reports in attempts involving soil samples and the low repeatability of isolation of the fungus from the same area indicate that the specific conditions supporting growth of the pathogen in soil have not been fully clarified.

A critical analysis of the ubiquity of linear local-regional richness relationships

Synthesis Despite theoretical criticisms, the ubiquity of linear relationships between local and regional species richness has long been used to justify it as a valid framework to conclude that local communities are not saturated with species. However, we reanalyzed published studies with a new unbiased method and found no prevalence of linear relationships and more than 40% of misclassifications, including textbook examples. We thus conclude that the prevailing argument in favor of associating a valid ecological interpretation to local-regional species richness plots, its ubiquity, is not sustained, and that ecologists could use for instance metacommunity theory to make inference on the strength of local and regional processes. Identifying the relative importance of regional and local processes to local species diversity is a central issue to many questions in basic and applied ecology. One widely-used method is to plot local species richness against its regional richness to infer whether regional or local processes determine local diversity. However, this method increases the tendency to find regional prevalence as suggested by a recent simulation. We reanalyzed studies in the literature with an unbiased method and found no prevalence of either regional or local processes. In addition, almost 40% of the studies and 50% of the ecology textbook examples using the traditional method were misclassified. Our findings reinforce the need of alternative, novel tools identified by for instance metacommunity theory to go beyond the studies of local-regional relationships in the ecological literature that focus on the interdependence of regional and local processes.© 2013 The Authors. Oikos © 2013 Nordic Society Oikos.

Critical training of mass media documentalists

This study takes the old myth of objectivity in media discourse to one of the most important but unrecognized actors in the process of its construction: the mass media information scientist or documentalist. Accepting the subjective presence of the documentalist in his/her productions, this article opts for the recognition and explicit statement of this role, recommending two actions. First, we suggest that public higher education institutions combine the technical training of mass media documentalists with training in critical thinking skills. Our study analysed the subjects covered in course syllabi to detect the deficiencies to be addressed in meeting this objective. Second, we propose alternative lines of training that can contribute to cross-training of mass media documentalists in those degree programs to ensure that they acquire the needed skills in critical analysis.

Normas jurídicas para a restauração ecológica: uma barreira a mais a dificultar o êxito das iniciativas?

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Contribuições da teoria histórico-cultural para o processo de avaliação psicoeducacional

Cet article a comme objectif présenter la contribution de la Psychologie Historique-Culturelle pour l'analyse critique de l'évaluation psychoéducationnel traditionnel et postuler les fondements pour la nouvelle modalité évaluative. Cette proposition se justifie à cause de l'actuelle révitalisation de l'usage des testes padronisés pour la mensuration des fonctions psychologiques, dues à la vulgarisation de la neuropsychologie. Historiquement les testes padronisés servent comme instrument pour attester cientifiquement l'idéologie de l'égalité entre les hommes dans la societé capitaliste que se maintient à travers de l'expropriation et de l'exclusion. En outre, il existe une forte tendence à attendre que les résultats expliquent l'intelligence comme inée ou considèrent les prédispositions héréditaires pour apprendre, ce qu'on oppose à la comprehénsion que les fonctions mentales sont formées dans le proccès de développement historique-social à travers l'appropriation de la culture humaine. Il est nécessaire donc une évaluation qui considère les médiations sociales (des instruments et des signes) comme constituants des fonctions psychologiques encourageant le développement de tous les individus et la non légitimation de l'exclusion sociale.

Imposing Radiality Constraints in Distribution System Optimization Problems

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Produção científica publicada nos Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia (2003-2007)

BACKGROUND - The scientific production of dermatology is not very known and studied in quantitative and qualitative aspects in Brazil.OBJECTIVE - To study the characteristics of the Brazilian scientific production published on the Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia from 2003 to 2007.METHODS - A transversal study of articles published on the clinical, epidemiological, laboratory and therapeutic investigation, - case report and 'communication sections of the Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia, from 2003 to 2007, were reviewed. The variables studied were: the dermatological subspecialty focused, methodological analysis used; diseases or disorders investigated and the understanding of authors related to the communication section.RESULTS - Among investigational manuscripts, clinical studies prevailed (60.3%), those with surgical or cosmetic interest accounted for 13%. Descriptive and observational studies were the most common (81.9%), particularly the case series (50%). Infectious (33.6%) and inflammatory disease (28.6%.) was the subject of investigation or case report, respectively, Case report was the most common subject on the communication section.CONCLUSION - Descriptive methods were predominant among the research articles published in the studied period. More sophisticated and elaborated methods were uncommon. Research designs and critical analysis of the scientific literature must be part of the curriculum of the graduate and residency programs in dermatology.

Aspectos clínico-epidemiológicos da neurocisticercose no Brasil: análise crítica

Com o objetivo de mostrar as características da neurocisticercose (NCC) no Brasil, realizou-se análise critica da literatura nacional que mostrou incidência de 1,5% nas necropsias e de 3,0% nos estudos clínicos, correspondendo a 0,3% das admissões em hospitais gerais. em estudos soroepidemiológicos, a positividade para cisticercose foi de 2,3%. O paciente brasileiro com NCC pode apresentar um perfil clínico-epidemiológico geral (homem, 31-50 anos, procedência rural, manifestações epilépticas parciais complexas, LCR normal ou hiperproteinorraquia, calcificações ao exame de TC, constituindo a expressão da forma inativa da NCC) e outro de gravidade (mulher, 21-40 anos, procedência urbana, manifestações de cefaléia vascular e HIC, típica síndrome do LCR ou alteração de dois ou mais parâmetros, vesículas associadas ou não a calcificações ao exame de TC, constituindo a expressão da forma ativa da NCC). Os coeficientes de prevalência nacionais são muito subestimados, embora em duas cidades do interior de São Paulo tenham sido verificados os valores de 72:100.000 e 96:100.000/habitantes. Discutem-se aspectos relacionados à subestimação da prevalência desta neuroparasitose no Brasil.

Síndrome do incisivo central superior solitário: relato de caso

INTRODUÇÃO: a presença de um incisivo central superior solitário é um evento bastante incomum na população. A prevalência da chamada Síndrome do Incisivo Central Superior Solitário (SICSS) é verificada em 1:50.000 nascimentos, sendo registrado um maior acometimento no sexo feminino. Essa alteração no desenvolvimento da oclusão dentária é caracterizada por más formações estruturais, sobretudo na região de linha média do paciente. O diagnóstico precoce e o tratamento adequado dessa síndrome são de grande importância, pois essa condição talvez seja um indicativo de que o paciente pode apresentar outras más formações congênitas severas, não devendo ser a SICSS considerada uma simples anomalia dentária. Os procedimentos ortodônticos, nesses casos, variam dependendo do grau de comprometimento das estruturas ósseas da maxila, da oclusão em si, e principalmente da sutura palatina mediana. OBJETIVO: discutir, baseado em evidências científicas, aspectos importantes relacionados à SICSS, bem como apresentar um caso clínico de paciente do sexo feminino com SICSS, que foi submetida a tratamento ortodôntico na Clínica Odontológica Integrada Infantil da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM) / RS. CONCLUSÃO: pela análise crítica da literatura, verifica-se ser muito importante o diagnóstico correto e precoce acerca dessa síndrome, visto que há possibilidade da mesma estar associada a outros problemas de desenvolvimento. Além disso, o paciente acometido pela SICSS deve ser assistido por uma equipe multidisciplinar de saúde, de forma a otimizar os resultados clínicos e devolver-lhe qualidade de vida.

Spatial and temporal population interactions between the parasitoids Cotesia flavipes and Tachinidae flies: considerations on the adverse effects of biological control practice

Biological control of Diatraea saccharalis is regarded as one of the best examples of successful classical biological control in Brazil. Since the introduction of the exotic parasitoid Cotesia flavipes, the decrease of D. saccharalis infestation in sugarcane fields has been attributed to the effectiveness of this agent. Recently, the native tachinid fly parasitoids (Lydella minense and Paratheresia claripalpis) have also been implicated in the success. Here, we investigated the spatial and temporal population interactions between C. flavipes and the tachinid flies, and provide a critical analysis of the biological control practice, focusing on the undesirable effects of introductions of exotic natural enemies. To investigate these questions, a large data set comprising information from two sugarcane mills located in the state of São Paulo, Brazil (Barra and Sao Joao Mills), was analysed. Analysis of the correlation between C. flavipes and tachinid fly population densities through time revealed that such populations were inversely correlated in the Sao Joao Mill and not correlated in the Barra Mill. Logistic regressions were computed to investigate the proportion of sites occupied by the parasitoid species at both mills as a function of time. An increasing trend in the proportion of sites occupied by C. flavipes was observed, with a concomitant decrease of the sites occupied by tachinid flies. This effect was more intense in the Sao Joao Mill. Thus, there is a convincing possibility that constant releases of C. flavipes decreased the tachinid fly populations, resulting in an undesirable effect of biological control practice.

Corantes marcadores de combustíveis: legislação e métodos analíticos para detecção

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Notas sobre Siegfried Kracauer, Walter Benjamin e a Paris do Segundo Império: pontos de contato

Trata-se de mostrar a originalidade crítica de Siegfried Kracauer diante da experiência da modernidade estética e de discutir as afinidades estético-teóricas de Kracauer e Benjamim ao analisar a Paris da segunda metade do século XIX, o Segundo Império, em particular, como fenômeno originário da sociedade de massas, da indústria cultural e do entretenimento e, sobretudo, do nazi-fascismo. Kracauer durante seu exílio parisiense (1933-41) escreveu uma biografia da sociedade: Jacques Offenbach e a Paris de sua época (Jacques Offenbach und das Paris seiner Zeit). Obra inovadora pelo seu enfoque da história do presente e com pontos de contatos com a Obra das Passagens (Passagen-Werk) ou Paris capital do século XIX de Walter Benjamin.

Gonadectomia pré-puberal em cães e gatos

A população de cães e gatos errantes é um problema grave de saúde pública e bem estar animal e a gonadectomia pré-puberal a partir de seis semanas de idade é a base para controle populacional efetivo. Os efeitos benéficos e maléficos são discutidos nesta revisão, auxiliando o médico veterinário a obter conhecimento e fundamentação científica para análise crítica do tema, propagação dessa prática e conscientização de proprietários.