Evaluation and treatment of the overactive bladder

The overactive bladder is characterized by symptoms of frequency, urgency, and urge incontinence, substantially affecting the quality of life of millions of people throughout the world. The symptoms are associated with significant social, psychological, occupational, domestic, physical, and sexual problems. Despite the considerable impact of this condition on quality of life, sufferers are often unwilling to discuss their problem with family members or health care professionals. This situation is unfortunate, for much can be done to alleviate the symptoms of this distressing condition. It is therefore of utmost importance that medical education about symptoms of the overactive bladder and other related problems be improved to help health care professionals identify and treat patients who will benefit from therapy. This article reviews current thinking regarding definition, epidemiology, quality of life effects, evaluation, and management of the overactive bladder.

New migraine preventive options: an update with pathophysiological considerations

BACKGROUND: The pharmacological treatment of migraine may be acute or preventive. Frequent, severe and long-lasting migraine attacks require prophylaxis. Multiple threads of research over the last 15 years have led to the concept that migraine is generated from a hyperexcitable brain. A variety of causes for hyperexcitability of the brain in migraine have been suggested. These causes include low cerebral magnesium levels, mitochondrial abnormalities, dysfunctions related to increased nitric oxide or the existence of a P/Q type calcium channelopathy. The better knowledge about migraine pathophisiology led us to discuss new treatment options. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study is to present an evidence-based review of some new drugs or some agents that even though available for a long time, are not frequently used. METHODS/RESULTS: We present a review of anticonvulsants with various mechanisms of action such as lamotrigine, gabapentin, topiramate, tiagabine, levetiracetam and zonisamide. We also review natural products, like riboflavin and magnesium, botulinum toxin A, a specific CGRP antagonist and the anti-asthma medication montelukast, with pathophysiological discussion. CONCLUSIONS: We aimed to present an update of newer or less frequently used preventive migraine therapies, drugs that might reduce the burden and the costs of a disease that should be considered as a public health problem all around the world.

Lectotype designation for Amazonian Diaptomidae and Bosminidae (Crustacea: Copepoda Cladocera).

Lectotipos (e paralectotipos) são designados para Aspinus acicularisBrandorff 1973, "Diaptomus" linus Brandorff 1973, "D". negrensisAndrade & Brandorff 1975, "D". ohlei Brandorff 1978, Notodiaptomus kieferi Brandorff 1973, Rhacodiaotomus calatus Brandorff 1974, R. retroflexus Brandorff 1973 (DIAPTOMIDAE) e Bosminopsis negrensisBrandorff 1976 (BOSMINIDAE) depositados nas Coleções de Entomologia Sistemática do INPA, Manaus/Brasil.

Biology of amazonian mosquitoes. III. Esterase isozymes in Anopheles darlingi.

Six esterase isozymes were studied during the development of Anopheles darlingi by using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and two different substrates, a-naphthylcelate and a-naphthylpropionate. Esterases 5 and 6'were detected in all developmental stages esterases 1 and 2 were more intensively stained if larvae, while esterases 3 and 4 were better visualized in pupae and adults. Strong differences in intensity of some of the isozymes were observed during the pupal stage.Four out of the six isozymes showed variation in the electrophoretic mobility. Esterase-2 was choosed for genetic studies, because was the best stained isozyme in the gels. Two codominant alleles {Est2*S and Est2*F) code for this polymorphic system, with the Est*S frequency equal to 0.521. Phenotypic distribution is in agreement with hardy-Weinberg expectations.

Revisão das espécies neotropicais do gênero Cephalops fallén (Diptera: Pipunculidae)

As espécies neotropicais tratadas no subgênero Pipunculus(Pipunculus) Latreille por Hardy (1966) são revisadas e transferidas ao gênero Cephalops Fallén, exceto P. (P.) ferepauculus Hardy que permanece no mesmo gênero e P.(P.) posticus Collin que pertence a EudorylasAczél. Cephalops é dividio em três grupos distintos de espécies: Grupo brasiliensis: C. amapaensis, sp. n.; C. brasiliensis (Hardy), comb.; C. innitidus, sp. n.; C. inpaganus, sp. n.; nitidellus, sp. n.; C. paganus (Hardy), comb. n.; C. pallipes nitidus (Hardy), comb. n; C. penepauculus (Hardy), comb. n.; C. varius phaetus (Hardy & Knowlton), comb. n. Grupo callistus; C. amembranosus, sp. n.; C. callistus (Hardy), comb. n.; C. limatus (Hardy), comb. n.; C. nigricoxa, sp. n.; C. nigrifrons sp. n.; C. ponti, sp. n. Grupo latifrons: C. inermus (Hardy), comb. n.; C. latifrons (Hardy), comb. n.; C. ravilateralis (Hardy), comb. n.; C. transversalis, sp. n. e C. willlians (Hardy), comb. n. Uma nova sinonímia é estabelecida: C. plaumanni (Hardy) como sinônimo júnior de C. inermus(Hardy). Uma chave para espécies, ilustrações e distribuições são fornecidas.

BIOLOGIA DE ANOFELINOS AMAZÔNICOS. XV. LEUCINA AMINOPEPTIDASE EM ANOPHELES (NYSSORHYNCHUS) NUÑEZ-TOVARI; ONTOGENIA E VARIAÇÃO GENÉTICA

Dados sobre a leucina aminopeptidase durante o desenvolvimento ontogenético em Anopheles nuñez-tovarìevidenciaram seis zonae de atividade, eendo a LAP1, LAP2, LAP4 e LAP5 presentes nos estádios larvais, pupae e adultos e a LAP3 e LAP6 características desses dois últimos estágios. Diferenças na intensidade de coloração foram detectadas conforme o estágio considerado. A LAP1 e LAP5 apresentam intensidade fraca em todos os estágios e a LAP2 e LAP4 mostram atividade intensa nos estádios larvais, diminuindo nos dois estágios subseqüentes. Considerando-se as funções das enzimas, foi admitido que a LAP3, no estágio de pupa, possa estar relacionada com a histólise dos tecidos larvais. Dos seis locidetectados, variação alélica foi constatada apenas para o locus LAP5,sendo detectados dois alelos de ação codominante. As freqüências genotípicas de progênies de fêmeas inseminadas naturalmente desviam-se significativamente do equilíbrio de Hardy-Weinberg.

ADAPTAÇÃO METODOLÓGICA PARA ESTUDOS DE ORGANISMOS ZOOPLANCTÔNICOS"IN SITU", APLICADOS À PISCICULTURA

Os organismos zooplanctônicos desempenham um importante papel na alimentação de larvas e pós-larvas de peixes, tanto na natureza, como em cativeiro em tanques de piscicultura. No aspecto do cultivo de zooplâncton cm massa, somente conhecendo-se os valores de alguns parâmetros importantes do ciclo de vida de um único indivíduo, em situações diversas, é que se pode avaliar se este estará respondendo de maneira adequada, ou não, a determinado tratamento aplicado. O trabalho mostra uma adaptação de mamadeiras plásticas comerciais para a utilização no estudo individualizado de microcrustáceos zooplanctônicos (cladóceros), em laboratório (aquários), viveiros de piscicultura, ou ambientes naturais (lagos e igarapés).

FOOD CONCENTRATION AND TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON LIFE CYCLE CHARACTERISTICS OF TROPICAL CLADOCERA (Daphnia gessneri Herbst, Diaphanosoma sarsi Richard, Moina reticulata (Daday)): I. DEVELOPMENT TIME

The effects of food concentration and temperature on embryonic and postem-bryonic duration of three tropical species, Daphnia gessneri(1.5mm), Diaphanosoma sarsi(1.2mm) and Moina reticulata(0.8mm), were investigated as part of life cycle studies which included growth, body size and reproduction. These are the very first experimental studies undertaken on these species. The long-term growth experiments were performed under controlled laboratory conditions at all combinations of temperature (22"C, 27"C and 32"C) and constant food concentration (0.03, 0.05, 0.10, 0.25, 0.50 and 1.00 mgC/L) of the unicellular green alga Scenedesmus acutus.Animals were examined twice daily throughout their life cycle from the neonate to third adult instar. In all three species, temperature exerted the most powerful influence on embryonic duration but there was also a smaller food effect. In D. gessneri,postembry-onic durations remained more or less the same at food levels 0.25 mgC/L but were influenced by temperature. At food concentrations of 0.1 mgC/L or lower, postembryonic durations became increasingly prolonged, particularly at high temperatures. This threshold concentration is affected by temperature: in D. gessneri,it was 0.1 mgC/L at 22oC and 27oC but higher at 32oC (between 0.25 and 0.50 mgC/L). At the same temperature of 27oC, the food threshold level varied between species: it was higher (0.25 mgC/L) for D. sarsiand lower (0.05 mgC/L) for M. reticulatacompared with D. gessneri(0.1 mgC/L). In both embryonic and postembryonic durations there is a body size effect as the absolute durations were longest in the largest species and shortest in the smallest species In all three species, prolongation of postembryonic duration at combinations of high temperature and lowered food levels was accompanied by increased number of juvenile instars.

AS ESPÉCIES DE ELMOHARDYIA RAFAEL (DIPTERA, PIPUNCULIDAE, EUDORYLINI) DA AMAZÔNIA BRASILEIRA

Vinte e duas espécies de Elmohardyia Rafael são assinaladas para a Amazônia brasileira, incluindo um registro novo c onze espécies novas: E. amazona (Hardy); Ε. aquinoi sp.n; Ε. argyrogaster (Rafael); Ε. carrerai (Hardy); E. concava sp.n.; E. conckulata (Menezes & Rafael); E. echinata sp.n.; E. hispida sp.n.; E. immaculate sp.n.; E. lanei lanei (Hardy); Ε. manaos (Menezes & Rafael); Ε. oriximinaensis sp.n.; E. papaveroi (Rafael); E. parva sp.n.: £. praecipua (Rafael & Rosa); E. replicata (Hardy); E. roraimensis (Rafael & Rosa); E. rosalyae sp.n; E. subtilis sp.n.; E. tricuspis sp.n.; E. trinidadensis (Hardy) e E. valida sp.n. Uma chave para identificação das espécies da Amazônia brasileira é apresentada e novos dados sobre registros geográficos são fornecidos.

Qualidade nutricional de três espécies de clorofícias cultivadas em laboratório

Três espécies de algas clorofíceas, Scenedesmus quadricauda (Brèbisson, 1835), Ankistrodesmus gracilis (Korsikov, 1953) e Pediastrum duplex (Meyen, 1829), foram cultivadas no laboratório, usando como meio de cultura adubo químico N:P:K na proporção 20:5:20, respectivamente. O valor nutricional das algas foi avaliado pela concentração de clorofila-a e pelo carbono orgânico. As três espécies algais apresentaram alto valor nutricional, particularmente Scenedesmus quadricauda, que apresentou a maior percentagem de carbono em relação ao peso seco (21%), sendo considerada como alimento adequado para os organismos filtradores.

Composição do Zooplâncton em diferentes ambientes do lago Camaleão, na ilha da Marchantaria, Amazonas, Brasil

Este trabalho teve o objetivo de verificar a ocorrência e a distribuição dos principais grupos de zooplâncton em três diferentes sub-habitats do lago Camaleão: canal, macrófitas aquáticas e floresta alagada, no período de cheia (agosto de 1996). Nos três ambientes estudados, Cladocera, Copepoda e Rotifera ocorreram com abundância relativa diferentes. No canal, Cladocera ocorreu com maior número de espécies e de indivíduos, sendo dominante a espécie Bosminopsis deitersi (89%). Na floresta alagada Cladocera e Copepoda foram igualmente dominantes, ressaltando-se que somente ocorreram as formas imaturas de copépodes, náuplios e copepoditos. Nas macrófitas, o grupo de maior ocorrência foi Rotifera, com a dominância de Lecane quadrídentata, Keratella americana e Brachionus patulus seguido de copépodes (formas imaturas) e de cladóceros, estes na maioria da família Chydoridae (21.4%).

Aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera (Insecta) from Pitinga, Amazonas, Brazil

A list of aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera from a collecting trip to Pitinga, a village in a mining area in the County of Presidente Figueiredo in the Central Amazon is presented. Identified were fifty five species of Heteroptera, distributed in 13 families. Among the insects collected, some are new records for this Amazonian region and in addition 3 apparently undescribed species of Microvelia and one of Paravelia remain for further study.

Precipitação efetiva e interceptação em Caxiuanã, na Amazônia Oriental

O presente trabalho foi realizado na Estação Cientifica Ferreira Penna, dentro da Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã, Melgaço, Pará, Brasil (01º 42" 30"S; 51º 31" 45"W; 60 m altitude). A região é uma floresta de terra firme, com vegetação densa e dossel com altura média de 35 m e árvores emergentes acima de 50 m, densidade de 450 a 550 árvores por hectare. O objetivo foi o de quantificar a precipitação total incidente acima do dossel, precipitação efetiva e precipitação interna, o escoamento da água pelos troncos e interceptação da precipitação pela vegetação no período de março a dezembro de 2004, quando foram realizadas 40 coletas semanais. Na medida da precipitação interna foram utilizados 25 pluviômetros, distribuídos aleatoriamente em um hectare, subdividido em cem parcelas de 10 x 10 m, os escoamentos pelos troncos foram medidos em sete árvores com diâmetros à altura do peito (DAP) representativos para as árvores da área. O estudo revelou uma precipitação efetiva de 905,4 mm e precipitação interna de 885,4 mm, um escoamento pelos troncos de 20 mm e uma interceptação de 248 mm, correspondendo, a 78,5%, 76,8%, 1,7% e 21,5% da precipitação acima do dossel, que foi de 1.153,4 mm, no período de estudo, respectivamente.

Outcrossing rate of Couratari multiflora (J.Smith) Eyma (Lecythidaceae), a low-density tropical tree species from a central Amazonian rainforest

A multilocus mixed-mating model was used to evaluate the mating system of a population of Couratari multiflora, an emergent tree species found in low densities (1 individual/10 ha) in lowland forests of central Amazonia. We surveyed and observed phenologically 41 trees in an area of 400 ha. From these, only four mother trees were analyzed here because few of them set fruits, which also suffered high predation. No difference was observed between the population multilocus outcrossing rate (t mp = 0.953 ± 0.040) and the average single locus rate (t sp = 0.968 ± 0.132). The four mother trees were highly outcrossed (t m ~ 1). Two out of five loci showed departures from the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) expectations, and the same results occurred with the mixed-mating model. Besides the low number of trees analyzed, the proportion of loci in HWE suggests random mating in the population. However, the pollen pool was heterogeneous among families, probably due to both the small sample number and the flowering of trees at different times of the flowering season. Reproductive phenology of the population and the results presented here suggest, at least for part of the population, a long-distance pollen movement, around 1,000 m.

Common mental disorders among medical students

OBJECTIVE: Common mental disorders (CMD) have a high impact on interpersonal relationships and quality of life and are potential underlying causes for the development of more serious disorders. Medical students have been indicated as a risk population for the development of CMD. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of CMD in undergraduate medical students and to identify related factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in a sample population of medical students. CMD was identified according to the 20-item Self-Report Questionnaire. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-three students completed the questionnaire. The overall prevalence of CMD was 29.6% and its presence was independently associated with sleep disorders, not owning a car, not working and sedentary lifestyle. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate a high prevalence of CMD in the sample studied and are important for supporting actions to prevent mental disorders in future doctors and for reflecting on the curricula currently in use in medical schools.