An outbreak of Portuguese man-of-war (Physalia physalis - Linnaeus, 1758) envenoming in Southeastern Brazil

Introduction Portuguese man-of-war, Physalia physalis (Linnaeus, 1758), are cnidarians capable of discharging intracellular organelles filled with venom, resulting in severe envenomation in humans. Methods We report the clinical and therapeutic aspects of 331 accidents involving Portuguese man-of-war in an outbreak on the coast of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Results The clinical manifestations of envenomation were rare and mild and mostly local, systemic reactions; there was a low rate of late complications. Conclusions The consequences of envenomation were of moderate severity, and first aid measures were effective in controlling the pain. Outbreaks of accidents involving Portuguese man-of-war occur periodically in the area without a clear explanation.

Caracterização da demanda do pronto socorro do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu - UNESP

The demand for health services can be understood as an application needs the user has. The inability to use the outpatient services and limited supply of these make it possible for users to browse sites that focus attention on a greater possibility of entry doors, in which first-aid centers and hospital emergency match this profile, distorting the flow of patients in the network through an inverse demand of the movement hierarchy. Added to this, the burden of care in these services results in overcrowding and poor quality of care. Evaluate the demand of the visits occurred in the Emergency Room of the Hospital of the Medical School of Botucatu / UNESP (PS - HC - FMB / UNESP) during June-July 2010. A transversal, descriptive and retrospective. For data collection sheet was used in the proposed Service unit and the data it was filled out the form with the necessary items for the search. Made an exploratory analysis and frequency distributions for categorical variables of the form. Females predominated (56%) and aged 61 years or older with 30%. 96.5% were owned by DRS VI, and 62.5% of Botucatu. The attendance by the physician on duty and corresponded to 57.7% among the 23 medical specialties, Gastric (7.0%), Cardiology (4.5%), Medical (4.4%), urology (4.2%) and Pulmonology (4.1%) were the ones that stood out. The medical procedures performed that stood out were X-ray (46.4%) and electrocardiogram (ECG) (42.3%) and in most specialty care occurred, only the daily consultation with the patient. It was possible to characterize, so the demand for PS - HC - FMB / UNESP for the period June- July 2010, The predominance of the elderly shows that come along with aging diseases and addictions, causing a greater need for health services. Moreover, this study showed that the high number of visits is related to both the daily demands that the tertiary hospital has the same transformation... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Curso de capacitação para líderes, voluntários, profissionais e gestores de comunidades terapêuticas: o conhecimento em relação ao álcool, crack e outras drogas

Pós-graduação em Saúde Coletiva - FMB

L-carnitine as an ergogenic aid for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease submitted to whole-body and respiratory muscle training programs

The effects of adding L-carnitine to a whole-body and respiratory training program were determined in moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Sixteen COPD patients (66 ± 7 years) were randomly assigned to L-carnitine (CG) or placebo group (PG) that received either L-carnitine or saline solution (2 g/day, orally) for 6 weeks (forced expiratory volume on first second was 38 ± 16 and 36 ± 12%, respectively). Both groups participated in three weekly 30-min treadmill and threshold inspiratory muscle training sessions, with 3 sets of 10 loaded inspirations (40%) at maximal inspiratory pressure. Nutritional status, exercise tolerance on a treadmill and six-minute walking test, blood lactate, heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory muscle strength were determined as baseline and on day 42. Maximal capacity in the incremental exercise test was significantly improved in both groups (P < 0.05). Blood lactate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and heart rate at identical exercise levels were lower in CG after training (P < 0.05). Inspiratory muscle strength and walking test tolerance were significantly improved in both groups, but the gains of CG were significantly higher than those of PG (40 ± 14 vs 14 ± 5 cmH2O, and 87 ± 30 vs 34 ± 29 m, respectively; P < 0.05). Blood lactate concentration was significantly lower in CG than in PG (1.6 ± 0.7 vs 2.3 ± 0.7 mM, P < 0.05). The present data suggest that carnitine can improve exercise tolerance and inspiratory muscle strength in COPD patients, as well as reduce lactate production.

Endurance training stimulates growth and survival pathways and the redox balance in rat pancreatic islets

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

Neural network based on adaptive resonance theory with continuous training for multi-configuration transient stability analysis of electric power systems

This work presents a methodology to analyze electric power systems transient stability for first swing using a neural network based on adaptive resonance theory (ART) architecture, called Euclidean ARTMAP neural network. The ART architectures present plasticity and stability characteristics, which are very important for the training and to execute the analysis in a fast way. The Euclidean ARTMAP version provides more accurate and faster solutions, when compared to the fuzzy ARTMAP configuration. Three steps are necessary for the network working, training, analysis and continuous training. The training step requires much effort (processing) while the analysis is effectuated almost without computational effort. The proposed network allows approaching several topologies of the electric system at the same time; therefore it is an alternative for real time transient stability of electric power systems. To illustrate the proposed neural network an application is presented for a multi-machine electric power systems composed of 10 synchronous machines, 45 buses and 73 transmission lines. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Predictors of first-year survival in patients with advanced COPD treated using long-term oxygen therapy

Little evidence-based guidance is available to aid clinicians in determining short-term prognoses in very severe COPD patients. Therefore, the present study was designed to provide a prospective assessment (1) of the mortality rates and (2) whether the baseline measurements may be determinants of 1-year mortality in hypoxemic COPD patients receiving long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT).Seventy-eight clinically stable patients with advanced COPD treated using LTOT were enrolled in a prospective cohort study. Outcome variable: first-year mortality. Baseline measurements: categorical variables: age (<60 or >= 60 years); gender; body mass index (<20 or >= 20 kg/m(2)); fat-free mass (FFM) index (<16 [men] and <15kg/m(2) [women]; baseline dyspnea index (BDI) (<= 3 or >3); and corticosteroid use. Continuous variables: smoking history; lung function; FFM; fat mass; hemoglobin; hematocrit; arterial blood gases; forearm muscle strength; St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ); and comorbidity score. By the end of 1-year of follow-up, 12 patients (15.4%) had died. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that BDI <= 3 was the only variable associated with higher mortality. Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed that tower PaO2 and SPO2, higher PaCO2 and SGRQ scores were associated with reduced survival. In the multivariate analysis, BDI remained predictive of mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.31-0.81), as did PaO2 (HR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.26-0.95). These data suggest that readily available parameters as dyspnea intensity and hypoxemia severity may be useful in predicting first-year survival rates in advanced COPD patients receiving LTOT (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Psychological, biochemical and physiological responses of Brazilian soccer players during a training program

Aims of the study. - The aim of this study is to investigate the behavior of the physiological, biochemical and psychological parameters in Brazilian soccer players during a training program.Materials. - Fifteen athletes were evaluated at the beginning (T1), in the middle (T2) and at the end (T3) of the training program. on the first day, at 7:30 am, before the blood collecting at rest for the determination of serum creatine kinase (CK), serum creatinine and serum urea, the athletes had their psychological parameters assessed by the profile of mood state questionnaire (POMS). After 90 min, they performed a 250-m sprint. on the second day at 8:30 am, the athletes had their alactic anaerobic performance measured and, after 40 min, they completed the aerobic test. Friedman test was used to verify the behavior of overtraining markers.Results. - There was a decrease in vigor score in T3 (p=0.01) compared with T1 and T2. In T3 (p=0.01), the athletes also showed an increase in serum creatinine levels compared to T1. Furthermore, in the same period, we verified a diminishing in the team performance.Conclusion. - The training program developed between T2 and T3 led to the fall of the vigor score, the increase in serum creatinine concentrations and the diminishing in team performance. (c) 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

RESPONSES of HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS and AEROBIC PERFORMANCE of ELITE MEN and WOMEN SWIMMERS DURING A 14-WEEK TRAINING PROGRAM

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Analysis of floristic composition and structure as an aid to monitoring protected areas of dense rain forest in southeastern Brazil

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

Hematological parameters and anaerobic threshold in Brazilian soccer players throughout a training program

We assessed the responses of hematological parameters and their relationship to the anaerobic threshold of Brazilian soccer players during a training program. Twelve athletes were evaluated at the beginning (week 0, T1), in the middle (week 6, T2), and at the end (week 12, T3) of the soccer training program. on the first day at 7:30 AM, before collecting the blood sample at rest for the determination of the hematological parameters, the athletes were conducted to the anthropometric evaluation. on the second day at 8:30 AM, the athletes had their anaerobic threshold measured. Analysis of variance with Newman-Keuls'post hoc was used for statistical comparisons between the parameters measured during the soccer training program. Correlations between the parameters analyzed were determined using the Pearson's correlation coefficient. Erythrocytes concentration, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were significantly increased from T1 to T2. The specific soccer training program led to a rise in erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and hematocrit from T1 to T2. We assumed that these results occurred due to the plasma volume reduction and may be explained by the soccer training program characteristics. Furthermore, we did not observe any correlation between the anaerobic threshold and the hematological parameters.

EFFECTS of 14-WEEK SWIMMING TRAINING PROGRAM on THE PSYCHOLOGICAL, HORMONAL, and PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS of ELITE WOMEN ATHLETES

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Modulation of insulin secretion by physical training during recovery from protein malnutrition in rats

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to examine insulin secretion in rats submitted to protein restriction and nutritional recovery associated or not to physical training. Methods: The experiment was designed in two sets of five weeks each. In the first set the rats were fed a nonnal-protein diet(17%-control group) or a low-protein diet (6%-malnourished group) for five weeks. After this, all animals were fed the 17% protein diet and separated into four groups: sedentary control(SC); trained eontrol(TC); sedentary recovered(SR) and trained recovered(TR). TC and TR rats performed swimming exercise. Results: The results indicated efficiency of the 6% protein diet in producing signs of malnutrition, as reduction in body weight gain and serum albumin levels, as well as liver fat. Serum insulin in the fed state and insulin secretion by isolated pancreatic islets in response to glucose were Keduced,but peripheral sensitivity to insulin was increased and glucose tolerance was not changed in the protein deficient rats, indicating adaptation to malnutrition. Diet protocol for nutritional recovery was efficient in repairing body weight gain, serum albumin and liver fat levels of the previously malnourished rats. Glucose induced insulin release by pancreatic islets remained low after nutritional recovery. Insulin secretion by the islets isolated from rats submitted to exercise training during nutritional recovery was improved when compared with the sedentary animals. Conclusion: This indicates that exercise training may be useful in the treatment of protein calorie malnutrition, concerning to glucose induced insulip secretion.

Long-term creatine supplementation improves muscular performance during resistance training in older women

This study examined the effects of long-term creatine supplementation combined with resistance training (RT) on the one-repetition maximum (1RM) strength, motor functional performance (e.g., 30-s chair stand, arm curl, and getting up from lying on the floor tests) and body composition (e.g., fat-free mass, muscle mass, and % body fat using DEXA scans) in older women. Eighteen healthy women (64.9 ± 5.0 years) were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to either a creatine (CR, N = 9) or placebo (PL, N = 9) group. Both groups underwent a 12-week RT program (3 days week-1), consuming an equivalent amount of either creatine (5.0 g day-1) or placebo (maltodextrin). After 12 week, the CR group experienced a greater (P < 0.05) increase (Δ%) in training volume (+164.2), and 1RM bench press (+5.1), knee extension (+3.9) and biceps curl (+8.8) performance than the PL group. Furthermore, CR group gained significantly more fat-free mass (+3.2) and muscle mass (+2.8) and were more efficient in performing submaximal-strength functional tests than the PL group. No changes (P > 0.05) in body mass or % body fat were observed from pre- to post-test in either group. These results indicate that long-term creatine supplementation combined with RT improves the ability to perform submaximal-strength functional tasks and promotes a greater increase in maximal strength, fat-free mass and muscle mass in older women. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Combining adapted Judo training and pharmacological treatment to improve bone mineral density on postmenopausal women: A two years study

Background & Study Aim: Physical activity has been an important factor to increase bone mineral density (BMD) and, consequently, to prevent and treat osteoporosis. The study aimed the effects of adapted Judo training on BMD in postmenopausal women, during pharmacological treatment. Material & Methods: Eighteen female volunteers participated in this study. They were separated into two groups: Adapted Judo training (AJT) (n=11; 52.2±5.3 years) and control group (CG) (n=7; 53.8±4.4 years). Lunar GE Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) measured BMD at lumbar L2-L4, femoral neck and trochanter sites. The training period for AJT was two years, comprised 12 mesocycles with different intensities. ANOVA compared 2 groups in 3 moments of testing and Scheffé Test allowed multiple comparisons between groups for the L2-L4 and femoral neck sites, but at trochanter was Fisher LSD. Results: ANOVA showed significant differences in the AJT group (F(2, 32)=15.187, p=0.000023). Scheffé Test showed significant increase on lumbar BMD after one year of AJT (Δ%=+8.9%, p=0.000017) and after two years this improvement stand still (p=0.33). The CG after one year presented significant decrease in BMD of femoral neck (Δ%=-6.9%, p=0.03) and trochanter (Δ%=-3.7%, p=0.0084). However, the CG recovered the loss of BMD of femoral neck (Δ%=+7.6%, p=0.02) and trochanter (Δ%=+3.8%, p=0.0079) after two years of study. Conclusions: Drug therapy, without the physical activity practice, can aid the maintenance of BMD. AJT may be considered as an efficient physical activity for postmenopausal women with low BMD in pharmacological treatment. © ARCHIVES OF BUDO | SCIENCE OF MARTIAL ARTS.