A New Species of Simulium (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Open Areas in Central Amazonia, Brazil

The larva, pupa, male and female of Simulium daltanhani n. sp. are described and illustrated. This species shares diagnostic characteristics with Simulium quadrifidum Lutz, Simulium cauchense Floch & Abonnenc, Simulium brevifurcatum Lutz and Simulium siolii Py-Daniel. It was collected in three counties (Manaus, Presidente Figueiredo and Itacoatiara) in the State of Amazonas, Brazil. Its habitat includes streams in disturbed, open areas where the forest has been cut for road construction; it was not collected in adjacent forested streams, suggesting that it colonizes disturbed habitats. The larval subesophageal ganglion is discussed as a useful character, when pigmented, to distinguish this species within a limited geographic area.

Evidences of gentamicin resistance amplification in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from faeces of hospitalized newborns

The intestinal microbiota, a barrier to the establishment of pathogenic bacteria, is also an important reservoir of opportunistic pathogens. It plays a key role in the process of resistance-genes dissemination, commonly carried by specialized genetic elements, like plasmids, phages, and conjugative transposons. We obtained from strains of enterobacteria, isolated from faeces of newborns in a university hospital nursery, indication of phenothypical gentamicin resistance amplification (frequencies of 10-3 to 10-5, compatible with transposition frequencies). Southern blotting assays showed strong hybridization signals for both plasmidial and chromossomal regions in DNA extracted from variants selected at high gentamicin concentrations, using as a probe a labeled cloned insert containing aminoglycoside modifying enzyme (AME) gene sequence originated from a plasmid of a Klebsiella pneumoniae strain previously isolated in the same hospital. Further, we found indications of inactivation to other resistance genes in variants selected under similar conditions, as well as, indications of co-amplification of other AME markers (amikacin). Since the intestinal environment is a scenario of selective processes due to the therapeutic and prophylactic use of antimicrobial agents, the processes of amplification of low level antimicrobial resistance (not usually detected or sought by common methods used for antibiotic resistance surveillance) might compromise the effectiveness of antibiotic chemotherapy.

Susceptibility of spiny rats (Proechimys semispinosus) to Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis and Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi

The role of Proechimys semispinosus as reservoir of Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis on the Colombian Pacific coast was experimentally evaluated. The susceptibility to L. chagasi also was assessed to determine the utility of this rodent as a model for studying reservoir characteristics in the laboratory. Wild-caught animals were screened for natural trypanosomatid infections, and negative individuals were inoculated intradermally (ID) in the snout or feet with 10(7) promastigotes of L. panamensis. L. chagasi was inoculated intracardially (10(7) promastigotes) or ID in the ear (10(8) promastigotes). PCR-hybridization showed that 15% of 33 spiny rats were naturally infected with L. Viannia sp. Animals experimentally infected with L. panamensis developed non-ulcerated lesions that disappeared by the 7th week post-infection (p.i.) and became more resistant upon reinfection. Infectivity to sand flies was low (1/20-1/48 infected/fed flies) and transient, and both culture and PCR-hybridization showed that L. panamensis was cleared by the 13th week p.i. Animals inoculated with L. chagasi became subclinically infected and were non-infective to sand flies. Transient infectivity to vectors of spiny rats infected with L. panamensis, combined with population characteristics, e.g., abundance, exploitation of degraded habitats and high reproductive rates, could make them epidemiologically suitable reservoirs.

Cytotaxonomy of Simulium cauchense Floch & Abonnenc and Simulium quadrifidum Lutz (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Brazilian Amazonia

Simulium cauchense Floch & Abonnenc and Simulium quadrifidum Lutz are widely distributed in the Amazon region and are morphologically similar at the larval and pupal stages. Chromosomally, these species are readily distinguished by the position of the nucleolar organizer, which is in the short arm of chromosome I in S. cauchense and in the long arm of chromosomes III in S. quadrifidum. They also differ by three fixed inversions. Sex chromosomes are undifferentiated in both species. Chromosomal resolution of the two species allowed us to evaluate four structural features previously used as diagnostic aids at the larval stage. Characters that distinguish larvae of the two species are the number of branches and branching patterns of the dorsal abdominal setae and the dark band on each primary fan. Branching patterns of the gill histoblasts were often diagnostic, with S. quadrifidum exhibiting more proximal branching and S. cauchense more distal branching. Sites where both species occurred sometimes had larvae with one petiole branching proximally and the other distally; in these cases examination of the chromosomes permitted assignment of the specimen to species. Pigmentation patterns of larvae, on the other hand, are highly variable. Color typically is sex linked in both species.

Experiências e impactos do aprendizado em Homeopatia: relatos de médicos egressos do Curso de Especialização em Homeopatia da FMJ

Nas últimas décadas, a insatisfação com o cuidado médico contribuiu para a valorização de formações médicas mais abrangentes e humanizadas e para a busca das medicinas complementares e alternativas (CAM) como opções de tratamento. Desde 2003, o Curso de Pós-Graduação em Homeopatia da Faculdade de Medicina de Jundiaí (PGH-FMJ) oferece o ensino da Homeopatia para médicos, integrando-a à medicina convencional. Este estudo analisa as experiências de aprendizado em Homeopatia dos egressos das duas primeiras turmas do Curso de Especialização em Homeopatia da PGH-FMJ, totalizando 14 participantes. A metodologia compreendeu questionários de múltipla escolha, entrevistas não estruturadas e a técnica de História Oral. Os resultados revelaram que os egressos adquiriram competências para o exercício da especialidade, com ganhos nas dimensões afetivas, intelectivas e de atitude, maior satisfação profissional e pessoal, e melhora na relação médico-paciente.

Formação médica e serviço único de saúde: propostas e práticas descritas na literatura especializada

INTRODUÇÃO: A partir da criação do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) e das novas Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais (DCN) para a graduação em Medicina, algumas escolas de Medicina têm procurado integrar o treinamento médico dos alunos aos serviços públicos de saúde. OBJETIVO: Identificar na literatura experiências de treinamento de alunos de Medicina no SUS. MÉTODOS: Artigos publicados entre janeiro de 2002 e dezembro de 2012 foram selecionados de buscas realizadas nos bancos de dados Scielo, PubMed e Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS), usando-se os termos "educação médica", "graduação em Medicina" e "Sistema Único de Saúde". Os autores avaliaram a elegibilidade dos artigos. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos e categorizados 31 artigos. As experiências práticas no SUS foram associadas a currículos integrados, currículos tradicionais, a currículos tradicionais em fase de adequação às novas DCN e a práticas médicas inseridas em projetos extracurriculares. CONCLUSÃO: A literatura revisada desenha um cenário positivo para o treinamento de alunos de Medicina no SUS, destacando a integração entre docentes e profissionais de saúde como um caminho para a formação médica atual.