Intraocular pressure and tear secretion in Saanen goats with different ages

Objetivou-se comparar os valores normais de pressão intraocular (PIO) e de produção lacrimal, através de tonometria de aplanação e do teste da lágrima de Schirmer-1 (TLS-1) em cabras da raça Saanen, com diferentes idades e momentos. Trinta e seis cabras da raça Saanen, livres de afecções oculares, foram agrupadas em três categorias etárias (n=12), compreendendo animais com 45, 180 e 549 dias de idade. O TLS-1 e a PIO foram aferidos sempre às 9:00 e às 19:00, durante três dias consecutivos. Os resultados foram avaliados estatisticamente (p<0,05). Relativamente ao horário do dia, a PIO foi significativamente menor às 19:00 (p<0,001) nos animais com 45 dias de idade; os valores do TLS-1 foram significativamente maiores às 19:00 (p=0,004) nas cabras com 549 dias de idade. Considerando-se a somatória dos três dias, ambos os parâmetros foram significativamente menores nos indivíduos com 45 dias de idade (p<0,001). A pressão intraocular e a produção lacrimal em cabras da raça Saanen se elevam de forma significativa até os 180 dias de idade.

Clinical characterization of chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy in dogs

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Efeito da idade do touro e do período de colheita de sêmen sobre as características físicas e morfológicas do sêmen de bovinos de raças européias e zebuínas

Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da idade de touros europeus e zebuínos e do período de colheita do sêmen sobre as características físicas e morfológicas do sêmen desses animais produzido em uma central de inseminação no período de 1993 a 1999. Os dados de produção de sêmen dos touros foram agrupados em cinco classes de idade (12 a 36 meses, 37 a 60 meses, 61 a 84 meses, 85 a 108 meses e 109 a 142 meses) e quatro períodos de colheita (período 1: dezembro a fevereiro; período 2: março a maio; período 3: junho a agosto e período 4: setembro a novembro). As classes de idade determinaram diferenças significativas no volume, turbilhonamento espermático, nas anormalidades primárias, secundárias, terciárias e totais, na integridade de acrossoma e na quantidade média de doses por ejaculado, cujos valores foram maiores nos zebuínos no período 4 (setembro a outubro). As maiores porcentagens de anormalidades totais, nas duas subespécies, foram observadas nos animais mais jovens (12 a 36 meses) e nos mais velhos (109 e 142 meses). Os zebuínos mais velhos produziram sêmen mais concentrado e maiores quantidades médias de doses por ejaculado. em touros europeus, o sêmen menos concentrado e as maiores porcentagens de anormalidades espermáticas foram observadas no período 1 (dezembro a fevereiro), consequentemente, menores quantidades de doses de sêmen por ejaculado foram produzidas por essa subespécie, o que pode ter sido um efeito do estresse calórico sofrido por estes animais antes da colheita de sêmen. A idade e o período de colheita influenciam na qualidade do sêmen de touros doadores mantidos em regime de colheita para comercialização.

A concepção de ensino sob medida na obra hygiene mental e educação (1927), de Luiz Antônio dos Santos Lima

This dissertation examines the concept of the personalized teaching proposed by the physician and educator from Rio Grande do Norte Luiz Antonio dos Santos Lima, in his doctoral thesis "Mental Hygiene and Education," published in 1927. To do so, we start from the assumption that this thinker appropriated part of the educational theory formulated by Èdouard Claparède - specifically, in the case of the teaching concepts of the personalized teaching and comprehensive education designed by the Swiss intellectual - and, considering the Brazilian social reality of early twentieth century, reframed these concepts, adapting them to the country context. To implement the proposed idea, the bibliographical study was the option chosen, and so was done through a theoretical research which had as a reference authors whose studies referred to the Brazilian historical moment in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, our examined time frame. As for the understanding and the methodological analysis of discourse, seen as socially constructed, the Foucault postulations were studied under an analytical approach, in which the disciplinary society is analyzed from the relations of power and knowledge that exist in it. The main source of this research was the work of "Mental Hygiene and Education," published as a requirement to the obtainment of Luiz Antonio s medical degree by the Rio de Janeiro Medicine School. Thus, it was found that the conception of personalized learning to the comprehensive education of students, as proposed in the doctoral thesis of Luiz Antonio dos Santos Lima, was related to abnormalities of mental character that children could present. School education was thought in a way by the potiguar thinker that it could be applied as deep as the moral, intellectual and behavioral deviations of the individual were, making use of hygiene practices of the minds through a normalizing process towards a civilized and developed future of the Brazilian nation which would manage, watch and fix the thoughts of the school students

Aspectos clínicos e patológicos em frangos de corte (Gallus gallus domesticus) infectados experimentalmente com oocistos esporulados de Eimeria acervulina Tyzzer, 1929

No presente estudo, sinais clínicos e alterações patológicas foram avaliados por 30 dias em frangos de corte, linhagem Cobb, machos, com dez dias de idade, infectados com Eimeria acervulina. Foram utilizados 192 animais distribuídos em 3 grupos: grupo A inoculado com 1x10(6) oocistos esporulados; grupo B inoculado com 1x10(5) oocistos esporulados; grupo C inoculado com água destilada. Os sinais clínicos observados foram anorexia, diarréia e apatia. As alterações patológicas macroscópicas observadas foram: enterite, hiperemia seguido de congestão intestinal, excesso de exsudato mucoso no lúmen do intestino delgado, palidez e desidratação muscular, alto acúmulo de bile na vesícula biliar e deposição de gordura hepática. A atrofia de vilosidades e alta presença de células inflamatórias foram as alterações microscópicas observadas no epitélio intestinal. Na análise histopatológica do fígado observaram-se infiltrados inflamatórios e deposição de gordura. Os resultados demonstraram que frangos de corte infectados experimentalmente com E. acervulina apresentam progressivas lesões intestinais de intensidade variável e que essas anormalidades são as principais causas de redução no desenvolvimento da ave.

Detecção e classificação de modos de operação do bombeio mecânico via cartas dinamométricas

The precision and the fast identification of abnormalities of bottom hole are essential to prevent damage and increase production in the oil industry. This work presents a study about a new automatic approach to the detection and the classification of operation mode in the Sucker-rod Pumping through dynamometric cards of bottom hole. The main idea is the recognition of the well production status through the image processing of the bottom s hole dynamometric card (Boundary Descriptors) and statistics and similarity mathematics tools, like Fourier Descriptor, Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Euclidean Distance. In order to validate the proposal, the Sucker-Rod Pumping system real data are used

Técnicas neuronais de agrupamentos aplicadas à detecção de anomalias em mamogramas digitais

This work proposes the development of an intelligent system for analysis of digital mammograms, capable to detect and to classify masses and microcalcifications. The digital mammograms will be pre-processed through techniques of digital processing of images with the purpose of adapting the image to the detection system and automatic classification of the existent calcifications in the suckles. The model adopted for the detection and classification of the mammograms uses the neural network of Kohonen by the algorithm Self Organization Map - SOM. The algorithm of Vector quantization, Kmeans it is also used with the same purpose of the SOM. An analysis of the performance of the two algorithms in the automatic classification of digital mammograms is developed. The developed system will aid the radiologist in the diagnosis and accompaniment of the development of abnormalities

Sistema de teleoftalmologia para auxílio ao pré-diagnóstico de disfunções oculomotoras

The vision is one of the five senses of the human body and, in children is responsible for up to 80% of the perception of world around. Studies show that 50% of children with multiple disabilities have some visual impairment, and 4% of all children are diagnosed with strabismus. The strabismus is an eye disability associated with handling capacity of the eye, defined as any deviation from perfect ocular alignment. Besides of aesthetic aspect, the child may report blurred or double vision . Ophthalmological cases not diagnosed correctly are reasons for many school abandonments. The Ministry of Education of Brazil points to the visually impaired as a challenge to the educators of children, particularly in literacy process. The traditional eye examination for diagnosis of strabismus can be accomplished by inducing the eye movements through the doctor s instructions to the patient. This procedure can be played through the computer aided analysis of images captured on video. This paper presents a proposal for distributed system to assist health professionals in remote diagnosis of visual impairment associated with motor abilities of the eye, such as strabismus. It is hoped through this proposal to contribute improving the rates of school learning for children, allowing better diagnosis and, consequently, the student accompaniment

Análise de células t regulatórias foxp3+no líquen plano oral

T regulatory cells have the function of controlling immune responses and maintaining self-tolerance. The FoxP3 has been considered the most specific marker for Treg cells. The aiming of this paper was to evaluate the immunoexpression of FoxP3 in the inflammatory infiltrate from oral lichen planus (OLP) and to compare it with the infiltrate in fibrous inflammatory hyperplasia (FIH) and then, between reticular and erosive forms of OLP. The samples were composed by 32 cases of OLP (17 reticular and 15 erosive) beyond 10 cases of FIH that were submitted to immunohistochemistry staining for FoxP3. Localization of the staining was classified in underepithelial and intraepithelial and the amount of FoxP3+ cells was evaluated through cells counting in 10 consecutive fields, at 400x power magnification. The values were expressed in mean ± standart deviation, and submitted to statistical tests with 5% of significance level. It was observed a statistical significant difference in the amount of FoxP3+ Treg cells between the two combined forms of OLP (1,6 ± 2,2) and the FIH (0,5 ±0,4) (P<0,05). This maybe could be explained by immunological mechanism of OLP, which involves a permanent antigenic induction likely with consequent perpetuation of lesion, eliciting the proliferation and constant recruitment of Treg cells. Otherwise, FIH presents a different etiopathogenesis, in which there is also generation of a variable inflammatory infiltrate, however qualitatively distinct from that seen in OLP. The erosive form of OLP exhibited a greater number (1,7 ± 2,4) of FoxP3+ Treg cells than reticular form (1,5 ± 2,1). These alterations could have relation with the great disease activity verified in erosive OLP, or also, with abnormalities in the regulatory function of Treg cells that could cause the increase observed. Considering the capacity already well established in the literature, both about Treg cells in modulating immune responses, as in the oral mucosa in showing great potential for regeneration, it is suggested that the possibility of development and implantation of immunotherapeutic strategies that regulate the frequency and function of these cells, may help in future treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases such as OLP

Aspectos epidemiológicos, cognitivo-comportamentais e neurofisiológicos do sonho lúcido

Lucid dreaming (LD) is a mental state in which the subject is aware of being dreaming while dreaming. The prevalence of LD among Europeans, North Americans and Asians is quite variable (between 26 and 92%) (Stepansky et al., 1998; Schredl & Erlacher, 2011; Yu, 2008); in Latin Americans it is yet to be investigated. Furthermore, the neural bases of LD remain controversial. Different studies have observed that LD presents power increases in the alpha frequency band (Tyson et al., 1984), in beta oscillations recorded from the parietal cortex (Holzinger et al., 2006) and in gamma rhythm recorded from the frontal cortex (Voss et al., 2009), in comparison with non-lucid dreaming. In this thesis we report epidemiological and neurophysiological investigations of LD. To investigate the epidemiology of LD (Study 1), we developed an online questionnaire about dreams that was answered by 3,427 volunteers. In this sample, 56% were women, 24% were men and 20% did not inform their gender (the median age was 25 years). A total of 76.5% of the subjects reported recalling dreams at least once a week, and about two-thirds of them reported dreaming always in the first person, i.e. when the dreamer observes the dream from within itself, not as another dream character. Dream reports typically depicted actions (93.3%), known people (92.9%), sounds/voices (78.5%), and colored images (76.3%). The oneiric content was related to plans for upcoming days (37.8%), and memories of the previous day (13.8%). Nightmares were characterized by general anxiety/fear (65.5%), feeling of being chased (48.5%), and non-painful unpleasant sensations (47.6%). With regard to LD, 77.2% of the subjects reported having experienced LD at least once in their lifetime (44.9% reported up to 10 episodes ever). LD frequency was weakly correlated with dream recall frequency (r = 0.20, p <0.001) and was higher in men (χ2=10.2, p=0.001). The control of LD was rare (29.7%) and inversely correlated with LD duration (r=-0.38, p <0.001), which is usually short: to 48.5% of the subjects, LD takes less than 1 minute. LD occurrence is mainly associated with having sleep without a fixed time to wake up (38.3%), which increases the chance of having REM sleep (REMS). LD is also associated with stress (30.1%), which increases REMS transitions into wakefulness. Overall, the data suggest that dreams and nightmares can be evolutionarily understood as a simulation of the common situations that happen in life, and that are related to our social, psychological and biological integrity. The results also indicate that LD is a relatively common experience (but not recurrent), often elusive and difficult to control, suggesting that LD is an incomplete stationary stage (or phase transition) between REMS and wake state. Moreover, despite the variability of LD prevalence among North Americans, Europeans and Asians, our data from Latin Americans strengthens the notion that LD is a general phenomenon of the human species. To further investigate the neural bases of LD (Study 2), we performed sleep recordings of 32 non-frequent lucid dreamers (sample 1) and 6 frequent lucid dreamers (sample 2). In sample 1, we applied two cognitive-behavioral techniques to induce LD: presleep LD suggestion (n=8) and light pulses applied during REMS (n=8); in a control group we made no attempt to influence dreaming (n=16). The results indicate that it is quite difficult but still possible to induce LD, since we could induce LD in a single subject, using the suggestion technique. EEG signals from this one subject exhibited alpha (7-14 Hz) bursts prior to LD. These bursts were brief (about 3s), without significant change in muscle tone, and independent of the presence of rapid eye movements. No such bursts were observed in the remaining 31 subjects. In addition, LD exhibited significantly higher occipital alpha and right temporo-parietal gamma (30-50 Hz) power, in comparison with non-lucid REMS. In sample 2, LD presented increased frontal high-gamma (50-100 Hz) power on average, in comparison with non-lucid REMS; however, this was not consistent across all subjects, being a clear phenomenon in just one subject. We also observed that four of these volunteers showed an increase in alpha rhythm power over the occipital region, immediately before or during LD. Altogether, our preliminary results suggest that LD presents neurophysiological characteristics that make it different from both waking and the typical REMS. To the extent that the right temporo-parietal and frontal regions are related to the formation of selfconsciousness and body internal image, we suggest that an increased activity in these regions during sleep may be the neurobiological mechanism underlying LD. The alpha rhythm bursts, as well as the alpha power increase over the occipital region, may represent micro-arousals, which facilitate the contact of the brain during sleep with the external environment, favoring the occurrence of LD. This also strengthens the notion that LD is an intermediary state between sleep and wakefulness

Avaliação do cortisol, dehidroepiandrosterona sulfato e dos perfis lipídico e imunológico e suas correlações com a sensibilidade dolorosa, depressão e funcionalidade em mulheres com fibromialgia na pós-menopausa

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a non-inflammatory rheumatic syndrome characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain with palpable tender points, muscle stiffness, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. Patients with FM have hormonal changes that are directly correlated with symptoms of the syndrome. The neuroendocrine regulation may be impaired, with abnormalities in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis with various hormones showing changes in their levels. In women in fertile period, various gonadal hormones are associated with symptoms of the syndrome, but studies focusing only a population of women in post-menopausal period who do not use hormone replacement are rare. We developed an analytical cross sectional study to assess the plasma levels of cortisol and dehidroepiandrosterona sulfate (DHEA-S) with quimioluminescence method in a group of 17 women with FM and 19 healthy women in post-menopause who do not use hormone replacement and observe the correlation with the symptoms of pain through algometry, depression and physical functional capacity measured from the Beck Depression Index (BDI) and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). Three blood samples were collected in the morning (between 8:00 9:30) with an interval of 24 hours for the measurements of hormonal levels and biochemical profile. There were no immunological or lipid changes in patients with FM. Comparing the two groups, there is no difference in levels of cortisol and a tangential effect for DHEA-S (p=0,094) with the lowest levels in the FM. DHEA-S also correlated with pain threshold (r=0,7) and tolerance (r=0,65) in group FM. We found the presence of depressive state and low physical functional capacity in FM. It was also evident that women in post-menopausal period, DHEA-S should influence the symptoms of increased sensitivity to pain, but not the presence of depressive status and low physical functional

Emprego de prótese intra-ocular de resina acrílica. Estudo experimental em ratos

Foram eviscerados os globos oculares esquerdos de 32 ratos, linhagem Wistar, divididos em quatro grupos (A, B, C, D) constituídos, cada um, de cinco testemunhas e três controles. Nos animais-testemunha introduziu-se, dentro da capa córneo-escleral, uma esfera de resina acrílica (metilmetacrilato), previamente confeccionada e esterilizada por autoclavagem, ao passo que nos controles a cavidade eviscerada foi mantida sem prótese. Os ratos dos grupos A, B, C e D foram sacrificados respectivamente aos 7, 15, 30 e 90 dias de pós-operatório, quando os conteúdos orbitários esquerdos foram exenterados e preparados para o exame histopatológico. Observou-se que os animais-testemunha tiveram resposta inflamatória do tipo tecido de granulação ao redor da prótese de cavidade, com edema inflamatório da córnea especialmente nos grupos A e B, quando se iniciou a regressão da inflamação aguda. A cavidade orbitária manteve o tamanho em todos os grupos nos animais-testemunha e houve contração significativa nos animais-controle. Com estas observações, foi possível concluir que a esfera de resina acrílica é uma opção, de baixo custo e fácil confecção, para correção de defeito estético causado pela perda do globo ocular.

Implante de filtro em veia cava inferior dupla: relato de caso e revisão da literatura

Veia cava inferior dupla é uma variação anatômica rara cuja prevalência é de 0,2-3%. O implante de filtro de veia cava, quando indicado em casos com duplicidade da veia cava inferior, pode ser realizado de diferentes formas: em ambas as veias cavas; em uma delas, embolizando a anastomose entre ambas; em somente uma delas; ou por implante supra-renal. Relatamos um caso de trombose venosa profunda no pós-operatório de implante de prótese de quadril com contra-indicação para tratamento anticoagulante e cuja cavografia evidenciou duplicidade de veia cava inferior. O implante de filtro de veia cava inferior realizado em posição supra-renal mostrou-se opção adequada e segura.

Miocardiopatia diabética

A miocardiopatia diabética é uma doença do músculo cardíaco causada pelo diabetes mellitus e não relacionada às patologias vascular e valvular ou à hipertensão arterial sistêmica. Observações experimentais e clínicas têm demonstrado hipertrofia, necrose, apoptose e aumento do tecido intersticial miocárdico. Acredita-se que a miocardiopatia diabética seja decorrente de anormalidades metabólicas como hiperlipidemia, hiperinsulinemia e hiperglicemia, e de alterações do metabolismo cardíaco. Tais alterações podem causar aumento do estresse oxidativo, fibrose intersticial, perda celular e comprometimento do trânsito intracelular de íons e da homeostase do cálcio. Clinicamente, é possível a detecção de disfunção diastólica assintomática na fase inicial. No momento em que surgem os sinais e sintomas de insuficiência cardíaca, observamos disfunção diastólica isolada, sendo que o comprometimento da função sistólica, habitualmente, é tardio. O tratamento da miocardiopatia diabética com insuficiência cardíaca não difere das miocardiopatias de outras etiologias e deve seguir as diretrizes de acordo com o comprometimento da função ventricular, se diastólica isolada ou diastólica e sistólica.

Avaliação do risco ocupacional de trabalhadores expostos a agrotóxicos no município de Touros/Rio grande do Norte

The use of pesticides is being used intensively with severe consequences for exposed farmers. This study aimed to describe the socioeconomic and health profiles of 60 farmers in the city of Touros / RN through the questionnaire recommended by: (International Commission for Protection against Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens (ICPEMC). The analysis of these data allowed to prove the importance of knowledge about the socioeconomic and health profile of rural farmers as a way to understand the reality of this population, that is vulnerable to exposure due to the lack of knowledge and conditions. Aiming to analyze the frequency of micronucleus (MN) and other nuclear abnormalities in oral mucosa cells of 54 farmers that work in the city of Touros / RN it was applied the micronucleus test (MN) in oral mucosa. Our results showed an increased frequency of MN and other nuclear abnormalities related to the exposure and effects of pesticides on health. Based on the results, it is clear that farmers are using pesticide in the wrong way and compromising their health. A Cordel has been developed as a method to taking the results to the people affected by the pesticides. Therefore this study alerts to the need for profound changes in the social, cultural and health context to reduce health risks for both people and for the environment