Ocorrência de mastite clínica e subclínica causada por Trichosporon beigelii em um rebanho leiteiro

Trichosporon beigelii was isolated from four and three Holstein heifers with clinical and subclinical mastitis respectively, during the extension activities of Nucleus of Mastitis Research - NUPEMAS - FMVZ - UNESP - BOTUCATU - BRAZIL. This fungus is considered extremely important because it is responsible for superficial skin infections, known as white piedra. According with literature, there is no record of isolation of this agent from mastitis in Brazil. This fact confirms the importance of microbiological studies to lead the treatment correctly to prevent the increase of bacterial resistance and secondary fungal infections that uses the inefficient antimicrobial as substratum for its development.

Avaliação de fatores de risco de cães sororreagentes à leptospira spp. e sua distribuição espacial, em área territorial urbana

We aimed to evaluate the risk factor of serum reactive dogs to antileptospire agglutinin and their spatial distribution in an urban area. We collected 1,000 blood samples from dogs at 20 immunization centers, homogeneously distributed in the urban area (32 km²) of Botucatu, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Diagnosis was made by microscopic serum agglutination using 24 serovars of Leptospira spp. Statistical analysis was performed by Goodman's test with 5% of significance. Spatial clusters were tested by spatial scan statistic using SaTScan. We found that 17.9% dogs reacted to Leptospira spp. (p<0.0001). Dogs with street access (22.14%) were more reactive (p<0.05) than those without (14.83%). The scan test indicated only one significant cluster influenced by age. Incorporating each one of the co-variables gender, breed, and street access to age, we found that street access was the most important. Street access and age were the most important risk factors in the large number of reactive animals in the cluster, with the castellonis serovar being the most reactive in urban dogs. The identification of a cluster with more reactive dogs than expected allows local preventive measures to be taken.

Investigação soroepidemiológica de leptospirose canina na área territorial urbana de Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil

Leptospirosis was seroepidemiologically investigated in 775 dogs from Botucatu, state of Sao Paulo, in blood samples collected during the annual anti-rabies vaccination campaign. The samples were collected from 14 out of the 45 vaccination stations geographically distributed in five different municipal districts, with a territorial urban area of 31Km2. Samples were taken from 449 males and 326 females; 564 were of undetermined breed, and 211 were pedigree animals; ages ranged from 3 months to 20 years. Diagnosis included the microscopic serum agglutination tests using 12 Leptospira spp serovars. Serological results and epidemiological variables were compared using Goodman and chi-square tests, with χ=0.05. There were 119 (15.3%) positive samples for 11 serovars; the most important was canicola with 48 (40.3%), followed by pyrogenes 41 (34.5%). Statistical analysis showed significant difference for: breed, 17.7% positive in undetermined breeds and 9.0% in pedigrees; and sex, 18.4% positive in males and 11.0% in females. There was no statistically significant difference in relation to age with uniform distribution of positives.

Root trunk height as a risk factor for periodontal furcation involvement in maxillary first molars: an in vitro study.

The aim of this study was to correlate the root trunk height from the furcation openings on the buccal, mesial and distal surfaces to the cemento-enamel junction in upper first permanent molars in human beings with risk for periodontal disease progression. One hundred extracted maxillary first molars were used. Reference points and demarcations were determined from the entrance of the buccal (F1), mesial (F2) and distal (F3) furcations to the cemento-enamel junction in millimeters. The mean distances found were 3.50 mm, 4.44 mm and 4.26 mm for the buccal, mesial and distal furcations, respectively, in relation to the cemento-enamel junction. The statistical analyses were Student's t-test and Chi-square (X2). With periodontal disease progression, the buccal furcation presents a greater compromising risk due to its proximity to the cemento-enamel junction, while the mesial furcation is the most distant, comprising a lesser risk.

Síndrome das pernas inquietas: Diagnóstico e tratamento. Opinião de especialistas Brasileiros

This article contains the conclusions of the November 17-18, 2006 meeting of the Brazilian Study Group of Restless Legs Syndrome (GBE-SPI) about diagnosis and management of restless legs syndrome (RLS). RLS is characterized by abnormal sensations mostly but not exclusively in the legs which worsen in the evening and are improved by motion of the affected body part. Its diagnosis is solely based on clinical findings. Therapeutic agents with efficacy supported by Class I studies are dopamine agonists, levodopa and gabapentine. Class II studies support the use of slow release valproic acid, clonazepan and oxycodone. The GBE-SPI recommendations for management of SPI are sleep hygiene, withdrawal of medications capable of worsening the condition, treatment of comorbidities and pharmacological agents. The first choice agents are dopaminergic drugs, second choice are gabapentine or oxycodone, and the third choice are clonazepan or slow release valproic acid.

Utilização do método de aglutina ção direta e da reação de imunofluorescência indireta na detecção de anticorpos para Toxoplasma gondii em cavalos naturalmente infectados

Infection by Toxoplasma gondii in equines is usually not apparent, it being characterized by presence of antibody titers and tissue cysts. This study was aimed at verifying the presence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies in equine serum by modified agglutination test (MAT) and reaction to indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). 1984 samples of serum were examined, by MAT, using whole formalin fixed tachyzoites of T.gondii as antigen. The samples reacting in the MAT test, and 150 other negative samples, chosen at random, were also tested by IFAT, utilizing anti-equine IgG. The association among the test results was verified by the McNemar test. 138 samples were positive in the MAT test, with 60 (46.38%) presenting reaction at a dilution of 1:64; 52 (37.7%) at 1:256; 19 (13.8%) at 1:1024; five (3.6%) at 1:4096; and two (1.45%) at 1:16384. Of 132 positive MAT samples, 14 were negative in the IFAT test, but the statistical analysis indicated general agreement in results of the tests. The results obtained showed agreement among the tests utilized, and the possibility of participation of equines in the transmission of toxoplasmosis to carnivorous animals, and also to humans.

Toxoplasmose canina: Aspectos clínicos e patológicos

Inquiries about toxoplasmosis are essential because its zoonotic potential and pathogenicity in pets and production animals. The dog can be involved in the mechanical transmission of the infection by Toxoplasma gondii and in spite of not being the definitive host, it has an epidemiological role in this disease. The high rate of dogs naturally infected by T. gondii and the great possibility of adquiring this protozoan, justify the importance of attempting against for the occurrence of this illness. The aim of this article was to demonstrated through literature revision, some clinical aspects, epidemic and pathological of the toxoplasmosis in the canine species.

Efficacy of topical permethrin as repellent against aedes aegypti's bites

Mosquitoes are the most important vectors of infectious diseases and their bites are related to several adverse skin reactions. Permethrin impregnated clothes are an efficient strategy against arthropods' bites; however, its topical efficacy as a repellent has not been well established. We studied the response to permethrin lotion 5 percent and N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) spray 50 percent applied to the unprotected forearms of 10 volunteers. Each arm was exposed to 20 female mosquitoes of Aedes aegypti. We performed 71 bilateral comparative measurements evaluating the timing for the first bites. The average times for the arm without the product, with permethrin 5 percent, and with DEET 50 percent were: 7.9 seconds, 336.2 seconds and 7512.1 seconds. The results showed a significant difference between repellency times between either product and unprotected controls. In addition, there was a significant difference in time to first bite between permethrin and DEET treated arms (p<0.01). Permethrin affords some repellent activity against Aedes aegypti bites in this experimental setting. However, permethrin's profile of repellency was significantly inferior to that of DEET. © 2008 Dermatology Online Journal.

Ações de vigilância continuada, papel do cão como animal sentinela para toxoplasmose.

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii and its definitive host is the domestic and wild felids infecting human beings and other warmblooded animals. Dogs are considered a potential risk on the transmission due they can mechanically transmit oocysts to man. In this study, a retrospective analysis of toxoplasmic infection in dog serum samples sent to Serviço de Diagnóstico de Zoonoses/FMVZ-UNESP/Botucatu, SP, in the period of 1998 to 2007 was performed. During this period 1097 serum samples were analyzed by the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), with 299 (27.25%) positive. The most frequent titer was 16 (42.80%), followed by 64 (37.79%). The results indicate that T.gondii is distributed in the environment showing the role of the dog as sentinel animal to toxoplasmosis to monitor public health actions to the control of this zoonosis.

Heminested reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (hnRT-PCR) as a tool for rabies virus detection in stored and decomposed samples

Background. The use of methods, both sensitive and specific, for rabies diagnosis are important tools for the control and prophylaxis of the disease. Reverse-Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) has been used in rabies diagnosis with good results, even in decomposed materials. Additionally, molecular techniques have been used for epidemiological studies and to gain a better knowledge of viral epidemiology. Findings. The aim of this work was to evaluate the RT-PCR and hnRT-PCR for rabies virus detection in original tissues stored at -20°C for different periods considering their use for rabies virus detection in stored and decomposed samples. RT-PCR and hnRT-PCR were evaluated in 151 brain samples from different animal species, thawed and left at room temperature for 72 hours for decomposition. The RT-PCR and hnRT-PCR results were compared with previous results from Direct Fluorescent Antibody Test and Mouse Inoculation Test. From the 50 positive fresh samples, 26 (52%) were positive for RT-PCR and 45 (90%) for hnRT-PCR. From the 48 positive decomposed samples, 17 (34, 3%) were positive for RT-PCR and 36 (75%) for hnRT-PCR. No false-positives results were found in the negatives samples evaluated to the molecular techniques. Conclusion. These results show that the hnRT-PCR was more sensitive than RT-PCR, and both techniques presented lower sensibility in decomposed samples. The hnRT-PCR demonstrated efficacy in rabies virus detection in stored and decomposed materials suggesting it's application for rabies virus retrospective epidemiological studies. © 2008 Arajo et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

External location of the buccinator muscle to facilitate electromyographic analysis

Electromyography is frequently used to measure the activity of masticatory muscles. It requires the precise setting of the electrodes, which demands the accurate location of the muscle to be evaluated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of an external method to locate the buccinator muscle. Fifteen human cadavers were evaluated and planes were etermined on the face using anatomic landmarks. An angle (α) was obtained at the intersection of these planes on the central point of buccinator muscle and measured with a protractor. The value of the angle allows locating the central point of buccinator muscle based on anatomic landmarks on the face. Statistical analysis of the collected data indicated an angle of 90° with 95% reliability, thus proving the efficacy of the proposed method.

Situación y políticas para pequeñas y medianas empresas industriales en Brasil

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Dermatúnel: Modelo de ambiente interativo de aprendizagem em dermatologia

The Interactive Learning Environment (ILE) is an educational model that integrates features of 3D computer graphics and contextualization, in order to transmit a quantum of knowledge (islands of knowledge), in a precise and agile way, to people who do not know the subject. It is a model that uses multimedia resources supported by a contextualized environment to motivate the participants in the retention of knowledge. In this first release, eight relevant subjects in dermatology were addressed and implemented in the 62nd Brazilian Congress of Dermatology. The model was called Dermatúnel. In a period of four days, 3295 people visited it. The results showed that the participants were highly satisfied. The model has a great potential as an educational tool for medical training and guidance to the general public with the purpose of disease prevention.

Avaliação da reatividade cruzada entre antígenos de Leishmania spp e Trypanosoma cruzi na resposta sorológica de cães pela técnica de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI)

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonosis caused by Leishmania spp. protozoa. Dog is the main parasite's reservoir, especially in urban areas. Indirect Immunofluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT) is commonly used for canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) diagnosis, by detection of antibodies against the parasite. However, Trypanosoma cruzi (T.cruzi) cross reactions can occur in serological diagnosis. In order to evaluate the occurrence of cross reactions between antigens of Leishmania spp. and T.cruzi, 150 blood samples of CVL epidemiological inquiry positive dogs were collected and sera were tested by IFAT. Dogs were culled at Zoonosis Control Center of Bauru (SP), an endemic area for VL. Another 150 dogs' blood samples were collected in Botucatu (SP), a non endemic area for LV, and sera were also tested by IFAT. Serum samples of dogs from Bauru were positive, both for Leishmania spp. and for T. cruzi, showing high cross-reactions incidence, reinforcing the need of diagnosis confirmation by other tests. Serum samples of dogs from Botucatu demonstrated low prevalence of positive results by IFAT, both for Leishmania spp. and T.cruzi. However, despite the low number of positive serological results for these parasites, the epidemiological and serological investigation for LV and Chagas disease in dogs from Botucatu must be kept, considering the importance of dog as domestic reservoir for both parasites.

Ensaio randomizado, duplo-cego e controlado de anestesia tópica induzida por iontoforese de lidocaína

Introduction: Needle infi ltration of local anesthetic is a painful procedure, thus, a topical anesthetic is a comfortable alternative; however, it is diffi cult to deliver transcutaneous polar drugs. Iontophoresis is a noninvasive technique that uses electrical current for releasing electrically charged drugs through biological membranes. Objective: To evaluate the anesthesia induced by iontophoresis of lidocaine for a standardized painful stimulus. Material and methods: Randomized, controlled, double-blind study, involving 10 volunteers under the anesthetic effects of topical application of lidocaine gel 2% and noradrenaline 1:50,000, with or without iontophoresis of 1.85 milliamps for 13 minutes. Pain sensitivity was evaluated by the prick of a 21G needle in the arms posterior region, using a visual numerical scale. Results: Patients mean age was 50.8 ± 11.4 years. Nine of them were women. All had previously received infi ltrative anesthesia. Iontophoresis was well tolerated by volunteers. The median pain scores were 0 and 3 for the arm that received the iontophoresis and for the one that did not receive, respectively (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The anesthetic effect in the region subjected to iontophoresis suggests an effi cient and comfortable method for promoting local anesthesia in the surgical approach of pediatric, hyperalgic, or needlephobic patients.