Imunidade e permeabilidade celular

After going through the more important theories on cellular permeability, researches were undertaken with the purpose of proving the actual influence of the various degrees of cellular permeability on the phenomena of organic resistance against infections, and on the production of antibodies. Three groups of substances known to have action on cellular permeability were used; the first consisting of the following permeable substances: testos-terona, acetylcholine, and the spreading-factor of the staphyloccocus. The second group included substances which help in developing low cellular permeability: atropin, adrenalin and calcium. Finally, the third group consisted of a substance which helps to maintain normal permeability: cortin (an extract of the suprarenal cortex). In order to study the process developed by these elements with regard to organic resistance against infections, adult mice were inoculated with the following germs: K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, S. enteriditis and D. pneumoniae, in the smallest possible amount capable of starting a mortal sep infection in approximately 24 hours, exception made of D. pneumonias which causes death in 48 hours. The animals were divided into groups of 10, a before taking the injections containing the germs, they were given the sub lances under observation, through their peritoneum of intramuscularly. T. animals that died were autopsied and blood was taken from their hearts an aseptic process so as not to introduce extraneous organisms. For the purpose of determining the development of antibodies (hem lysins, precipitins and aglutinins), rabbits were used, which had been prep ously immunized by a treatment consisting of 6 intravenous injections of polyvolent antigen made of sheep blood cells, fresh human serum, and of suspension of S. enteriditis. It was concluded that: Cellular permeability plays a very important part in the development infections. Permeable substances help the development of germ infections. Substances helping to develop low permeability proved not to have any influence worth mentioning. Substances helping to maintain normal permeability, such as coffin, it crease resistance against infections. The different substances used which have action on cellular permeability had no influence worth mentioning on the development of certain ant bodies (hemolysins, precipitins and aglutinins). It was admitted that the phenomena under study relative to resistance against infections are closely connected to the dynamics of the cellular elements, which circumstance is basically dependent on the permeability of Citations of cells.

As Leprolinas "Souza-Araujo" e a sua rápida acção terapêutica nos males perfurantes plantares lepróticos

The A. remembers the history of his lepra-culture and the method he uses to prepare with it the antigen called Leprolin Souza-Araujo, giving photographic illustrations upon the subject. The A. says that the results published about the general action of his Leprolin in leprosy must be revised or rectificated. But he says that the rapid action of his antigen upon perforant ulcers in lepers is consecrated by a large experience. He cured, in relatively short time, perforant ulcers in five lepers. Dr. CASSIANO, from Baurú leper Colony (S. Paulo) treated 21 such cases. The median time of treatment was 23 days and the median dosage of Leprolin injected in each patient was 7.7 cm3. All lesions were cured. After 18 months observation three cases relapsed and 18 (or 85.7%) remained cured. Dr. CALDEIRA, Director of padre DAMIEN Leper Colony (Ubá, Minas Gerais) treated regularly with Leprolin 50 cases of severe perforant ulcers and obtained cure in 46 (or 92%). ina special meeting held in Minas Gerais nineteen leprologists examined the cases of Dr. CALDEIRA and considered the results he have obtained as "magnifico", in the sense as "unic". This experiment is being continued in various brazilian leper colonies and the Author offers, graciously, his antigen to be tried also in foreing countries.

Observation on the morphology of Australorbis glabratus

The present morphological study of A. glabratus was based on the observation of shell, radula, renal region and genitalia of 50 specimens having a shell diameter of 18 mm. In this summary we record the data pertaining to the chracteristics that can be used in systematics. The numerals refere to the mean and their standard deviation; no special reference being made, they correspond to length measurements. Shell: 18 mm in diameter, 5.59 ± 0.24 mm in greatest width, 5 to 6 whorls. Right side umbilicated, left one weakly depressed. Last whorl about thrice as tall as the penultimate one at the aperture, the measurements being taken on the right side. Aperture perpendicular or a little oblique. Body, extended: 47.06 ± 3.31 mm. Renal tube: Narrow and elongated, 23.84 ± 1.90 mm, showing a pigmented ridge along its ventral surface. Ovotestis: 12.78 ± 1.50 mm. Mainly trifurcate diverticula attaching in fan-like manner to the collecting canal (this arrangement is seen to best advantage in the cephalic middle of the ovotestis). The collecting canal greatly swells at the cephalic end, narrowing suddenly as it leaves the ovotestis. Ovisperm duct: 13.70 ± 1.68 mm, including the non-unwound seminal vesicle. The latter, situated about 1 mm from the beginning af the ovisperm duct, was 1.14 ± 0.29 mm in greatest diameter, and is beset by numerous short diverticula. Sperm duct: 14.16 ± 1.27 mm, pursuing a sinous course along the oviduct. Prostate: Prostate duct 5.53 ± 0.74 mm, collecting a row of long diverticula, the latter 21.6 ± 3.5 in number. Last diverticulum generally simple or bifurcate, penultimate generally arborescent, bifurcate or simple, antepenultimate nearly always arborescent, the remaining ones arborescent. The arborescent diverticula frequently give off secondary branches. Vas deferens: 17.50 ± 2.05 mm. The ratio vas deferens/vergic sac was 4.7 ± 0.6. Verge: 3.70 ± 0.54 mm long, 0.12 ± 0.03 mm wide. Free end tapering to a point where the sperm canal opens. No penial stylet. Vergic sac: 3.77 ± 0.50 mm long, 0.19 ± 0.01 mm wide. The length ratio vergic sac/preputium was 1 ± 0.02. Preputium: Deeply pigmented, 3.79 ± 0.40 mm long, 0.89 ± 0.12 mm wide in the middle. Muscular diaphragm between it and the vergic sac. Two muscular pilasters along its lateral walls. Oviduct: 10.24 ± 1.29 mm, suddenly swollen at the cephalic end so that it forms a folded pouch capping the beginning of the uterus. Uterus: 10.58 ± 1.18 mm. Vagina: 2.06 ± 0.15 mm long, 0.32 ± 0.05 mm wide, showing a swelling at its caudal portion, just above the opening of the spermathecal duct. Spermatheca: 1.57 ± 0.41 mm long, 0.92 ± 0.23 mm wide. Spermathecal duct 1.15 ± 0.23 mm. Radula: 125 to 163 rows of teeth (mean 141.4 ± 9.8). Radula formula 27-1-27 to 34-1-34 (mean 30.9 ± 1.7).

De la vivència a l'experiència: la significació del medi aquàtic en el desenvolupament de l'infant

This work gets deeply into the comprehension of the aquatic medium as a significant space for the for a psychomotor intervention in the development of the children. Its starting point is a methodological pose of philosophical nature which uses phenomenology as the way for discovering. From this stand, the research sequence and process are justified. They both show an underlying attitude which has guided the whole process of turning the learning-by-experiencing the phenomena into experienced-knowledge of it. In this way the characteristic gnoseological reduction of the phenomenology has been used, while proceeding to the observation of children evolving in the water. Once the construction process of this work was established, the reduction of the amount of concepts and ideas began. This is its most characteristic process of the phenomenological research. First, an approach to the aquatic medium as a pluridimensional space has been made. Afterwards a study of the up to three years old child from a global perspective which includes the emotional, the social the cognitive and the psychomotor dimensions has been done. At last, the essence of the psychomotor as a model for the pedagogical action has been studied. From this three distinctive elements, and as a result of this research, a proposal of psychomotor intervention in the aquatic medium has been built.

Una Aproximació a la construcció significativa del coneixement matemàtic a l'ESO

This study displays and analyzes the contents of the Mathematics subject in ESO’s second cycle from a constructivist perspective. This analysis has been carried out by contrasting two groups of participants (control group and experimental group). These groups were formed by a sample of 240 students between the ages of 14 and 16 from four different educational centres of the Osona area. Research – Action methodology has been employed, combining quantitative techniques (statistical study with the SPSS package) with qualitative analysis (transcriptions of interviews and discussion group). This study has been carried out after years of classroom observation, reflection and action. The theoretical framework employed is a cognitive one, based on Ausubel’s Significative Learning Theory. Quantitative analysis shows how the researcher’s design improves, on the one hand, the students’ academic motivation and, on the other hand, their comprehensive memory, enabling them to achieve a more significant learning of the subjects’ contents. Furthermore, our analysis shows that the proposed method is more comprehensive than those employed by teachers collaborating with control groups. The main aim of the qualitative analysis is that of identifying the elements which configure the programme and contribute to an improvement of the aspects mentioned above. The key elements here are: co-operation as the basis of group dynamics; the employment, in some cases, of easily handled materials; the type of interaction between teacher and students, where, through open discussion, students are lead by teaching staff towards the course objectives; induction, that is, deducing formulae by initially using examples which are close to the students’ knowledge and experience or taken from everyday life (what we could call “down-top” mathematics). We should add here that the qualitative analysis does not only corroborate the results obtained by quantitative techniques, but also displays an increase of motivation in teaching staff. Teachers did show a positive attitude and welcomed the use and development of these materials in the next academic year. Finally, we discuss possible directions for further research.

Does affirmative action reduce effort incentives? A contest game analysis

In this paper a contest game with heterogeneous players is analyzed in which heterogeneity could be the consequence of past discrimination. Based on the normative perception of the heterogeneity there are two policy options to tackle this heterogeneity: either it is ignored and the contestants are treated equally, or affirmative action is implemented which compensates discriminated players. The consequences of these two policy options are analyzed for a simple two-person contest game and it is shown that the frequently criticized trade-off between affirmative action and total effort does not exist: Instead, affirmative action fosters effort incentives. A generalization to the n-person case and to a case with a partially informed contest designer yields the same result if the participation level is similar under each policy.

The influence of building materials on the residual action of BHC

Residual insecticide activity of BHC vapors from various building materials in controlled humidity chambers in the laboratory were significantly different. Laboratory-reared, first instar nymphs of Dipetalogaster maximus were exposed to vapors of BHC which were being released from the treated surfaces of building materials taken from Mambaí, Goiás.

Patogenesis of pipe-stem fibrosis of the liver (experimental observation on murine Schistosomiasis)

Mice infected with 30 cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni developed portal and septal fibrosis due to the massive and concentrated deposition of eggs in the periportal areas which occurred following the 16th week after infection. The lesion resembled pipe-stem fibrosis seen in human hepatosplenic schistosomiasis in the following characters: portal fibrosis interconnecting portal spaces as well as portal spaces and central canals; portal inflammation; periovular granulomas; vascular obstruction and telangiectasia. The liver parenchyma maintained its normal architecture. Vascular injection techniques with Indian ink and vinylite revealed that the portal system developed numerous dilated collateral venules coming from the large and medium-sized portal branches, about 10 weeks after schistosome infection. The lodging of schistosome eggs into these collaterals resulted in granulomatous inflammation and fibrosis along all the portal tracts, thus forming the pipe-stem lesion. Although not readily demonstrable grossly, the pipe-stem fibrosis of murine schistosomiasis has many similarities with the human lesion and can be considered to have the same basic pathogenesis.

Performances et défaillances du sujet cérébral : regard anthropologique sur la plasticité cérébrale, les neurosciences et la clinique de la dégénérescence cognitive

Introduction 1.1 Le sujet cérébral, rencontre entre le biologique et le social L'objectif de ce travail est d'éclairer une des voies par lesquelles le phénomène anthropologique de l'individualité prend corps au sein de l'environnement contemporain. L'individualisme est compris comme les divers processus par lesquels la détermination du sujet tend à s'autonomiser des appartenances préconstituées. Il est la forme sociologique qui gouverne la façon contemporaine de faire société depuis l'avènement de la «modernité ». Le choix de l'angle de la cérébralité pour aborder la question de recherche repose sur le postulat qu'une des particularités culturelles de la figure du sujet individuel contemporain est la tendance à attribuer aux mécanismes cérébraux le rôle déterminant dans la constitution de la subjectivité du sujet. Dès lors, si aujourd'hui, penser le cerveau c'est penser l'humain, il s'agit d'un phénomène anthropologique qui demande à être explicité. Il m'appartient de démontrer que le champ des neurosciences se profile comme révélateur privilégié pour observer comment penser l'individualité concorde avec l'établissement de vérités relatives au cérébral' . Faire l'anthropologie du proche et de l'actuel a ses intérêts mais comporte aussi des risques. La perte de ce qui faisait le moteur de la recherche anthropologique -l'altérité donnée des sujets de son observation - a été compensée par l'émergence de nouveaux objets de travail et par des reconfigurations des rapports que l'anthropologue entretient avec son terrain. Le renouvellement du cadre de réflexion opéré par l'anthropologie au cours du siècle écoulé suit les transformations des pratiques sociales, culturelles et économiques qui s'opèrent au niveau mondial. L'échelle désormais planétaire de la circulation des acteurs sociaux et des objets de savoir a forcé la discipline à revoir la grille de lecture qui a longtemps opposé sociétés traditionnelles à sociétés modernes. La prise de conscience de la caducité du grand partage a engagé les anthropologues à s'intéresser à des phénomènes en rapport avec des problèmes rencontrés au sein de leur propre collectif et, dans le même mouvement, les a amenée à repenser les articulations entre le global et le local, le particulier et l'universel. Le bouleversement heuristique généré par ce repositionnement n'est toutefois pas exempt de nouvelles difficultés pour la recherche ethnographique. En se posant le défi d'étudier des traits culturels propres à sa société d'appartenance, l'anthropologie s'ouvre à des terrains enquête sur la façon dont, dans le monde occidental, le constat toujours plus pesant de la discordance entre les phénomènes de vieillissement cognitif et l'allongement de l'espérance de vie est traité. Dans une démarche ethnographique, il s'agit de voir quelles sont les logiques d'action et les pratiques sociales développées en réponse à ces inadéquations. La thématique impose une navigation entre des domaines théoriques spécialisés et des champs d'activités possédant chacun leurs cadres de référence. Une telle entreprise suppose une multiplication des systèmes de référence devant être pris en compte. Toutes les disciplines approchées au cours de ce travail abondent en métaphores utiles à la mise en ordre de leur pensée et à la description de leurs objets de travail. Toutefois, faire résonner entre elles les différentes «cultures épistémiques » (Knorr-Cetina, 1999) pour mieux faire apparaître la trame sociale qui constitue leur arrière-fond équivaut souvent à forcer le trait. Le sens des mots varie selon leurs champs d'application et l'exercice de la mise en résonance peut s'avérer périlleux. Je me suis efforcée tout au long de ces pages de préciser de quel point de vue les énoncés considérés sont formulés. L'analyse anthropologique étant guidée par la recherche des points de liaison entre les différents registres, la démarche est forcément limitée dans le niveau d'approfondissement auquel elle peut tendre. Elle risque de décevoir les lecteurs experts dans les domaines soumis à la grille de lecture de cette discipline, non familiers avec les concepts anthropologiques. Il est probable qu'un certain flou subsiste dans la façon dont ces énoncés sont décris par rapport au traitement dont ils sont l'objet dans leurs disciplines respectives. Si on perd de vue la préoccupation centrale de l'anthropologie, consistant à éclairer le système de valeurs commun sous-tendant les pratiques sociales observées, la lecture d'un tel travail risque effectivement de rater son but. En revanche, en acceptant d'emblée de se prêter à un décentrement par rapport à son modèle disciplinaire, le lecteur doit pouvoir appréhender des aspects intéressant ses propres pratiques. S'intéresser à ce qui relie les savoirs et les pratiques au sein d'un monde commun, voilà un programme heuristique qui va à l'encontre de la logique de spécialisation.

Anti-schistosomal drugs: observations on the mechanism of drug resistance to hycanthone, and on the involvement of host antibodies in the mode of action of praziquantel

This paper reports recent observations from our laboratory dealing with the anti-schistosome drugs hycanthone (HC) and praziquantel (PZQ). In particular, we discuss a laboratory model of drug resistance to HC in Schistosoma mansoni and show that drug sensitive and resistant lines of the parasite can be differentiated on the basis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms using homologous ribosomal gene probes. In addition, we summarize data demonstrating that effective chemotherapy of S. mansoni infection with PZQ in mice requires the presence of host anti-parasite antibodies. These antibodies bind to PZQ treated worms and may be involved in an antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity reactions which result in the clearance of worms from the vasculature.

Programme cantonal Diabète: bilan de la première phase du programme (2010-2011) et construction d'une théorie d'action.

Le Programme cantonal diabète (PCD) du canton de Vaud a pour objectifs de réduire durablement l'impact du diabète sur la population vaudoise. Il a été élaboré à l'initiative du Service de la santé publique du canton de Vaud et la stratégie du programme a été construite sur la base des propositions de plusieurs groupes de travail. Ce programme inclut divers projets complémentaires qui ont été progressivement mis sur pied à partir de 2010. 2012 marque la fin de la première phase du programme et une évaluation-bilan du programme est demandée. Cette évaluation-bilan fait suite à une première phase de travaux qui ont consisté en une évaluation de l'évaluabilité du programme. Les résultats de cette première phase ont été délivrés en décembre 2011 au groupe de pilotage et consignés dans un rapport en février 2012. L'IUMSP propose donc pour 2012 des travaux en continuité de ce qui a été fait en 2011 et qui vont dans le sens d'un bilan critique et de propositions pour un système de monitoring à long terme du programme, comportant des indicateurs d'activité (à harmoniser lorsque c'est possible dans des projets similaires), des indicateurs de couverture et de résultats. [p. 7]

Leadership in collective action

We extend the model of collective action in which groups compete for a budged by endogenizing the group platform, namely the specific mixture of public/private good and the distribution of the private good to group members which can be uniform or performance-based. While the group-optimal platform contains a degree of publicness that increases in group size and divides the private benefits uniformly, a success-maximizing leader uses incentives and distorts the platform towards more private benefits - a distortion that increases with group size. In both settings we obtain the anti-Olson type result that win probability increases with group size.