Avaliação dos efeitos do biperideno, diazepam e neuropeptídeos S sobre a memória e a ansiedade na tarefa do labirinto em T elevado em camundongos

Anxiety is an emotional phenomenon, and normally it is interpreted as an adaptative behavior front to adversities. In its pathological form, anxiety can severely affect aspects related to the personal and professional life. Studies have shown a close relationship between anxiety disorders and aversive memory processing. Considering that the pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders is still limited, innovative anxiolytic agents are needed. In this regard, neuropeptides systems are interesting therapeutic targets to the treatment of psychopathologies. Neuropeptide S (NPS), a 20-aminoacid peptide, is the endogenous ligand of a G-protein coupled receptor (NPSR), which has been reported to evoke hyperlocomotion, awakefull states, besides anxiolysis and memory improvements in rodents. This study aimed to investigate the effects of biperiden (BPR; an amnesic drug), diazepam (DZP; an anxiolytic drug) and NPS at three distinct times: pre-training, post-training, and pre-test, in order to assess anxiety and memory process in the same animal model. The elevated Tmaze (ETM) is an apparatus derived from the elevated plus-maze test, which consists of one enclosed and two open arms. The procedure is based on the avoidance of open spaces learned during training session, in which mice were exposed to the enclosed arm as many times as needed to stay 300 s. In the test session, memory is assessed by re-exposing the mouse to the enclosed arm and the latency to enter an open arm was recorded. When injected pre-training, BPR (1 mg/kg) impaired learning and memory processing; DZP (1 and 2 mg/kg) evoked anxiolysis, but only at the dose of 2 mg/kg impaired memory; and NPS 0.1 nmol induced anxiolysis without affecting memory. Post-training injection of DZP (2 mg/kg) or BPR (1 and 3 mg/kg) did not affect memory consolidation, while the post-trainning administration of NPS 1 nmol, but not 0.1 nmol, improved memory in mice. Indeed, pre-trainning administration of NPS 1 nmol did not prevent memory impairment elicited by BPR (2 mg/kg, injected before training). In the open field test, BPR 1 mg/kg and NPS 1 nmol induced hyperlocomotion in mice. In conclusion, the proposed ETM task is practical for the detection of the anxiolytic and amnesic effects of drugs. The anxiolytic and memory enhancement effects of NPS were detected in the ETM task, and reinforce the role of NPS system as an interesting therapeutic target to the treatment of anxiety disorders

Influência da idade, do sexo e da hora do dia no desempenho em teste de labirinto

The increase of elderly population in the world and in Brazil has indicated the necessity of health systems capable to evaluate, to diagnose and to intervene in the conditions of health and disease of that segment. During that stage of human development, physical and cognitive changes happen and they are capable to influence the functional acting. It s important to distinguish the limit between the normal and the pathological. Besides the common changes during the aging, biological rhithmicity changes happen, as alterations in the cycle vigil-sleep that can influence in certain tasks performance. This study aimed to verify the influence of the age, of the sex and of the hour in a maze test performance. Eighty individuals were evaluated, 40 youths (20 men and 20 women) and 40 senior (20 men and 20 women). They were separated in 2 different groups that were tested at 9:00 o clock and at 15:00 o clock. Initially they were submitted to health evaluation, cognitive evaluation and of sleep quality and chronotype. They were instructed to accomplish the maze test whose time of execution was timed and registered. Significant differences were observed according to age for the masculine group between elderly in the morning and in the afternoon and in the feminine group between youth and elderly in the test accomplished in the morning and in the afternoon. Significant differences were not observed according to sex and hour of the day and also between attempts. In compare between the 30th and the31st, accomplished in a 15minutes of interval, significant difference was observed just for the elderly group in the morning and in the afternoon. We observed significant correlations in the maze test performance with the cronotype, with the age, with the education and with the cognitive acting. The maze test was capable to detect differences between age in the acting profile and in the evaluation of the information maintenance after 15 minutes, however it was not possible to verify difference between sex and hour of the day. Finally the correlations of the maze test with another varied may indicate your importance as coadjutant instrument in those functions evaluation

Avaliação das características de afetividade em crianças e jovens com síndrome de down

This work presents the processes and the results of a research concerning the affectivity in children suffering from the Down´s Syndrome (DS). The relevance of the study is justified due to the need of the development of researches, in the area of psychological evaluation of people who suffers from Down´s Syndrome (DS), that are backed by the use of appropriate instruments for such purpose. The thematic discussed focuses the characteristics of the affectivity of children suffering from Down´s Syndrome. Affectivity, conceptually, is considered a wide phenomenon, including several aspects such as emotions, passions, anxiety, anguish, sadness, happiness and even the pleasure sensations and pain. The general objective of the study consisted of investigating the manifestation of the affectivity in children and young with Down´s Syndrome and the parents´ and educators´ perception concerning the expression of the affectivity in the behavior and in the social activities. The specific objectives were: to identify the parents' perceptions about the several manifestations of indicative behaviors of affectivity; to verify in the social atmosphere, outside home, through the teachers' perception, the several forms and intensities of the expression of the affectivity; and, to make possible the use of the technique of Zulliger (Z-test) in people with Down´s Syndrome. 70 (seventy) children and young with Down´s Syndrome participated in the research, in the age group from 04 to 26 years old, which are attended by Institutions of Paraíba and of Rio Grande do Norte. The instruments used were two questionnaires, applied with the parents and teachers, and the projective technique, Z-test, applied, individually, with the children and young with Down´s Syndrome. For analysis of the data of the questionnaires, the program Trideux-Mots was used, with the intention of selecting the main outstanding words for the parents and teachers concerning the expression of the children's affectivity and young with Down´s Syndrome. For so much, it was organized a database that was processed by that program and, soon after, interpreted through the Factorial Analysis by Correspondence (AFC), looking for to clear the modalities of presented answers in an organized way, through a graph. The data of the Z-test were analyzed, taking in consideration the need to characterize the aspects of the affectivity and the elaboration of specific norms for this sample type, through normalized scores. In agreement with the data presented by Tri-deux-Mots, it was observed that in the affective behavior and in the relationship with the other, home and in the school, the children and young with Down´s Syndrome they express your affectivity through positive and negative characteristics, in the same way that any other child that doesn't have to syndrome. The Z-test made possible initial elements to work with that population, however it is necessary that grow other researches with the intention of investigating the reason of the answers they present not the specific categories that you/they are related to the affectivity, since it was well-known the diversity of affective characteristics presented by the researched group

Elaboração e avaliação de indicadores comportamentais de aderência ao tratamento hemodialítico

Introduction: This work intents to characterize behavioral indicators of tack to the hemodialysis treatment in a sample of carrying patients of chronic kidney failure (CKF) in the great Natal/RN. The therapeutical adherence represents the agreement degree between the patient behavior and the health team lapsings. The CKF is the gradual and irreversible loss of the renal function, being the hemodialysis treatment an important alternative to assist or to substitute the kidneys. Method: The sample consisted in 80 chronic kidney patients in hemodialysis treatment in two located clinical centers in the region of the great Natal, RN. It was used as instruments (a) a protocol of clinical data collection, (b) the Millon Index of Personality Styles (MIPS) and (c) a script of halfstructuralized interview. Results: The results show a balance between the genders (51% of female and 48.8% of the male sex), average age and equal average time of dialysis respectively to the 43,4 years (±13,25 years) and 22,04 years (±4,24 years). The marital status of half of the sample is married, predominating basic education (43.6%) and a familiar income until a minimum wage (43.8%). It had been defined six physicianlaboratorial indicators to evaluate the therapeutical adherence, further the use of the evaluation of the health team and the patient themselves. Thus, there was an average adherence around 55.97% of the sample ±18.37%). However only between selfassessment of the patients about the adherence and the assessment made by blood pressure post-dialysis indicated a significant association (p=0,029, qui-square test). On the other hand, there was a significant association (p <0.05, chi-square test) among the criteria for treatment adherence and issues investigated in the interview - the perception on the quality of the health services provided to patients, the difficulties following the prescribed diet, the characterization of the days between dialysis sessions and the perception of patients about the dialysis sessions. It was also noted a significant association (p <0.05, Levene test) between adherence to therapy and scales that constitute the MIPS. The health team characterized the patients more adherent behavior as an attitude of acceptance of the treatment, looking actively for their implementation, for more information and knowledge, and establishing a positive communication with the team and with other patients. Similar results were confirmed by the MIPS evaluation. According to that assessment the more compliant patients adopt a more optimistic attitude, trying to act or adapt themselves to their environment, processing cognitively both concrete and objective information, such as more speculative and symbolic information. In addition they establish a gregarious, cooperative, submissive and flexibly pattern of interpersonal relationships to social demands. These characteristics managed to explain 55.7% of the adherence variation according the health team and 23.3% of the variation according the CaxP laboratory indicator. Conclusions: The MIPS shown to be able to identify the most and least adherent to therapy patients. The use of different adherence indicators is important for an evaluation covering the different facets of this process. The adhesion levels are observed within registered by the relevant literature. There is need for further studies with a larger sample to deepen the data findings in this work

Dados normativos do teste de atenção por cancelamento em estudantes de Natal/RN

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Avaliação das habilidades neurocognitivas em crianças e adolescentes sobreviventes da Leucemia Linfoide Aguda - LLA

The present study investigated the impact of the treatment modalities of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on neurocognitive abilities of children and adolescents survivors, aged between 6 and 16 years of age, accompanied in pediatric oncology sectors of public health services in the cities of Campina Grande-PB and Natal-RN. The study included 52 children, 13 of these being children and adolescents diagnosed with leukemia and 39 healthy children matched in relation to the study group considering gender, age, school type and level of maternal education. Later the group of children with leukemia was subdivided into two subgroups depending on treatment modality which were submitted: Group 1A (only chemotherapy) and 1B (chemotherapy and radiotherapy). All participants were subjected to a battery of neuropsychological tests that investigated the following neurocognitive abilities: intellectual ability, memory system, attention, visuospatiality and visuoconstruction, processing speed and executive functions. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential measurements with the aid of the U test of Mann-Whitney and T test, considering the influence of the variables: sex, age at diagnosis, time since completion of treatment and level of schooling mothers, on the performance of children. Overall, it is concluded that the illness and the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia significantly favors the emergence of cognitive deficits, particularly in terms of visuospatial skills, and executive skills visoconstrutivas. In turn, the treatment modality of radiotherapy is associated with the presence of more severe deficits, highlighting the significant impact on the speed of information processing. It is hoped that the results presented here will contribute to a better understanding of the nature and extent of neurocognitive effects arising ALL treatment

Desenvolvimento e teste de um modelo estatístico de identificação das proporções de água produzida em zonas de produção de um campo maduro de petróleo

This study investigates the chemical species produced water from the reservoir areas of oil production in the field of Monte Alegre (onshore production) with a proposal of developing a model applied to the identification of the water produced in different zones or groups of zones.Starting from the concentrations of anions and cátions from water produced as input parameters in Linear Discriminate Analysis, it was possible to estimate and compare the model predictions respecting the particularities of their methods in order to ascertain which one would be most appropriate. The methods Resubstitution, Holdout Method and Lachenbruch were used for adjustment and general evaluation of the built models. Of the estimated models for Wells producing water for a single production area, the most suitable method was the "Holdout Method and had a hit rate of 90%. Discriminant functions (CV1, CV2 and CV3) estimated in this model were used to modeling new functions for samples ofartificial mixtures of produced water (producedin our laboratory) and samples of mixtures actualproduced water (water collected inwellsproducingmore thanonezone).The experiment with these mixtures was carried out according to a schedule experimental mixtures simplex type-centroid also was simulated in which the presence of water from steam injectionin these tanks fora part of amostras. Using graphs of two and three dimensions was possible to estimate the proportion of water in the production area

Avaliação mecânica in vitro utilizando miniplacas quadradas e retangulares do sistema 2.0 mm em fraturas da região anterior de mandíbula

The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate the mechanical strength of squared and rectangular 2.0 mm system miniplates comparing them to the standard configuration with 2 straight miniplates in stabilizing fractures in the anterior mandible. Ninety synthetic polyurethane mandible replicas were used in mechanical test. The samples were divided into six groups of three different methods for fixation. Groups 1, 2 and 3 showed complete fractures in symphysis, characterized by a linear separation between the medial incisor, and groups 4, 5 and 6 showed complete fractures in parasymphysis with oblique design. Groups 1 and 4 were represented by the standard technique with two straight miniplates parallel to each other. Groups 2 and 5 were stabilized by squared miniplates and groups 3 and 6 were fixed by rectangular design. Each group was subjected to a mechanical test at a displacement speed of 10 mm/min on a universal testing machine, receiving linear vertical load on the region of the left first molar. The values of the maximum load and when displacements reached 5 mm were obtained and statistically analyzed by calculating the confidence interval of 95%. Fixation systems using squared (G2) and rectangular (G3) miniplates obtained similar results. No statistically significant differences with respect to the maximum load and the load at 5 mm displacement were found when compared to standard method in symphyseal fractures (G1). In parasymphysis the fixation method using squared miniplates (G5) obtained results without significant differences regarding the maximum load and the load at 5 mm when compared to the standard configuration (G4). The fixation method using rectangular miniplates (G6) showed inferior results which were statistically significant when compared to the standard configuration (G4) for parasymphysis fractures. The mechanical behavior of the fixation methods was similar, except when rectangular miniplates were used. The fixation methods showed better results with statistical significance in symphyseal fractures

Avaliação clínica de pacientes submetidos à colocação de implantes zigomáticos pela técnica de Stella & Warner

This study aimed to evaluate patients who underwent placement of zygomatic implants technique by Stella & Warner, considering the survival of conventional and zygomatic implants, sinus health and level of patient satisfaction in relation to oral rehabilitation. We evaluated 28 patients where 14 had received conventional and zygomatic implants, being rehabilitated with implant-fixed dentures (group 1) and 14 were rehabilitated only with conventional implants and implant-fixed dentures (group 2). The study had four phases, represented by radiographic evaluation of implants (stage I), clinical evaluation (stage II), assessing the health of the maxillary sinus (stage III) and a questionnaire to measure satisfaction of rehabilitation with fixed prosthesis implant Total -backed (stage IV). Group 2 underwent only stage IV, while group 1 participated in all stages. Descriptive analysis and statistics were performed, using the t test for independent samples in the evaluation of phase IV. The results demonstrated that the technique of Stella & Warner proved effective, allowing a high survival rate of conventional implants and zygomatic (100%), considering a minimum follow-up of 15 months and maximum 53 months after prosthetic rehabilitation. There were no pathological changes in tissues periimplants conventional and zygomatic implants analyzed. Radiographic findings showed satisfactory levels bone implants in the oral rehabilitation with conventional zygomatic implants and a good positioning of the apex of the zygomatic implants over the zygomatic bone. The presence of the zygomatic implant did not cause sinus and the t test showed a satisfaction index lower in group 1 compared with group 2. The zygomatic implant placement technique by Stella & Warner proved to be a predictable technique with high survival rate in patients with atrophic jaws, necessitating long-term follow-up to confirm the initial findings of the study

Avaliação clínica da resposta do tratamento periodontal não-cirúrgico (Full mouth desinfection) de pacientes diabéticos e não diabéticos

Tem sido demonstrado que o diabetes influencia no desenvolvimento e progressão da doença periodontal. Acredita-se ainda que há uma relação bi-direcional entre o Diabetes Mellito e a Doença Periodontal. Por isso, o tratamento periodontal pode responder de forma diferente em pacientes com e sem o quadro de diabetes. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar clinicamente o efeito da terapia periodontal não cirúrgica em pacientes com periodontite e diabetes mellito (grupo teste) e sem o quadro de diabetes (grupo controle). Para isso, realizou-se o tratamento periodontal não-cirúrgico FMSRP (Full mouth Scalling and Root Planing) e verificou-se os parâmetro clínicos periodontais (profundidade de sondagem, nível clínico de inserção, mobilidade, índice gengival e índice de placa) no início do estudo e após 3 meses. Na análise estatística, o paciente foi considerado como unidade de análise (p<0,05). Para as variáveis categóricas utilizou-se o teste de Fisher. Nas comparações inter-grupo, foi utilizado o Mann-Whitney Test e para comparações intra-grupo (baseline e três meses) utilizou-se o Teste de Wilcoxon. Participaram 26 pacientes no grupo controle e 14 no grupo teste. O índice de placa era 71,20% no início do estudo para o grupo teste e ficou 47,12% no fim; já no controle, os valores eram de 48,52% passando para 37,50%. E o índice gengival no grupo teste no baseline era 42,67 diminuindo para 26,81 e no grupo controle diminuiu de 41,36 para 30,62. A profundidade de sondagem foi no grupo teste 2,71mm passando para 2,40mm; já no controle, os valores foram de 2,84mm diminuindo para 2,55mm. O grupo controle ganhou 0,34 mm de inserção e o grupo teste perdeu 0,44mm de inserção. A recessão gengival aumentou 0,33mm no grupo teste e 0,04mm no grupo controle após os 3 meses. Houve diferença significativa inter-grupo para o índice de placa e gengival no baseline, também foi encontrado na recessão após 3 meses; já intra-grupo verificou-se diferença significativa para todas as variáveis, exceto para o nível clinico de inserção e mobilidade. Quando se categorizou a profundidade de sondagem em ≤3mm, >3 e≤6mm e >6mm, não foi encontrado diferença entre os grupos, mas verificou-se diferença significativa entre os períodos tanto para o grupo teste como para o controle. A hemoglobina glicada no grupo controle foi de 5,90% e no teste aumentou de 7,79% para 8,10%. Portanto, verifica-se que há uma melhora dos parâmetros clínicos periodontais em ambos os grupos, contudo não se verificou uma diferença significativa entre eles. Não obstante, o FMSRP promove um efeito benéfico em relação à condição de saúde periodontal, melhora dos parâmetros clínicos periodontais, em curto prazo (3 meses) tanto em indivíduos diabéticos como em não diabéticos, não sendo possível observar um melhor quadro glicêmico nos diabéticos

Bolton freeware: aplicativo de avaliação de discrepância de massa dentária desenvolvido pelo programa de pós-graduação em odontologia/UFRN

The calculation of tooth mass discrepancy, essential for good planning and a proper orthodontic finishing, when performed manually, besides being laborious, requires considerable time consumption. The aim of this study was to develop and test Bolton Freeware, a software for analysis of the tooth mass discrepancy of Bolton, aiming to minimize the consumption of time in a less onerous way. The digital analysis of the software was done by means of two-dimensional scanning of plaster study models and compared to manual evaluation (gold standard), using 75 pairs of stone plaster study models divided into two groups according to the magnitude of the Curve of Spee (group I from 0 to 2 mm, group II greater than 2 to 3mm). All the models had permanent dentition and were in perfect condition. The manual evaluation was performed with a digital caliper and a calculator, and the time required to perform the analysis for both methods was recorded and compared. In addition, the software was evaluated by orthodontists regarding its use, by means of questionnaires developed specifically for this purpose. Calibration was performed prior to manual analysis, and excellent levels of inter-rater agreement were achieved, with ICC > 0.75 and r > 0.9 for total and anterior proportion. It was observed in the evaluation of error of the digital method that some teeth showed a significant systematic error, being the highest measured at 0.08 mm. The analysis of total tooth mass discrepancy performed by Bolton Freeware, for those cases in which the curve of Spee is mild and moderate, differ from manual analysis, on average, 0.09 mm and 0.07 mm respectively, for each tooth evaluated, with r> 0, 8 for total and anterior proportion. According to the specificity and sensitivity test, Bolton Freeware has an improved ability to detect true negatives, i.e. the presence of discrepancy. The Bolton analysis digitally performed was faster, with an average difference of time consumed to perform the analysis of Bolton between the two methods of approximately 6 minutes. Most experts interviewed (93%) approved the usability of the software

Avaliação da qualidade da atenção primária à saúde da criança no Rio Grande do Norte: visão das usuárias

The study aims to evaluate the quality of the work processes of the teams from the Family Health Strategy regarding the comprehensive health care for children, in the view of users in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. This is a cross-sectional observational evaluative research with quantitative approach. The primary data are part of the External Review from the Program of Improving Access and Quality of Primary Care (PMAQ) in 2012. 190 women were interviewed. The inclusion criteria was the presence in the clinic at the time of the survey, have attended the service in the last 12 months and be a mother or companion of a child up to two years old. A research protocol was developed in the dimensions of Growth and Development, Breastfeeding and nutrition, and health problems and its variables. The results revealed that mothers / companions who responded to the questionnaire 71% were aged between 18 and 35 years, 92.1% were literate, 96.3% had a monthly income and 62.6% received financial assistance from the government. As for the children, 39.4% were aged between 13 to 24 months. In promotion and prevention actions for children, 64.2% had consultation up to the 7th day of life, 91.1% underwent the screening test, 95.3% had a health handbook, 98.9% had a vaccine, 17.9% breastfed or breastfeed from 6 to 24 months. As for link and continuity of care, 86.8% of the children were accompanied by the same professional staff and 59.5% left with next consultation scheduled. In acute situations 42.4% of the children went to the health unit and 64% of these were attended. It is concluded that the actions involving prevention and health promotion of children in RN, are evaluated positively by the service users and meet the requirements of MS, as well as link and continuity of care. The weakness in access and reception of users is evident, indicating the need to adapt the service to the demand of health and planning actions to welcome all who seeks basic health unit-UBS

Análise da concordância entre instrumentos de avaliação do equilíbrio corporal em idosos

CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: Diagnosticar os parâmetros clínicos associados com as quedas em idosos tornou-se um grande desafio para a comunidade científica. Apesar da existência de diversos instrumentos direcionados à avaliação do equilíbrio corporal em idosos, ainda é escasso o número de trabalhos que investigaram e discutiram a concordância entre os diversos métodos. OBJETIVO: Analisar a correlação entre alguns testes usados para avaliar o equilíbrio corporal no idoso. MÉTODOS: Tratou-se de um estudo transversal, observacional, realizado com 30 voluntárias idosas comunitárias, hígidas, com diferentes níveis de condicionamento físico. Foram utilizados o Teste de Alcance Funcional Anterior (TAF), a Escala de Equilíbrio de Berg (EEB), o teste Timed Up and Go (TUG) e o Teste de Equilíbrio de Tinetti (Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment - POMA). A correlação dos dados foi realizada por meio da aplicação do Coeficiente de Correlação de Spearman, com nível de significância de 5% (p<0,05). RESULTADOS: Observou-se correlação positiva e moderada entre o TAF e a EEB (r=0,4845; p=0,0067), entre o TAF e a POMA (r=0,4136; p= 0,0231), entre a EEB e a POMA (r=0,6088; p=0,0004). CONCLUSÃO: Os testes são complementares, dado que se mostraram com particularidades e limitações distintas. Torna-se razoável, portanto, a aplicação conjunta desses instrumentos para melhor avaliar o equilíbrio de idosas.

Avaliação da informação de websites turísticos das cidades-sede da copa 2014

This study aims to analyze tourist information provided by the official websites of the 2014 FIFA World Cup host cities. The framework developed by Díaz (2005) was applied to analyze different aspects, such as: local tourist information, tourist services distribution, communication and interaction between website and users, and website foreign language versions. This dissertation describes how society and tourism are related by analyzing the consequences of technological evolution in the travel and tourism sector, showing the importance of the use of information and communication technology to provide accurate, upto- date and low-cost information to tourist destinations. Because of the nature of the study, the research subjects are the 12 Brazilian host cities represented by their respective official webpages (cities, states and convention bureaus), and also Brazil s official website, totalizing 36 elements to be analyzed. The methodology has been characterized as descriptive and exploratory with quantitative analysis, and also using desk research and survey literature review. In order to analyze the data collected, parametric and nonparametric statistics tests were used, such as: variance analysis (ANOVA and KRUSKAL-WALLIS) to measure means variance between groups combined with multiple comparison tests (Tukey and Games Howell); nonparametric correlations tests (Kendall s Tau b); and cluster analyses. Finally, Microsoft Excel was used to collect data and SPSS for managing data through quantitative analyses tests. Overall, the websites of the south region showed better results than the other Brazilian regions. Despite this result, the data analysis demonstrated that the available tourist information are incomplete as it was verified that tourist host cities websites are unable to provide all the information needed for the web visitors to organize and plan their journey. This means that visitors have to look for more information in other sources

Avaliação do potencial mutagênico da água do açude de Lucrécia (RN- Brasil): um enfoque na relação saúde e ambiente

The water quality of many reservoirs in the world has been reduced due to percolation of contaminants to water, which can have natural or anthropogenic origin, increasing the level of genotoxic compounds in aquatic ecosystems. This fact has contributed to the reduction of environmental quality, and commitment the health of living beings that inhabit these ecosystems, including the human population. In this backdrop of reduced water quality, is the Lucrecia dam, which is a major surface water reservoirs by volume of semi-arid region of Rio Grande do Norte, and that has shown contamination by heavy metals, cyanobacteria toxic and the natural presence of Radon. The population that use this source has been showing high rates of cancer, popularly associated with the consumption of this water, with a prevalence about three times higher compared to the whole state of Rio Grande do Norte. Based on this, the present study aimed to evaluate the mutagenic potencial of surface water from the Lucrecia dam, using the Micronucleus Test in Tradescantia pallida (Trad-MN) and in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (CBMN) assay, as well as identify the concentrations of some heavy metals in this water. Water samples were collected on a dry season and a rainy season, in two distinct points. Moreover, in order to bring a completely view about the relationship of man-health-environment in this local, through the knowledge of knowing / acting environmental from residents of Lucrecia, and the use and perceptions they have about the dam of your city, a study of Environmental Perception was carried out with local residents. The results obtained for the both micronucleus test, showed significant results for the three points analyzed. The strongest mutagenic effect was observed in the dry season for both assays. Chemical analyses detected an increase of heavy metal levels in different points and season above the maximum allowed by legislation. Regarding the study of Environmental Perception with local residents, it was observed the knowledge of the environment that the residents have, as well as the strong ties and perceptions with the dam of the city. Thus, the combination of these two aspects (the genetic toxicity tests conducted in the dam together with analysis of environmental perception with the residents of Lucrecia) allowed to draw a more complete diagnosis on the local situation