Alterações ecocardiográficas em cães sob tratamento prolongado com doxorrubicina

Avaliou-se a cardiotoxicidade da doxorrubicina utilizando-se sete cães adultos, clinicamente normais, que receberam 30mg/m² de cloridrato de doxorrubicina (Adriblastina®) por via intravenosa, a cada 21 dias, durante 168 dias (grupo A), perfazendo dose cumulativa total de 240mg/m². em outros sete cães (grupo B) administraram-se 5ml de solução salina 0,9% estéril por via intravenosa, seguindo-se o esquema de aplicação proposto anteriormente. Os animais foram avaliados, periodicamente, por meio de exames ecocardiográficos em modo-M e bidimensional. Verificou-se aumento (P<0,01) no diâmetro e volume do ventrículo esquerdo, inicialmente em sístole e, posteriormente, em diástole, hipocinesia do septo interventricular e da parede livre do ventrículo esquerdo, reduções de aproximadamente 65% nas frações de encurtamento e de ejeção, além de aumento da separação do septo do ponto E do folheto anterior da válvula mitral nos animais do grupo A. As alterações cardíacas decorrentes do tratamento crônico com doxorrubicina foram semelhantes àquelas descritas em cães com cardiomiopatia dilatada, e os índices ecocardiográficos puderam ser utilizados no acompanhamento e na prevenção da cardiotoxicidade pelo quimioterápico.

Custo-efetividade da terapia compressiva no processo de cicatrização de úlceras venosas

Analytical study of therapeutic nonrandomized intervention type, intra-group controlled, with the aim of analyzing the cost-effectiveness of compression therapy with manipulated Unna boot in relation to conventional therapy in the healing of venous ulcers (VU) of patients treated in ambulatory clinic. The study population was composed by patients with VU treated by angiologists in Surgical Clinic Ambulatory of the Onofre Lopes University Hospital (HUOL) with a sample of 18 patients. It obtained the assent of the HUOL Ethics in Research Committee (Protocol 276/09). Data collection was performed over a period of four months by the own master's student and 34 nursing students, through the application of the research instrument in the admission of patients to the study and in the ten subsequent evaluations, performed at the time of changing Unna boot, weekly, for a maximum period of 10 weeks. The data were analyzed with SPSS 15.0 software, using descriptive and inferential statistics, and presented as tables, charts and graphs. Among those surveyed, prevailed: females, mean age 57.6 years, low education and income levels, most retired, unemployed or off work, with the standing position more than six hours per day and up to eight hours daily of domestic or occupational activities. In health status profile of respondents there were predominantly sleep, rest and inadequate elevation of the lower limbs, no smoking and/or alcohol use, presence of hypertension and no use of drugs. Most presented the first VU for over 10 years, recurrences, present VU for more than five years, involvement of left leg, in malleolar and / or distal leg region, mild edema, hyperpigmentation, lipodermatosclerosis, telangiectasies, reticular and varicose veins, mild pain, serous exudate in moderate quantity, small lesions (up to 50cm2), with predominance of granulation tissue and / or epithelialization and demarcated, elevated and irregular borders, with crusts and macerated. Most patients reported that in the 10 weeks prior to admission, made bandages at home and / or Basic Health Unit and / or ambulatory, with nursing aides or technicians, daily, and on weekends or holidays, performed by patients themselves, using healing ointment on the lesion, being observed granulation / epithelialization and increase in VU prevalent in the 10 weeks of traditional treatment. After follow up with manipulated Unna boot, was observed a decrease of lesions in all study patients, with complete healing in 27.8% of those between 1 and 5 weeks of treatment, with satisfactory evolution of the lesions, pain and ankle and calf circumferences, and unsatisfactory development of the borders of ulcers, edema, sleep, rest and elevation of the lower limbs, especially in more chronic patients. Furthermore, patients who achieved total healing and exhibited the greatest percentage reduction of lesions had a higher number of wound healing factors (ρ = 0.01 and ρ = 0.027, respectively). The manipulated Unna boot showed better results in those patients with shorter duration of injury, leading them to a satisfactory outcome within a short period of treatment. After the cost-effectiveness analysis, we conclude that the manipulated Unna boot is more effective than conventional therapy in the healing process of VU and is more cost-effective in patients with shorter lesions (ρ = 0.001), shorter treatment (ρ = 0.000) and greater number of wound healing factors (ρ = 0.005).

Hipertensão arterial e fatores de risco em servidores atendidos pelo departamento de assistência da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Systemic arterial hypertension is a multifactorial disease that contributes to the country´s high cardiovascular morbi-mortality rates. Considering that hypertension affects individuals in their most productive age while facing work and living risk factors, it is important to investigate its occurrence and predisposing factors in different occupational segments. The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of hypertension among workers attended to in a medical service of a public university, their hypertension levels, the risk factors present, and their knowledge of the factors that influence the arterial pressure. The epidemiologic study was conducted in the Health Department of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte with 102 workers that sought care in the medical clinic during the months of March to May 2009. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire and measurements of systolic and diastolic arterial pressure (SAP and DAP) that were classified in stages according to the Brazilian Society of Hypertension and the degree of risk for cardiovascular events according to the criteria of the Brazilian Society for Cardiology. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The workers were, on average, 54 years of age; the majority (67%) was male and had primary or middle educational level; they worked mainly in supplemental units and deanship offices conducting different functions such as security guards, administrative assistants, health auxiliaries and constructions workers; 48 (47%) of the workers identified themselves as hypertensive for 8 years on average, with the majority executing hard labor and administrative functions. Among the workers with hypertension, the number of the pressure levels classified as pre-hypertensive, stage I and II were: (12% in the SAP and 20% in the DAP); (16% in the SAP and 9% in the DAP); and (15% in the SAP and 5% in the DAP), respectively. The workers that did not identify themselves as hypertensive presented classifications with greater frequencies were: normal (16% in the SAP and 30% in the DAP); and pre-hypertensive (21% in the SAP and 16% in the DAP). The risk factors identified in more than 50% of the workers were: tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption and indices of being overweight, although physical activities are also present. Of the 48 workers diagnosed as hypertensive, those that had 5 risk factors present and limitrophic pressure levels (12%), in stage I hypertension (16%) and stage II hypertension (15¨%) were categorized as being in high risk for vascular events. The number of workers that indicated they had knowledge of the factors that influence their hypertension was less than 39% for each factor. It is concluded that there is a high prevalence of systemic arterial hypertension in the university workers, even amongst those already under treatment. They constitute a population at risk considering their age group, their work functions, and their inadequate life habits. Health care of these hypertensive workers that seek attention in the Health Department is an important aspect of the internal workers health policy in the institution. Educational interventions are recommended for the improvement of quality of life and of work in these workers

Integridade tissular de pacientes com úlceras venosas: um estudo baseado na Classificação dos Resultados de Enfermagem

The venous ulcer is an epidemiological problem of high prevalence, causing disability and dependence. Assess the tissue impairment level of patients with venous lesions, within a nursing referential, is relevant for the implementation of a directed assistance to specific clientele. Thus, this work aims to characterize the health status regarding the integrity the lower limbs skin of patients with venous ulcers, according to the of tissue integrity outcome indicators from the Nursing Outcomes Classification. A cross-sectional study conducted in a university hospital in Natal - Rio Grande do Norte. The sample consisted of 50 participants, selected through consecutive sampling. Data collection occurred through a interview and physical examination form and a operational definitions tool for indicators of the nursing Tissue Integrity outcome directed to patients with venous ulcer, applied from February to June 2012. Data analysis was done by descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests (Spearman, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests). The project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee with protocol 608/11 and Presentation Certificate to Ethical Consideration No. 0038.0.294.000-11. The results were presented using three scientific articles derivatives of research. It was found that the indicators show moderate impairment, light and not impaired, as the median. The respondents had an average of 59.72 years, 66% female, 50% were retired, 60% with a partner, 44% had arterial hypertension, 26% allergies, 20% diabetes mellitus, 96% were sedentary, 14% drank alcohol and 6% were smokers. There was a statistically significant correlation of low intensity between age and hydration (p=0.032; rs=-0.304) and skin desquamation (p=0.026; rs=-0.316), family income and necrosis (p=0.012; rs=-0.353); Ankle Brachial Index and tissue perfusion (p=0,044; rs=-0,329); Diabetes Mellitus and texture (p=0.015) and tissue perfusion (p=0.026); allergy and texture (p=0.034), physical activity and hydration (p=0.034), smoking and thickness (p=0.018), and alcohol consumption and exudate (p=0.045). We conclude that the patients had light to moderate impairment, indicating a good state of health on the integrity of the skin of the lower limbs, according to the indicators of the outcome of tissue integrity Classification Nursing Outcomes valued in the present study. It is believed that the evaluation of impairment tissue using a self-nursing system and its relation with socioeconomic, clinical and risk factors are unique tools in the care planning and in the wound healing

Análise da adesão ao tratamento e da qualidade de vida de pessoas com úlcera venosa

The therapeutic adherence is still a big problem among people with venous ulcers (VU) because the treatment is long, expensive and demand changes in lifestyle. In this context, this study aims to examine treatment adherence and quality of life (QOL) of people with VU assisted at primary health care. This is an analytical, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach to treatment and data analysis. The study had the scenario 13 Family Health Units and 02 Units Mixed of Natal. The target population consisted of 44 persons with UV indicated by the teams of the Family Health Strategy between February and April 2014. Three instruments were used: an instrument to characterize the sociodemographic, health and care aspects, the Multidimensional Scale of Adherence Therapy composed of the dimensions: healthy lifestyle, compressive therapy and neurovascular monitoring and the Charing Cross Venous Ulcer Questionnaire (CCVUQ) that evaluates QOL in persons with VU composed by the domains: Total Score, Social Interaction, Domestic Activities, Aesthetics and Emotional State. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee in Research of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, CAAE: 07556312.0.0000.5537. The data concerning the sociodemographic characteristics showed that there was a predominance of females (65.9%), age range as of 60 years (59.1%) and income of up to 1 minimum wage (81.8%). With the characterization of health, it was evident that most people reported chronic diseases (63.6%), sleep more than 6 hours (81.8%), present pain (81.8%), denying alcoholism (86 4%) and smoking (77.3%) and showed a number greater than or equal to 1 (77.3%) recurrences. Concerning the therapeutic adherence was found that in the dimension compressive therapy there poor adherence. No associations between the domains of adherence and sociodemographic and health variables were found. Was observed, however, better adherence among individuals without pain and with higher schooling. When analyzed the averages of the dimensions of therapeutic adherence with the care characteristics there was statistical significance between: adherence to compression therapy and guidance for use of compressive therapy (p = 0.002) and guidance for regular exercise (p = 0.026). Considering the mean of total score of CCVUQ (mean 51.47, SD 18.33) it is observed that the overall QOL of respondents has approximate value of the median of the scale (50). The mean of the domain Social Interaction (mean 44.23, SD 21.38) and Domestic Activities (mean 45.70, SD 23.21) were those who reported better QOL. There were weak correlations but significant between adherence to healthy lifestyle and Domains Total Score (p = 0.012), social interaction (p-value = 0.048), Aesthetics (p-value = 0.025) and Emotional State (0.017) of CCVUQ. From the data analysis it is concluded that among people with UV, there poor adherence to compressive therapy. Furthermore, we found no statistically significant association between treatment adherence and sociodemographic and health characteristics. It is added that there was a correlation between the healthy lifestyle dimension and domains CCVUQ

Suco de laranja reduz o colesterol em indivíduos normolipidêmicos

Objetivos Neste estudo foi investigado o efeito do consumo habitual de suco de laranja no perfil dos lípides e lipoproteínas em homens e mulheres normolipidêmicos. Métodos Todos os voluntários (n=29) consumiram 750mL/dia de suco de laranja durante 60 dias. Variáveis bioquímicas como perfil lipídico, apolipoproteínas, glicose, paraoxonase1 e o tamanho de HDL foram medidas antes e após o período de suplementação com suco de laranja. Também foram realizadas medidas antropométricas e inquéritos dietéticos. Resultados O consumo crônico de suco de laranja reduziu significativamente o colesterol total nos homens (11%, p<0,05) e nas mulheres (10%, p<0,05) e o LDL-C nos homens e mulheres (15%, p<0,05). O HDL-C e a apoA-I também diminuíram, refletindo a redução do colesterol total. Os triacilgliceróis, apo B, PON1, tamanho da HDL, IMC, gordura corporal e circunferência abdominal não foram modificados com o tratamento com suco de laranja. Conclusão Neste estudo, mostrou-se que o suco de laranja apresenta propriedade redutora sobre o colesterol, e foi sugerido que a associação dos flavonóides cítricos com a vitamina C previne o estresse oxidativo e o desenvolvimento da aterosclerose.

Funcionalidade em pacientes após acidente vascular encefálico: relação com o sono e ritmo de atividade-repouso

It is known that sleep plays an important role in the process of motor learning. Recent studies have shown that the presence of sleep between training a motor task and retention test promotes a learning task so than the presence of only awake between training and testing. These findings also have been reported in stroke patients, however, there are few studies that investigate the results of this relationship on the functionality itself in this population. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between functionality and sleep in patients in the chronic stage of stroke. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted. The sample was composed of 30 stroke individuals in chronic phase, between 6 and 60 months after injury and aged between 55 and 75 years. The volunteers were initially evaluated for clinical data of disease and personal history, severity of stroke, through the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, and mental status, the Mini-Mental State Examination. Sleep assessment tools were Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Questionnaire of Horne and Ostberg, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Berlin questionnaire and actigraphy, which measures were: real time of sleep, waking after sleep onset, percentage of waking after sleep onset, sleep efficiency, sleep latency, sleep fragmentation index, mean activity score. Other actigraphy measures were intraday variability, stability interdiária, a 5-hour period with minimum level of activity (L5) and 10-hour period with maximum activity (M10), obtained to evaluate the activity-rest rhythm. The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were the instruments used to evaluate the functional status of participants. The Spearman correlation coefficient and comparison tests (Student's t and Mann-Whitney) were used to analyze the relationship of sleep assessment tools and rest-activity rhythm to measures of functional assessment. The SPSS 16.0 was used for analysis, adopting a significance level of 5%. The main results observed were a negative correlation between sleepiness and balance and a negative correlation between the level of activity (M10) and sleep fragmentation. No measurement of sleep or rhythm was associated with functional independence measure. These findings suggest that there may be an association between sleepiness and xii balance in patients in the chronic stage of stroke, and that obtaining a higher level of activity may be associated with a better sleep pattern and rhythm more stable and less fragmented. Future studies should evaluate the cause-effect relationship between these parameters

Fatores de risco para síndrome metabólica em cadeirantes: jogadores de basquetebol e não praticantes

A atividade física tem sido sistematicamente estudada como fator preventivo no acometimento de enfermidades crônico-degenerativas, especialmente a síndrome metabólica e doenças cardiovasculares. Sedentarismo está relacionado à diminuição ou ausência de parâmetros mínimos de exigência física diária além do estado de repouso, sendo este fortemente associado à redução na condição de saúde dos indivíduos portadores de deficiência física. As respostas metabólicas do organismo mediante a ausência de determinada musculatura, ou sua inatividade pela falta de estímulos, conduzem a diferenças significativas na estruturação da composição corporal. Esta pesquisa teve como objeto o exercício físico regular e a condição de saúde de indivíduos portadores de deficiência física, através da determinação do perfil antropométrico e bioquímico sangüíneo, e ainda pela determinação da prevalência de fatores de risco para síndrome metabólica. Foram estudados 27 homens com paraplegia (T2-L1), portadores de seqüelas de poliomielite ou amputados, divididos em jogadores de basquetebol cadeirantes (JBC) e não jogadores de basquetebol cadeirantes (NJBC). Os JBC apresentaram circunferência de cintura menor comparada aos NJBC, 76,40±8,44 e 89,25±9,73 cm respectivamente (p<0,05). A pressão arterial sistólica foi significativamente maior nos NJBC 123,33±13,70 e 114,00±9,85 mmHg para JBC (p<0,05), não sendo verificada diferença para PAD. Os NJBC apresentaram valores superiores aos JBC para a bioquímica sangüínea de glicemia, TG, CT e frações, exceto para HDL-C (p<0,05). Os indivíduos NJBC apresentaram alta prevalência para fatores de risco da SM, sendo hipertensão arterial prevalente em 58,33% dos indivíduos, dislipidemia de HDL-C presente em 50% e circunferência de cintura acima da normalidade em 41,66%. Os achados do presente estudo sugerem um papel importante do exercício físico na prevenção da síndrome metabólica, embora estudos adicionais devam ser realizados para a melhor compreensão dos mecanismos que promovem a saúde dos deficientes físicos ativos.

Influência do biofeedback no treino de marcha de sujeitos hemiparéticos: ensaio clínico randomizado

BACKGROUND: Treadmill training with partial body weight support (BWS) has shown many benefits for patients after a stroke. But their findings are not well known when combined with biofeedback. OBJETIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immediate effects of biofeedback, visual and auditory, combined with treadmill training with BWS on on walking functions of hemiplegic subjects. METHODS: We conducted a clinical trial, randomized controlled trial with 30 subjects in the chronic stage of stroke, underwent treadmill training with BWS (control), combined with visual biofeedback, given by the monitor of the treadmill through the symbolic appearance of feet as the subject gave the step; or auditory biofeedback, using a metronome with a frequency of 115% of the cadence of the individual. The subjects were evaluated by kinematics, and the data obtained by the Motion Analysis System Qualisys. To assess differences between groups and within each group after training was applied to ANOVA 3 x 2 repeated measures. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences between groups in any variable spatio-temporal and angular motion, but within each group there was an increase in walking speed and stride length after the training. The group of visual biofeedback increased the stance period and reduced the swing period and reason of symmetry, and the group auditory biofeedback reduced the double stance period. The range of motion of the knee and ankle and the plantar flexion increased in the visual biofeedback group. CONCLUSION: There are no differences between the immediate effects of gait training on a treadmill with BWS performed with and without visual or auditory biofeedback. However, the visual biofeedback can promote changes in a larger number of variables spatiotemporal and angular gait

Desempenho motor de pacientes com acidente vascular cerebral em um jogo baseado em realidade virtual

The Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA) is the leading cause of motor disability in adults and elderly and that is why it still needs effective interventions that contribute to motor recovery. Objective: This study was aimed to evaluate the performance of stroke patients in chronic stage using a virtual reality game. Method: 20 patients (10 with injury to the left and 10 to the right side), right-handed, average age 50.6 ± 9.2 years, and 20 healthy subjects with average age of 50.9 ± 8.8, also right-handed participated. The patients had a motor (Fugl-Meyer) and muscle tone assessment (Ashworth). All participants made a kinematic evaluation of the drinking water activity and then underwent training with the table tennis game on XBOX 360 Kinect®, 2 sets of 10 attempts for 45 seconds, 15 minutes rest between sets, giving a total of 30 minutes session. After training the subjects underwent another kinematic evaluation. The patients trained with the right and left hemiparect upper limb and the healthy ones with the right and left upper limb. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, t Student test and Pearson correlation. Results: There was significant difference in the number of hits between the patients and healthy groups, in which patients had a lower performance in all the attempts (p = 0.008), this performance was related to a higher level of spasticity (r = - 0.44, p = 0.04) and greater motor impairment (r = 0.59, p = 0.001). After training, patients with left hemiparesis had improved shoulder and elbow angles during the activity of drinking water, approaching the pattern of motion of the left arm of healthy subjects (p < 0.05), especially when returning the glass to the table, and patients with right hemiparesis did not obtain improved pattern of movement (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The stroke patients improved their performance over the game attempts, however, only patients with left hemiparesis were able to increase the angle of the shoulder and elbow during the functional activity execution, better responding to virtual reality game, which should be taken into consideration in motor rehabilitation

Sintomatologia depressiva e concentrações do cortisol em idosos residentes na comunidade: um estudo transversal

Introdução: Vem sendo crescente o número de pesquisas que buscam o entendimento das relações entre os desfechos adversos à saúde e as concentrações do cortisol salivar, o qual é um marcador de estresse biológico. O cortisol parece seguir dois estágios de resposta: em situações de baixo/moderado estresse ocorre ativação do eixo Hipotálamo-Pituitária-Adrenal, aumentando o nível do cortisol, entretanto, quando o estresse persiste, o eixo HPA parece tornar-se hipoativo. A sintomatologia depressiva parece ter relação com as concentrações do cortisol, no entanto, essa relação é controversa na literatura. Objetivo: Analisar a relação entre sintomatologia depressiva e concentrações do cortisol em uma amostra de idosos do Nordeste brasileiro, residentes na comunidade. Métodos: Estudo observacional analítico, de caráter transversal, em uma amostra de 256 idosos (≥ 65 anos), residentes na comunidade. A sintomatologia depressiva foi avaliada pela versão brasileira da Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (≥ 16) e as concentrações do cortisol através da coleta salivar (ao acordar, 30 minutos após acordar, 60 minutos após acordar, às 15 horas e antes de dormir), além de medidas compostas. Como co-variáveis foram avaliadas condições sociodemográficas e de saúde. Para análise das medidas do cortisol entre idosos com e sem presença da sintomatologia depressiva, e entre os sexos, foi realizado o teste t de Student. Para verificar as diferenças entre as medidas do cortisol em cada curva foi utilizada a Análise de Variância (ANOVA) de medidas repetidas, com teste post-hoc de Bonferroni. Resultados: Houve diferença significativa para a medida de cortisol salivar ao acordar, entre os idosos com presença e ausência da sintomatologia depressiva (p=0,04). Não houve significância em relação ao sexo. Na análise entre as medidas de cada curva, foi observado que nos idosos com sintomatologia depressiva a 1ª medida não teve diferença significativa em relação à 2ª e 3ª medidas. Além disso, não houve diferença significativa da 4ª medida em relação à 5ª, demonstrando um maior nível noturno de cortisol para os idosos com sintomatologia depressiva, sem declínio, com aspecto plano da curva. Conclusão: Parece existir relação entre sintomatologia depressiva e hipocortisolismo. Entretanto, no Brasil, as condições adversas de vida podem levar ao estresse crônico e serem fatores fortes suficientes para sobrepor maiores diferenças que pudessem existir em relação à presença da sintomatologia depressiva

Caracterização dos acoplamentos fase-amplitude na região CA1 do hopocampo

Brain oscillation are not completely independent, but able to interact with each other through cross-frequency coupling (CFC) in at least four different ways: power-to-power, phase-to-phase, phase-to-frequency and phase-to-power. Recent evidence suggests that not only the rhythms per se, but also their interactions are involved in the execution of cognitive tasks, mainly those requiring selective attention, information flow and memory consolidation. It was recently proposed that fast gamma oscillations (60 150 Hz) convey spatial information from the medial entorhinal cortex to the CA1 region of the hippocampus by means of theta (4-12 Hz) phase coupling. Despite these findings, however, little is known about general characteristics of CFCs in several brain regions. In this work we recorded local field potentials using multielectrode arrays aimed at the CA1 region of the dorsal hippocampus for chronic recording. Cross-frequency coupling was evaluated by using comodulogram analysis, a CFC tool recently developted (Tort et al. 2008, Tort et al. 2010). All data analyses were performed using MATLAB (MathWorks Inc). Here we describe two functionally distinct oscillations within the fast gamma frequency range, both coupled to the theta rhythm during active exploration and REM sleep: an oscillation with peak activity at ~80 Hz, and a faster oscillation centered at ~140 Hz. The two oscillations are differentially modulated by the phase of theta depending on the CA1 layer; theta-80 Hz coupling is strongest at stratum lacunosum-moleculare, while theta-140 Hz coupling is strongest at stratum oriens-alveus. This laminar profile suggests that the ~80 Hz oscillation originates from entorhinal cortex inputs to deeper CA1 layers, while the ~140 Hz oscillation reflects CA1 activity in superficial layers. We further show that the ~140 Hz oscillation differs from sharp-wave associated ripple oscillations in several key characteristics. Our results demonstrate the existence of novel theta-associated high-frequency oscillations, and suggest a redefinition of fast gamma oscillations

A cafeína exerce efeitos positivos sobre a memória tipo episódica em ratos adultos sem influenciar a sobrevivência neural no giro dentado

The caffeine is a mild psychostimulant that has positive cognitive effects at low doses, while promotes detrimental effects on these processes at higher doses. The episodic-like memory can be evaluated in rodents through hippocampus-dependent tasks. The dentate gyrus is a hippocampal subregion in which neurogenesis occurs in adults, and it is believed that this process is related to the function of patterns separation, such as the identification of spatial and temporal patterns when discriminating events. Furthermore, neurogenesis is influenced spatial and contextual learning tasks. Our goal was to evaluate the performance of male Wistar rats in episodic-like tasks after acute or chronic caffeine treatment (15mg/kg or 30mg/kg). Moreover, we assessed the chronic effect of the caffeine treatment, as well as the influence of the hippocampus-dependent learning tasks, on the survival of new-born neurons at the beginning of treatment. For this purpose, we used BrdU to label the new cells generated in the dentate gyrus. Regarding the acute treatment, we found that the saline group presented a tendency to have better spatial and temporal discrimination than caffeine groups. The chronic caffeine group 15 mg/kg (low dose) showed the best discrimination of the temporal aspect of episodic-like memory, whereas the chronic caffeine group 30mg/kg (high dose) was able to discriminate temporal order, only in a condition of greater difficulty. Assessment of neurogenesis using immunohistochemistry for evaluating survival of new-born neurons generated in the dentate gyrus revealed no difference among groups of chronic treatment. Thus, the positive mnemonic effects of the chronic caffeine treatment were not related to neuronal survival. However, another plastic mechanism could explain the positive mnemonic effect, given that there was no improvement in the acute caffeine groups

Hipossalivação e seus fatores de risco em idosos funcionalmente independentes e não institucionalizados

The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors related to hyposalivation among non-institutionalized independently living elderly people, living in Natal-RN, Brazil. The study was a control-case type and the data collection was accomplished by carrying a questionnaire, oral examination and a non-stimulated and stimulated sialometry. The cases were identified by values of salivary flow rate <0,1mL/min and stimulated ≤ 0,5 mL/min, and the controls were by observing the values of sialometry that were bigger than the previously defined parameters. Age and gender were used as pairing variables. The data were analyzed using X2 (α = 0,05) and odds ratio. The sample was composed of 98,1% female and 1,9% male, with mean age 68. There was not association between hyposalivation and the following studied variables: income, schooling, profession, dwelling conditions, domiciliary density, illness, number of teeth and use of prothesis. However, a link was found between hyposalivation and smoking frequency in the passet (OR=5,14), indicating that, referring to elderly people, the tabagism frequency habit was a risk factor to the studied condition. Therefore, refering to non-institutionalized independently elderly people, economic-social-demographic conditions, general and bucal health, diet and habits such as alcoholism have been not risk factors to hyposalivation. However, people that have been smoking have more risk to have the studied conditions

Efeitos dos esteroides anabólicos androgênicos sobre funções cognitivas de ratos

The use and the demand for substances that enhance masculinity, strength and sexual power are not novel. Over the years, this search has assisted the research directions in this area, leading to the discovery of the primary male sex hormone testosterone in 1935. Since then, numerous testosterone analogue compounds were synthesized, which are generically called Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS). The AAS were produced for therapeutic purposes, but an increase in the use of these compounds for other purposes occurred over time. Initially they were used mainly to improve performance in athletes. However, recent studies have shown that the use of AAS by non-athletes with aesthetical purposes have been increasing as well. The abuse of AAS with non-clinical purposes can promote a number of physiological alterations, such as heart, liver, respiratory and psychological problems such as changes in mood, levels of anxiety and aggression. Exposure to supraphysiological doses of AAS is associated with behavioral changes, however, little is known about the effects of AAS on cognitive functions. In this work, we aimed to mimic the AAS abuse in humans with intramuscular administration of a supraphysiological dose of testosterone propionate (TP) in rats. We investigated the effects of this treatment on different aspects of cognitive function, specifically learning, memory and anxiety. Adult male Wistar rats were tested in the spontaneous alternation, novel object recognition and plus-maze discriminative avoidance tasks. The control group received intramuscular injections of vegetable oil (vehicle), and the TP group received injections of TP (10 mg/kg, i.m.). The injections were administered for 40 days, with intervals of 48 hours (chronic treatment) or in a single injection (acute treatment). In addition to the behavioral assessments, we performed biochemical analyzes as indicators of the endocrine effects of the treatment. Our results show that chronic treatment with a supraphysiological dose of TP caused memory impairments in the novel object recognition and the discriminative avoidance tasks. The spatial working memory (evaluated by spontaneous alternation task) was not affected. Also, we did not observe changes in anxiety levels. Regarding the biochemical parameters, chronic treatment increased serum levels of glutamicpyruvic transaminase, an indicator of hepatic and pancreatic lesions (as those observed after chronic use of these substances in humans). On the other hand, acute treatment with PT did not promote significant changes in any of these parameters when compared to the control group. In summary, we conclude that chronic treatment with a supraphysiological dose of testosterone propionate produces memory deficits in novel object recognition and retrieval of the discriminative avoidance task in adult male rats