Temporal changes in calcium-binding proteins in the medial geniculate nucleus of the monkey Sapajus apella

The subdivisions of the medial geniculate complex can be distinguished based on the immunostaining of calcium-binding proteins and by the properties of the neurons within each subdivision. The possibility of changes in neurochemistry in this and other central auditory areas are important aspects to understand the basis that contributing to functional variations determined by environmental cycles or the animal's cycles of activity and rest. This study investigated, for the first time, day/night differences in the amounts of parvalbumin-, calretinin- and calbindin-containing neurons in the thalamic auditory center of a non-human primate, Sapajus apella. The immunoreactivity of the PV-IR, CB-IR and CR-IR neurons demonstrated different distribution patterns among the subdivisions of the medial geniculate. Moreover, a high number of CB- and CR-IR neurons were found during day, whereas PV-IR was predominant at night. We conclude that in addition to the chemical heterogeneity of the medial geniculate nucleus with respect to the expression of calcium-binding proteins, expression also varied relative to periods of light and darkness, which may be important for a possible functional adaptation of central auditory areas to environmental changes and thus ensure the survival and development of several related functions.

Respiratory regulation in workers of the leaf cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel, 1908

1. Respiratory rates of workers of the leaf cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa were measured at different oxygen pressures, at 25°C. 2. In experiments where different ants were used at each of the oxygen pressures, respiration was regulated down to 70.8 mmHg. 3. When the same ants were submitted in sequence to declining pO2, the 'oxygen dependence indexes' (Tang P.S. (1933) Quart. Rev. Biol. 8, 260-274) also suggested a good regulatory capacity. 4. The results are discussed in terms of the variation of the partial pressures of O2 and CO2 that the ants probably encounter when wandering to and from the nest to forage, and when performing their heavy tasks (leaf transport, offspring and fungus care). 5. CO2 rise and O2 fall, from ants' respiration inside the ant hill, may act as the factors that, in a reflex way, keep the spiracles open and increase ventilation and the frequency of CO2 emission to keep the oxygen supply adequate to face the energetic demand of the routine level of activity of the workers, when passing from normoxia (air) to hypoxia (in nest galleries).

Improvement of the alcohol dehydrogenase from baker's yeast using polymers and salts for alcohol determinations in beverages

An alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) was purified from dry baker’s yeast. This is a key enzyme of the primary short-chain alcohol metabolism in many organisms. In the present study, the obtained enzymatic preparation of baker’s yeast, containing 2.7 U/mg of ADH, was used in the reactions. The purified extract of the ADH obtained from Fermix commercial dry yeast, presented the highest activity and purification factor when ammonium sulfate was added in the precipitation of protein, in the range 35-60% (w/v). The enzymatic preparation was maintained for 2 months in the lyophilized form at 4ºC (retention of 96.2% of activity) in the presence of 1 mmol/L of sodium azide, and it maintained 47% of activity for 30 days at 30°C in the presence of 15% PEG. The assays of ethanol (detection range 5 mM -150 mM or 2.3 x 10-4 – 6.91 x 10-3g/L) in different samples in alcoholic beverages, presented a maximum deviation of only 2.1%. Assays of recovery of the substrate (99.25%) added in the wine showed that the methodology is viable for this sample type. The standard curve and the analytic curve of this method meet the conditions of precision, sensitivity, simplicity, and low cost, required for a useable analytical method.

Avaliação da participação e confiabilidade da população em relação à campanha de vacinação anual contra a raiva de cães e gatos no município de Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil

The annual vaccination campaign against rabies is the most effective prevention procedure for this disease in dogs and cats and hence for human protection also. However, in 2010 and 2011, this activity was interrupted in Brazil due to the occurrence of adverse events associated with vaccination. Even though cases of canine rabies have been decreasing in the last two decades, vigilance must be strengthened in order to maintain pet owners trust in the vaccines provided in public services. This study aimed to determine pet owners participation in the annual vaccination campaign carried out in Botucatu. During March and April 2012, the period before the 42nd campaign, 312 pet owners, dogs and cats, were interviewed. The homes were randomly drawn in blocks from different sectors of the city; all houses on the same block over the 120 km² of urban area participated in the sampling process. Statistical analysis was performed descriptively. The results showed that the owners main motivation to vaccinate their pets during the campaigns is rabies prevention (36%), followed by the proximity of the vaccination station to the house (20.7%), zero cost (10.9%), and the combination of all three factors (16.1%). When asked if they would take their animals back to be vaccinated in another campaign, 60.1% answered yes, 13.5% would go to a private clinic, 2.2% would not take because they do not trust the vaccine and 1.6% had not decided yet. We conclude that the respondents have realized how dangerous Rabies is, because even after the break period, they still utilized the vaccination campaign demonstrating confidence in its effectiveness, while knowing the campaign goals facilitates understanding and participation.

Contribuição de práticas argumentativas para a democratização de debates científicos em aulas de Física

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Population structure of the lancelet Branchiostoma caribaeum (Cephalochordata: Branchiostomidae) in the Baia de Guanabara, Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil

Population structure of the lancelet Branchiostoma caribaeum Sandevall, 1853 was studied in four surveys, corresponding to austral seasons, in a tropical bay, southeast of Brazil. Abundance was higher in the spring and was positively correlated to coarse sediments, limiting its occurrence to some sectors of the sampling area. Body length and biomass differed seasonally but not between sexes. Sexually mature individuals occurred in all seasons, suggesting continuous breeding that is typical of tropical species. Variation in the frequency of small specimens indicates temporal differences in the intensity of breeding. The body length of recruits differed from other population of lancelets and the small length which B. caribaeum attained sexual maturity in Guanabara Bay may be related to local environmental stress or the great availability of food.

Limitations in activities of people affected by leprosy after completing multidrug therapy: application of the SALSA scale

Objectives: To identify people affected by leprosy with impairments after completing multidrug therapy for leprosy, and to assess their limitations in conducting daily activities by applying the Screening of Activity Limitation and Safety Awareness (SALSA) scale. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed of all residents of a medium-sized city who were treated for leprosy from 1998 to 2006. A specific questionnaire was applied to obtain general and clinical data and the SALSA scale was used to assess limitations in activities. Impairments were assessed using the 'World Health Organization leprosy disability grading system' (WHO-DG). Findings: Of the 335 people affected by leprosy treated in the period, 223 (62.1%) were located and interviewed. A total of 51.6% were female with a mean age of 54 years (SD +/- 15.72) and 67.9% had up to 6 years formal education. The borderline form predominated among interviewees (39.9%) and 54.3% suffer from associated diseases with hypertension (29.1%) and diabetes (10.3%) being the most common. Pain was reported by 54.7% of interviewees. By multiple logistic regression analysis, associations were found between limitations in activities and being female (P < 0.025), family income <= 3 minimum wages (P-value < 0.003), reports of major lesions (P-value < 0.004), pain (P-value < 0.001), associated diseases (P-value < 0.023) and the WHO-DG (P-value < 0.001). Disabilities, as identified using the WHO-DG, were less common (32%) than limitations in activities as evaluated by the SALSA scale (57.8%). Conclusion: Limitations in activities proved to be common in people affected by leprosy and were. associated with low income, being female, reported major lesions, disability, disease and pain.

Neuroimaging during Trance State: A Contribution to the Study of Dissociation

Despite increasing interest in pathological and non-pathological dissociation, few researchers have focused on the spiritual experiences involving dissociative states such as mediumship, in which an individual (the medium) claims to be in communication with, or under the control of, the mind of a deceased person. Our preliminary study investigated psychography - in which allegedly "the spirit writes through the medium's hand" - for potential associations with specific alterations in cerebral activity. We examined ten healthy psychographers - five less expert mediums and five with substantial experience, ranging from 15 to 47 years of automatic writing and 2 to 18 psychographies per month - using single photon emission computed tomography to scan activity as subjects were writing, in both dissociative trance and non-trance states. The complexity of the original written content they produced was analyzed for each individual and for the sample as a whole. The experienced psychographers showed lower levels of activity in the left culmen, left hippocampus, left inferior occipital gyrus, left anterior cingulate, right superior temporal gyrus and right precentral gyrus during psychography compared to their normal (non-trance) writing. The average complexity scores for psychographed content were higher than those for control writing, for both the whole sample and for experienced mediums. The fact that subjects produced complex content in a trance dissociative state suggests they were not merely relaxed, and relaxation seems an unlikely explanation for the underactivation of brain areas specifically related to the cognitive processing being carried out. This finding deserves further investigation both in terms of replication and explanatory hypotheses.

A multicenter, multinational analysis of mitomycin C in refractory metastatic colorectal cancer

Background: A considerable number of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients who progress on standard treatment with 5-fluorouracil (5FU), oxaliplatin, irinotecan and monoclonal antibodies, still have adequate performance status and desire further treatment. Mitomycin C (MMC) has been widely used in this context, and despite good tolerability, there are doubts regarding its true benefit. Methods: In order to assess the activity of MMC in the refractory mCRC setting, we retrospectively evaluated 109 heavily pre-treated patients who received MMC as single agent or in combination for mCRC at three different institutions in two countries. Results: Median patient's age was 54 years old, 57% were male and 94% had performance status ECOG 0 or 1. MMC was used in second line in 11%, third line in 38% and fourth line or beyond in 51% of patients. 58% received MMC combinations, mainly with capecitabine. Grade 3 or 4 toxicity was observed in 5% of patients and 6% required dose reductions. Median time to treatment failure (TTF) was 1.7 months with MMC and 3.6 months on the regimen prior to MMC, with a ratio between these TTF below 1 in 82% of patients. Median survival was only 4.5 months (95% confidence interval (CI) of 3.48-5.56). Conclusions: This retrospective data represent the largest reported series of unselected refractory mCRC patients treated with MMC. The median survival of 4.5 months is similar to the survival expected for best supportive care. This lack of activity strongly suggests that MMC should not be routinely used in refractory mCRC. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pre- and Postoperative Quantitative Analysis of Contour Abnormalities in Graves Upper Eyelid Retraction

Purpose: One of the most common problems of the surgical management of Graves upper eyelid retraction is the occurrence of eyelid contour abnormalities. In the present study, the postoperative contour of a large sample of eyelids of patients with Graves orbitopathy was measured. Methods: The postoperative upper eyelid contour of 62 eyes of 43 patients with Graves orbitopathy was subjectively classified by 3 experienced surgeons in 3 categories: poor, fair, and good. The shape of the eyelid contours in each category was then measured with a recently developed custom-made software by measuring multiple midpupil eyelid distances each 15 degrees along the palpebral fissure. The upper eyelid contour of 60 normal subjects was also quantified as a control group. Results: The mean ratio between the sum of the lateral and medial midpupil eyelid distances (lateral/medial ratio) was 1.10 +/- 0.11 standard deviation in controls and 1.15 +/- 0.13 standard deviation in patients. Postoperatively, the mean midpupil eyelid distance at 90 degrees was 4.16 +/- 1.13 mm standard deviation. The distribution lateral/medial ratios of the eyelids judged as having good contours was similar to the distribution of the controls with a modal value centered on the interval between 1.0 and 1.10. The distribution of lateral/medial ratios of the eyelids judged as having poor contour was bimodal, with eyelids with low and high lateral/medial ratios. Low lateral/medial ratios occurred when there was a lateral overcorrection, giving the eyelid a flat or a medial ptosis appearance. High lateral/medial ratios were due to a central or medial overcorrection or a lateral peak maintenance. Conclusions: Postoperative upper eyelid contour abnormalities can be quantified by comparing the sum of multiple midpupil eyelid distances of the lateral and medial sectors of the eyelid. Low and high lateral/medial ratios are anomalous and judged as unpleasant. (Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg 2012;28:429-433)

Therapeutic use of a cationic antimicrobial peptide from the spider Acanthoscurria gomesiana in the control of experimental candidiasis

Background: Antimicrobial peptides are present in animals, plants and microorganisms and play a fundamental role in the innate immune response. Gomesin is a cationic antimicrobial peptide purified from haemocytes of the spider Acanthoscurria gomesiana. It has a broad-spectrum of activity against bacteria, fungi, protozoa and tumour cells. Candida albicans is a commensal yeast that is part of the human microbiota. However, in immunocompromised patients, this fungus may cause skin, mucosal or systemic infections. The typical treatment for this mycosis comprises three major categories of antifungal drugs: polyenes, azoles and echinocandins; however cases of resistance to these drugs are frequently reported. With the emergence of microorganisms that are resistant to conventional antibiotics, the development of alternative treatments for candidiasis is important. In this study, we evaluate the efficacy of gomesin treatment on disseminated and vaginal candidiasis as well as its toxicity and biodistribution. Results: Treatment with gomesin effectively reduced Candida albicans in the kidneys, spleen, liver and vagina of infected mice. The biodistribution of gomesin labelled with technetium-99 m showed that the peptide is captured in the kidneys, spleen and liver. Enhanced production of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and IL-6 was detected in infected mice treated with gomesin, suggesting an immunomodulatory activity. Moreover, immunosuppressed and C. albicans-infected mice showed an increase in survival after treatment with gomesin and fluconazole. Systemic administration of gomesin was also not toxic to the mice Conclusions: Gomesin proved to be effective against experimental Candida albicans infection. It can be used as an alternative therapy for candidiasis, either alone or in combination with fluconazole. Gomesin's mechanism is not fully understood, but we hypothesise that the peptide acts through the permeabilisation of the yeast membrane leading to death and/or releasing the yeast antigens that trigger the host immune response against infection. Therefore, data presented in this study reinforces the potential of gomesin as a therapeutic antifungal agent in both humans and animals.

Taxonomic sufficiency of polychaete taxocenes for estuary monitoring

The polychaetes assemblage structure was used in order to investigate taxonomic sufficiency in a heavily polluted tropical bay. Species abundance was aggregated into progressively higher taxa matrices (genus, family, order) and was analyzed using univariate and multivariate techniques. Polychaetes distribution in Guanabara Bay (GB) was in accordance with a pollution gradient, probably ruled by the organic enrichment, consequent effects of hypoxia and altered redox conditions coupled with prevailing patterns of circulation. Within the sectors of GB, an increasing gradient in species richness and occurrence was observed, ranging from the azoic and impoverished stations in the inner sector to a well-structured community in terms of species composition and abundance inhabiting the outer sector. Multivariate statistical analysis showed similar results when species were aggregated into genera and families, while greater difference occurred at coarser taxonomic identification (order). The literature about taxonomic sufficiency has demonstrated that faunal patterns at different taxonomic levels tend to become similar with increased pollution. In GB, an analysis carried out solely at family level is perfectly adequate to describe the environmental gradient, considered a useful tool for a quick environmental assessment. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of Hepatocyte Growth Factor Injection and Reinjection on Healing in the Rabbit Vocal Fold

Objectives/Hypothesis. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a multifunctional polypeptide that plays various roles in embryogenesis and tissue regeneration and exhibits marked antifibrotic activity. The present study sought to assess the effects of HGF injection and reinjection coinciding with its peak of activity on collagen density, vessel density, inflammatory reaction in the lamina propria, and mean epithelial thickness in the injured rabbit vocal fold. Study Design. Prospective, controlled, experimental animal study. Methods. Fourteen rabbits were subdivided into two groups and underwent injury of the vocal folds. Immediately after injury, animals in group 1 received HGF injections into the right vocal fold (RVF), whereas those in group 2 received bilateral HGF injections and a single reinjection into the RVF 10 days after the first, to coincide with the peak of HGF activity. The left vocal folds (LVFs) served as controls in both groups. Histological assessment of laryngeal specimens was performed at 30 and 40 days, respectively. Results. In both groups, collagen density was lower in the right (treated) vocal folds than in the left (control) folds (P = 0.018). Vessel density was higher in the RVFs in group 2 (P = 0.018). Differences were found in mean epithelial thickness and inflammatory reaction in the lamina propria but did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions. In the scarred rabbit vocal fold, HGF injection is associated with decreased collagen density in the lamina propria, whereas reinjection after 10 days produces decreased collagen density and higher vessel density.

Seven years of external control of fluoride levels in the public water supply in Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil

Fluoridation of the public water supplies is recognized as among the top ten public health achievements of the twentieth century. However, the positive aspects of this measure depend on the maintenance of fluoride concentrations within adequate levels. To report the results of seven years of external control of the fluoride (F) concentrations in the public water supply in Bauru, SP, Brazil in an attempt to verify, on the basis of risk/benefit balance, whether the levels are appropriate. From March 2004 to February 2011, 60 samples were collected every month from the 19 supply sectors of the city, totaling 4,641 samples. F concentrations in water samples were determined in duplicate, using an ion-specific electrode (Orion 9609) coupled to a potentiometer after buffering with TISAB II. After the analysis, the samples were classified according to the best risk-benefit adjustment. Means (±standard deviation) of F concentrations ranged between 0.73±0.06 and 0.81±0.10 mg/L for the different sectors during the seven years. The individual values ranged between 0.03 and 2.63 mg/L. The percentages of the samples considered “low risk” for dental fluorosis development and of “maximum benefit” for dental caries prevention (0.55-0.84 mg F/L) in the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh years of the study were 82.0, 58.5, 37.4, 61.0, 89.9, 77.3, and 72.4%, respectively, and 69.0% for the entire period. Fluctuations of F levels were found in the public water supply in Bauru during the seven years of evaluation. These results suggest that external monitoring of water fluoridation by an independent assessor should be implemented in cities where there is adjusted fluoridation. This measure should be continued in order to verify that fluoride levels are suitable and, if not, to provide support for the appropriate adjustments

Effects of recovery mode on performance, O2 uptake, and O2 deficit during high-intensity intermittent exercise

[EN] The aim of this study was to determine the influence of activity performed during the recovery period on the aerobic and anaerobic energy yield, as well as on performance, during high-intensity intermittent exercise (HIT). Ten physical education students participated in the study. First they underwent an incremental exercise test to assess their maximal power output (Wmax) and VO2max. On subsequent days they performed three different HITs. Each HIT consisted of four cycling bouts until exhaustion at 110% Wmax. Recovery periods of 5 min were allowed between bouts. HITs differed in the kind of activity performed during the recovery periods: pedaling at 20% VO2max (HITA), stretching exercises, or lying supine. Performance was 3-4% and aerobic energy yield was 6-8% (both p < 0.05) higher during the HITA than during the other two kinds of HIT. The greater contribution of aerobic metabolism to the energy yield during the high-intensity exercise bouts with active recovery was due to faster VO2 kinetics (p< 0.01) and a higher VO2peak during the exercise bouts preceded by active recovery (p < 0.05). In contrast, the anaerobic energy yield (oxygen deficit and peak blood lactate concentrations) was similar in all HITs. Therefore, this study shows that active recovery facilitates performance by increasing aerobic contribution to the whole energy yield turnover during high-intensity intermittent exercise.