Investigação de Leishmania SP em carrapatos de cães de bairros de Imperatriz-MA, através da Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase (PCR)

A Leishmaniose é uma doença causada pelo protozoário Leishmania sp, podendo acometer homem e animais dependendo da espécie do parasita, São transmitidos pelos flebotomíneos fêmeas, insetos do gênero Lutzomyia, que ao exercer o hematofagismo inoculam as formas promastigota infectantes, mas recentemente, tem sido levantado hipóteses sobre a transmissão por carrapatos. Segundo a vigilância epidemiológica de Imperatriz-MA a cidade é endêmica tanto para Leishmaniose Tegumentar (LT) quanto para a Leishmaniose Visceral (LV). Este trabalho teve como objetivo principal investigar a presença de DNA de Leishmania sp em carrapatos coletados de cães atendidos em petshop e Centro de Controle de Zoonoses do município de Imperatriz utilizando a técnica de PCR. O DNA foi extraído a partir de 640 carrapatos fêmeas e testadas utilizando o primer que amplifica o gene de mini-exon de Leishmania sp. Os carrapatos foram coletados de 41 cães de diferentes bairros da cidade de Imperatriz. A maioria dos carrapatos foram identificados como Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Os seguintes sinais clínicos sugestivos de leishmaniose foram observados nos cães: onicogrifose em 53,65% (22/41); úlceras em 63,41% (26/41), a perda de cabelo e inapetência em 39,02% (16/41). Cento e setenta carrapatos (26,56%) coletados de 16 cães apresentaram DNA de Leishmania do subgênero Viannia, responsável pela forma cutânea da doença. Não foi detectado nenhum DNA de Leishmania infantum chagasi. Carrapatos infectados foram coletados de ambos os cães sintomáticos e assintomáticos. Embora ainda não tenha sido demonstrado que os carrapatos possam transmitir Leishmania aos cães sob condições naturais, o resultado deste estudo tem vários aspectos importantes, pois é um método não-invasivo de detecção, capaz de diferenciar os grupos de parasitas em circulação, em especial se os animais não têm lesões, pode ser um indicador biológico em locais onde não é feito uma investigação sorológica e nem entomológica, podendo dar suporte aos programas de vigilância de saúde local.

Determinação da concentração alveolar mínima(CAM) de sevofluorano em filhotes de cães (neonatos e pediátricos)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise e extração de características de imagens termográficas utilizando componentes principais

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEIS

Reconhecendo a sobrecarga e a qualidade de vida de cuidadores familiares de idosos frágeis

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the correlation between the levels of functional dependence of elderly living in the community, the burden related to care and the perception of quality of life in familiar caregivers. METHODS: This is an observational, descriptive and analytical study, using non probabilistic sampling selected by convenience in the period from December 2008 to May 2009, in the urban area of Curitiba and Colombo, state of Paraná, Brazil. Interviews were applied to caregivers, using demographic inquiry, functional evaluation of the aged, burden interview (Zarit-Burden-Interview) and quality of life instrument (WHOQOL-Bref). Spearman, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal Wallis coefficients were used to analyze the correlations between instruments and socio-demographic variables. Bivariate analyses identified which variables correlate with burden, and the most significant were included in a multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Forty-five caregivers were interviewed, mostly women (91.11%) with high educational level attending dependent elderly (66.77%). Moderate/severe burden was perceived in 75.55% of the sample. We found correlation between dependence, more severe burden in caregivers (r=-0.281, p=0.013) and worse perception of quality of life. The multiple linear regression identified strong association between burden related to care and psychological domain from WHOQOL-bref and time as caregiver (R²=0.58, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In a sample of familiar caregivers, we identified correlations between lower burden related to care and better quality of life perceptions, as well as higher disability and less satisfactory quality of life perceptions.

Quality of life profile and correlated factors in chronic leg ulcer patients in the mid-west of São Paulo State, Brazil

BACKGROUND: Chronic leg ulcer may have an impact on patients' quality of life.OBJECTIVES:This study aimed to identify the impact of leg ulcers on patient's quality of life using the Dermatology Life Quality Index and to define the main factors correlated with this perception.METHOD:Cross-sectional, non-probabilistic sampling study. We included patients with chronic leg ulcers being treated for at least 3 months. A sociodemographic and clinical survey was conducted to assess the profile of the ulcers. We administered a screening for depressive symptoms and the Dermatology Life Quality Index. We performed a descriptive statistical analysis, chi-square test and Mann-Whitney test for categorical data, Pearson for numeric variables, and multiple regression for categorical data.RESULTS:Forty-one patients were assessed. Their mean age was 61.78 years. Venous ulcers (48.8%) were the most prevalent. Seventy-three percent of the sample perceived no impact/low impact on quality of life in the past week, and 26.8% perceived moderate/high impact. A multiple regression analysis identified the causes of lesion, pain related to the ulcers, time of onset, and severity of the depressive symptoms as the variables that had an influence on quality of life.CONCLUSIONS:The majority of the sample perceived low or no impact of the condition on the quality of the life. The variables etiology of the lesion (p<0.001), pain related to the ulcers (p=0.001), time of onset (p=0.006), and severity of the depressive symptoms (p<0.001) had an influence on the quality of life, suggesting the need for further studies with more robust designs to confirm the causal relationship between these characteristics and quality of life.

Ultrassonografia transcraniana em cães hígidos: padronização da técnica e descrição anatômica

The study of the nervous system is increasing in Veterinary Medicine. Transcranial ultrasonography (TCUS) has the advantage of being a non-invasive and low cost method compared to computerized tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The temporal bone has been used as an acoustic window in TCUS in humans. This study aimed to correlate transcranial ultrasonographic images obtained through the temporal and occipital window with healthy dog's encephalic anatomy, and to standardize the technique. 37 adult mongrel dogs were used: 30 animals in vivo, in order to perform USTC screening and seven dog corpses for brain section as well as USTC planes. Data analysis was accomplished by the non parametric Wilcoxon test. Results obtained indicate that TCUS (in dorsal and oblique planes) is a viable method for brain evaluation in dogs weighting up to 10kg without anesthesia.

Scale morphology of Prochilodus lineatus with emphasis on the scale epithelium

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Characterisation of the methylation pattern in the intragenic CpG island of the IGF2 gene in Bos taurus indicus cumulus cells during in vitro maturation

The aim of this study was to characterise the methylation pattern in a CpG island of the IGF2 gene in cumulus cells from 1-3 mm and a parts per thousand yenaEuro parts per thousand 8.0 mm follicles and to evaluate the effects of in vitro maturation on this pattern.Genomic DNA was treatment with sodium bisulphite. Nested PCR using bisulphite-treated DNA was performed, and DNA methylation patterns have been characterised.There were no differences in the methylation pattern among groups (P > 0.05). Cells of pre-IVM and post-IVM from small follicles showed methylation levels of 78.17 +/- 14.11 % and 82.93 +/- 5.86 %, respectively, and those from large follicles showed methylation levels of 81.81 +/- 10.40 % and 79.64 +/- 13.04 %, respectively. Evaluating only the effect of in vitro maturation, cells of pre-IVM and post-IVM COCs showed methylation levels of 80.17 +/- 12.01 % and 81.19 +/- 10.15 %.In conclusion, the methylation levels of the cumulus cells of all groups were higher than that expected from the imprinted pattern of somatic cells. As the cumulus cells from the pre-IVM follicles were not subjected to any in vitro manipulation, the hypermethylated pattern that was observed may be the actual physiological methylation pattern for this particular locus in these cells. Due the importance of DNA methylation in oogenesis, and to be a non-invasive method for determining oocyte quality, the identification of new epigenetic markers in cumulus cells has great potential to be used to support reproductive biotechniques in humans and other mammals.

Eye darkening as a reliable, easy and inexpensive indicator of stress in fish

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Short interspersed CAN SINE elements as prognostic markers in canine mammary neoplasia

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Estimating outcomes in newborn infants using fuzzy logic

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Treinamento concorrente e o treinamento funcional promovem alterações benéficas na composição corporal e esteatose hepática não alcoólica de jovens obesos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart rate variability: a literature update

Background: The literature indicates that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects cardiac autonomic control. In this study, we conducted a literature review in order to investigate the heart rate variability (HRV) in COPD subjects. Methods: A search was performed in Medline database, using the link between the keywords: “autonomic nervous system”, “cardiovascular system”, “COPD” and “heart rate variability”. Results: The search resulted in a total of 40 references. Amongst these references, the first exclusion resulted in the barring of 29 titles and abstracts, which were not clearly related to the purpose of review. This resulted in a total of 11 articles that were then read and utilized in the review. The selected studies indicated that there is significant reduction of HRV in patients with COPD, characterized by reduction of indices that assess parasympathetic activity in addition to dealing with the global autonomic modulation. We also established that supervised exercise can reduce these harmful effects in COPD patients. Also, it was reported that the use of non-invasive ventilation in these patients may contribute to the improvement of respiratory symptoms, with no impairing, and may even induce positive responses in cardiac autonomic regulation. Conclusion: The studies indicate a need for further investigations to guide future therapies to improve the treatment of cardiovascular system in the respiratory diseases.

Estrutura do esmalte humano e sua interface com sistemas adesivos

Esta tese sistematiza uma série de estudos dedicados à compreensão da interface do esmalte e sistemas adesivos. Para tanto, a estrutura da camada aprismática do esmalte em alta resolução pela microscopia eletrônica de varredura foi avaliada quanto a sua continuidade, espessura, distribuição nas faces coronárias e em fossas e fissuras, predominantemente em dentes decíduos não erupcionados. Foi também analisado pela microscopia eletrônica de varredura os efeitos do condicionamento de diferentes tipos de ácido e, em especial, do ácido fosfórico em diferentes concentrações, metodologias e tempos de aplicação. Estes trabalhos permitiram visualizar as principais ações ácidas desmineralizantes e os tipos de retenções no centro ou periferias dos prismas ou em ambas as regiões, bem como a profundidade e forma dos “tags” resinosos com carga e sem carga na intimidade do esmalte. No caso particular da aplicação dos selantes em fossas e fissuras foi também avaliada comparativamente a eficácia das técnicas invasivas ou não invasivas. Os últimos experimentos foram dedicados ao estudo da microinfiltração de diferentes sistemas adesivos e da resistência destes sistemas adesivos na estrutura do esmalte. Novos estudos merecem dar continuidade à linha de pesquisa de sempre priorizando o propósito de vincular os procedimentos aplicados com uma consistente e indispensável fundamentação de pesquisa básica no interesse da clínica odontopediátrica.

Ultrasonographic measurements of kidney fat thickness and Longissimus muscle area in predicting body composition of pregnant goats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)