Influenza A virus infection of healthy piglets in an abattoir in Brazil: animal-human interface and risk for interspecies transmission

Asymptomatic influenza virus infections in pigs are frequent and the lack of measures for controlling viral spread facilitates the circulation of different virus strains between pigs. The goal of this study was to demonstrate the circulation of influenza A virus strains among asymptomatic piglets in an abattoir in Brazil and discuss the potential public health impacts. Tracheal samples (n = 330) were collected from asymptomatic animals by a veterinarian that also performed visual lung tissue examinations. No slaughtered animals presented with any noticeable macroscopic signs of influenza infection following examination of lung tissues. Samples were then analysed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction that resulted in the identification of 30 (9%) influenza A positive samples. The presence of asymptomatic pig infections suggested that these animals could facilitate virus dissemination and act as a source of infection for the herd, thereby enabling the emergence of influenza outbreaks associated with significant economic losses. Furthermore, the continuous exposure of the farm and abattoir workers to the virus increases the risk for interspecies transmission. Monitoring measures of swine influenza virus infections and vaccination and monitoring of employees for influenza infection should also be considered. In addition regulatory agencies should consider the public health ramifications regarding the potential zoonotic viral transmission between humans and pigs.

The multifaceted resources and microevolution of the successful human and animal pathogen methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most important bacterial pathogens based on its incidence and the severity of its associated infections. In addition, severe MRSA infections can occur in hospitalised patients or healthy individuals from the community. Studies have shown the infiltration of MRSA isolates of community origin into hospitals and variants of hospital-associated MRSA have caused infections in the community. These rapid epidemiological changes represent a challenge for the molecular characterisation of such bacteria as a hospital or community-acquired pathogen. To efficiently control the spread of MRSA, it is important to promptly detect the mecA gene, which is the determinant of methicillin resistance, using a polymerase chain reaction-based test or other rapidly and accurate methods that detect the mecA product penicillin-binding protein (PBP)2a or PBP2’. The recent emergence of MRSA isolates that harbour a mecA allotype, i.e., the mecC gene, infecting animals and humans has raised an additional and significant issue regarding MRSA laboratory detection. Antimicrobial drugs for MRSA therapy are becoming depleted and vancomycin is still the main choice in many cases. In this review, we present an overview of MRSA infections in community and healthcare settings with focus on recent changes in the global epidemiology, with special reference to the MRSA picture in Brazil.

Experimental infection with the Toxoplasma gondii ME-49 strain in the Brazilian BR-1 mini pig is a suitable animal model for human toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasma gondii causes toxoplasmosis, a worldwide disease. Experimentation with pigs is necessary for the development of new therapeutic approaches to human diseases. BR-1 mini pigs were intramuscularly infected with T. gondii with tachyzoites (RH strain) or orally infected with cysts (ME-49 strain). Haematology and serum biochemistry were analysed and buffy coat cells were inoculated in mice to determine tachyzoite circulation. No alterations were observed in erythrocyte and platelet values; however, band neutrophils increased seven days after infection with ME-49. Serology of the mice inoculated with pig blood leucocytes revealed circulating ME-49 or RH strain tachyzoites in the pigs' peripheral blood at two and seven or nine days post-infection. The tachyzoites were also directly observed in blood smears from the infected pigs outside and inside leucocytes for longer periods. Alanine-aminotransferase was high at days 21 and 32 in the RH infected pigs. After 90 days, the pigs were euthanised and their tissue samples were processed and inoculated into mice. The mice serology revealed the presence of parasites in the hearts, ileums and mesenteric lymph nodes of the pigs. Additionally, cysts in the mice were only observed after pig heart tissue inoculation. The infected pigs presented similar human outcomes with relatively low pathogenicity and the BR-1 mini pig model infected with ME-49 is suitable to monitor experimental toxoplasmosis.

Do mainframe à nuvem: inovações, estrutura industrial e modelos de negócios nas tecnologias da informação e da comunicação

Inovações radicais nas tecnologias da informação e da comunicação (TIC) abrem oportunidades para o desenvolvimento de novos modelos de negócios que, quando bem-sucedidos, acabam por alterar a própria estrutura da indústria global. A partir da revisão de mudanças estruturais ocorridas nas TIC nas últimas cinco décadas, neste artigo analisam-se a relação entre novas tecnologias, o surgimento de empresas consideradas paradigmas e seus respectivos modelos de negócios visando contribuir para o processo de formulação de estratégias empresariais e políticas públicas. O caso da empresa Google, responsável pela última onda de inovações radicais no setor, é analisado com base na recente literatura sobre a economia da informação visando exemplificar o impacto das mudanças tecnológicas no padrão de competição da indústria.

Genetic redox dysregulation induces behavioural deficits in the adult mouse: an animal model for schizophrenia

Background: Glutathione (GSH), a major cellular redox regulator and antioxidant, is decreased in cerebrospinal fluid and prefrontal cortex of schizophrenia patients. The gene of the key GSH-synthesizing enzyme, glutamate-cysteine ligase, modifier (GCLM) subunit, is associated with schizophrenia, suggesting that the deficit in the GSH system is of genetic origin. Using the GCLM knock-out (KO) mouse as model system with 60% decreased brain GSH levels and, thus, strong vulnerability to oxidative stress, we have shown that GSH dysregulation results in abnormal mouse brain morphology (e.g., reduced parvalbumin, PV, immuno-reactivity in frontal areas) and function. Additional oxidative stress, induced by GBR12909 (a dopamine re-uptake inhibitor), enhances morphological changes even further. Aim: In the present study we use the GCLM KO mouse model system, asking now, whether GSH dysregulation also compromises mouse behaviour and cognition. Methods: Male and female wildtype (WT) and GCLM-KO mice are treated with GBR12909 or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) from postnatal day (P) 5 to 10, and are behaviourally tested at P 60 and older. Results: In comparison to WT, KO animals of both sexes are hyperactive in the open field, display more frequent open arm entries on the elevated plus maze, longer float latencies in the Porsolt swim test, and more frequent contacts of novel and familiar objects. Contrary to other reports of animal models with reduced PV immuno-reactivity, GCLM-KO mice display normal rule learning capacity and perform normally on a spatial recognition task. GCLM-KO mice do, however, show a strong deficit in object-recognition after a 15 minutes retention delay. GBR12909 treatment exerts no additional effect. Conclusions: The results suggest that animals with impaired regulation of brain oxidative stress are impulsive and have reduced behavioural control in novel, unpredictable contexts. Moreover, GSH dysregulation seems to induce a selective attentional or stimulus-encoding deficit: despite intensive object exploration, GCLM-KO mice cannot discriminate between novel and familiar objects. In conclusion, the present data indicate that GSH dysregulation may contribute to the manifestation of behavioural and cognitive anomalies that are associated with schizophrenia.

Comunicação oral com pacientes hematológicos: comportamentos facilitadores e bloqueadores

Neste estudo descritivo, adotamos o modelo de FORREST (1983) para categorização das emissões orais dos elementos da equipe de enfermagem ao prestarem assistência a pacientes hematológicos com alterações oncológicas. Buscando identificar a freqüência das categorias facilitadoras(F) e bloqueadoras(B) da comunicação, bem como de suas subcategorias, observamos, com o registro em vídeo, as interações entre 8 pacientes e 14 membros da equipe de Enfermagem de um Hospital Escola da cidade de Ribeirão Preto-SP. Registramos 8822 categorias sendo 56,9% facilitadoras(F). Dentre estas as mais freqüentes foram: dando informações (50,3%) clarificando (28,0%) e reconhecendo presença (11,2%). Das bloqueadoras(B), as mais frequentes foram: questões fechadas (64,6%), aconselhamento (13,9%) e aprovando ou concordando (10%). As demais subcategorias (F e B) obtiveram freqüências inferiores a 4,5%. Sugerimos maior emprego das outras categorias facilitadoras e, em situações especiais, o uso de questões fechadas. Acreditamos ser fundamental para o aprofundamento da relação equipe de enfermagem-pacientes a redução da subcategoria aconselhamento e aprovações da forma como vêm sendo empregados.

Assistência multiprofissional na reabilitação da comunicação da pessoa laringectomizada

Este artigo tem como objetivo divulgar a experiência de um grupo de profissionais envolvidos na reabilitação e na reabilitação vocal dos laringectomizados que participam do GARPO- Laringectomizados. São descritas as diferentes possibilidades de reabilitação vocal para o laringectomizado como também, os pressupostos que permeiam todas as atividades e etapas do processo. Destaca-se as características da pessoas laringectomizadas, as conseqüências da cirurgia, o significado de ser laringectomizado que direcionam a assistência do enfermeiro no processo, em integração com o fonoaudiólogo.

A percepção da realidade associada a uma situação hospitalar e sua influência na comunicação interpessoal

Este trabalho enfatiza a percepção como parte integrante do processo de comunicação, ressaltando que quando esta ocorre de forma consciente, se transforma em agente facilitador nas interações, pois amplia a probabilidade de entendimento nas relações interpessoais.

Liderança e comunicação: opinião dos enfermeiros responsáveis pelos serviços de enfermagem de um hospital governamental

No cenário da enfermagem atual, ao nosso ver, a liderança e a comunicação consistem em estratégias essenciais para a prática profissional do enfermeiro. O presente estudo teve como objetivo identificar a opinião dos enfermeiros responsáveis pelos serviços de enfermagem de um hospital governamental sobre o tema liderança e comunicação. Os dados foram obtidos em fevereiro e março de 1999 através de entrevista estruturada com doze enfermeiros. Pela análise dos dados concluímos que as opiniões relatadas, na sua grande maioria, coincide com os conceitos encontrados na literatura sobre a temática investigada. O estudo não teve como propósito esgotar o assunto, mas possibilitar subsídios para a realização de outras investigações pois, acreditamos na necessidade de investirmos esforços visando a melhor formação do enfermeiro-líder do futuro.