Emergência e declínio do piano na vida quotidiana madeirense (1821‐1930)

Dissertação apresentada para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Doutor em Ciências Musicais

Intestinal parasites in a quilombola community of the Northern State of Espírito Santo, Brazil

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of intestinal parasites in a quilombola community from the northern Espírito Santo, Brazil. Descendants of slaves who arrived in Brazil in the sixteenth century, this population settled in the municipality of São Mateus in 1858. Fresh fecal samples from 82 individuals who agreed to participate in the study were collected between August 2009 and July 2010, and immediately sent to the Clinical Laboratory of the Centro Universitário Norte do Espírito Santo of the Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo for analysis. Out of all the participants, 36 (43.9%) were male and 46 (56.1%) were female, whose ages ranged from six to 85 years. The study of the occurrence of intestinal parasites indicated that 35 individuals (42.7%) were infected with at least one intestinal parasite. Among helminths, the most frequent were hookworms, with a rate of 14.6%. With regard to protozoa, Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar and Endolimax nana stood out, with frequencies of 23.2%, 8.5% and 4.9%, respectively. The occurrence of biparasitism was observed in 13 of the 82 subjects, accounting for 15.8%, and no cases of multiple parasitic infections were observed. It was concluded that the reduction of cases of intestinal diseases due to parasites will only be achieved with the improvement of basic sanitation and quality of life of quilombola populations.

Torpedo Maculopathy with an Anisometropic Amblyopia in a 5-Year-Old Caucasian Girl: Case Report

The aim of this study is to report a clinical case of asymptomatic female Caucasian children with torpedo maculopathy. A 5-year-old girl was referred to our clinic for routine evaluation. The ophthalmic examination revealed best-corrected visual acuity of 20/20 in both eyes, without any changes in the biomicroscopy. Fundus examination showed normal findings in one eye, whereas in the contralateral eye it disclosed, in the temporal sector of the macular region, a whitish, atrophic, oval chorioretinal lesion with clearly defined margins. Posterior evaluations documented the stability of the lesion. Torpedo maculopathy diagnosis is based on its characteristic shape and peculiar location. The differential diagnosis has to be established versus choroidal lesions (melanoma and nevus), congenital or iatrogenic hyperplasia of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and particularly versus the congenital pigmented lesions associated with Gardner's syndrome.

Colectividades da freguesia de Abrigada

Trabalho Projecto de Mestrado em Práticas Culturais para Municípios

Can the complex mixture of sediment contaminants cause endocrine disruption on a benthic fish? A case study with Solea senegalensis

Pollution in coastal ecosystems is a serious threat to the biota and human populations there residing. Anthropogenic activities in these ecosystems are the main cause of contamination by endocrine disruption compounds (EDCs), which can interfere with hormonal regulation and cause adverse effects to growth, stress response and reproduction. Although the chemical nature of many EDCs is unknown, it is believed that most are organic contaminants. Under an environmental risk assessment for a contaminated estuary (the Sado, SW Portugal), the present work intended to detect endocrine disruption in a flatsfish, Solea senegalensis Kaup, 1858, and its potential relationship to organic toxicants. Animals were collected from two areas in the estuary with distinct influences (industrial and rural) and from an external reference area. To evaluate endocrine disruption, hepatic vitellogenin (VTG) concentrations in males and gonad histology were analysed. As biomarkers of exposure to organic contaminants, cytochrome P450 (CYP1A) induction and the ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity were determined. The results were contrasted to sediment contamination levels, which are overall considered low, although the area presents a complex mixture of toxicants. Either males or females were found sexually immature and showed no significant evidence of degenerative pathologies. However, hepatic VTG concentrations in males from the industrial area in estuary were superior than those from the Reference, even reaching levels comparable to those in females, which may indicate an oestrogenic effect resulting from the complex contaminant mixture. These individuals also presented higher levels of CYP1A induction and EROD activity, which is consistent with contamination by organic substances. The combination of the results suggest that the exposure of flatfish to an environment contaminated by mixed toxicants, even at low levels, may cause endocrine disruption, therefore affecting populations, which implies the need for further research in identification of potential EDCs, their sources and risks at ecosystem scale.

Miíases associadas com alguns fatores sócio-econômicos em cinco áreas urbanas do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

Trata-se de um estudo epidemiológico descritivo com o objetivo de avaliar a ocorrência de miíases humanas em áreas urbanas de quatro municípios do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Foram analisados 71 pacientes que procuraram espontaneamente o atendimento em Postos de Saúde, no período de outubro de 1999 a outubro de 2003. Maior prevalência da doença foi encontrada em adultos e idosos acima de 51 anos (42,3%) e em menores de 10 anos (33,8%). Do total dos casos estudados, 62% incluíam-se no nível sócio-econômico baixo; 60,6% eram do sexo masculino e 33,8% dos indivíduos infestados, sem profissão. Nos casos analisados as espécies bioagentes foram Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel, 1858); Dermatobia hominis (Linnaeus Jr, 1781) e Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius, 1775). Os resultados apontam para a associação da doença com as condições de vida e de higiene dos pacientes, sinalizando para a necessidade de atenção mais específica à saúde dos grupos mais vulneráveis.

Hepatitis B virus genotypes and mutations in the basal core promoter and pre-core/core in chronically infected patients in southern Brazil: a cross-sectional study of HBV genotypes and mutations in chronic carriers

Introduction In Brazil, little data exist regarding the distribution of genotypes in relation to basal core promoter (BCP) and precore/core mutations among chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers from different regions of the country. The aim of this study was to identify HBV genotypes and the frequency of mutations at the BCP and precore/core region among the prevalent genotypes in chronic carriers from southern Brazil. Methods Nested-polymerase chain reaction (nested-PCR) products amplified from the S-polymerase gene, BCP and precore/core region from 54 samples were sequenced and analyzed. Results Phylogenetic analysis of the S-polymerase gene sequences showed that 66.7% (36/54) of the patients were infected with genotype D (D1, D2, D3), 25.9% (14/54) with genotype A (A1, A2), 5.6% (3/54) with subgenotype C2, and 2% (1/54) with genotype E. A comparison of virological characteristics showed significant differences between genotypes A, C and D. The comparison between HBeAg status and the G1896A stop codon mutation in patients with genotype D revealed a relationship between HBV G1896A precore mutants and genotype D and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion. Genotype D had a higher prevalence of the G1896A mutation and the presence of a thymine at position 1858. Genotype A was associated with a higher prevalence of the G1862T mutation and the presence of a cytosine at position 1858. Conclusions HBV genotype D (D3) is predominant in HBV chronic carriers from southern Brazil. The presence of mutations in the BCP and precore/core region was correlated with the HBV genotype and HBeAg negative status.

MONITORAMENTO DE LEPIDÓPTEROS, ASSOCIADOS A PLANTIOS DE EUCALIPTO DA REGIÃO DE AÇAILÂNDIA (MARANHÃO), NO PERÍODO DE AGOSTO/90 A JULHO/91.

Muitas das espécies de insetos associadas ao plantios de eucalipto são consideradas pragas, enquanto outras ainda não apresentam uma relação definida com estas florestas. Amostragens quinzenais da entomofauna, realizadas com armadilhas luminosas, no período de agosto/90 a julho/91, revelaram a existência de 263 espécies de Lepidoptera associadas aos plantios de eucalipto da região de Açailândia (Maranhão). Destas, sete são consideradas pragas primarias: Eupseudosoma aberransSchaus, 1905 e Eupseudosoma involutaSepp, 1852 (Arctiidae), "Thyirrteina leucoceraeaRindge, 1961, Glenaspp., e Oxydia veuliaCramer, 1779 (Geometridae); Nystalea nyseusCramer, 1775 (Notodontidae); Sarsina violascensHerrich-Schaeffer, 1856 (Lymantriidae) e seis pragas sencundárias: Automeris illustrisWalker, 1855 Automenis sp., Hyperchiria incisaWalker, 1855 e Hyfesiasp. (Satumiidae), Cosmosoma augeLinné, 1767 (Amatidae) e idalus affinis(Arctiidae).

Assessment of liposome disruption to quantify drug delivery in vitro

Efficient liposome disruption inside the cells is a key for success with any type of drug delivery system. The efficacy of drug delivery is currently evaluated by direct visualization of labeled liposomes internalized by cells, not addressing objectively the release and distribution of the drug. Here, we propose a novel method to easily assess liposome disruption and drug release into the cytoplasm. We propose the encapsulation of the cationic dye Hoechst 34,580 to detect an increase in blue fluorescence due to its specific binding to negatively charged DNA. For that, the dye needs to be released inside the cell and translocated to the nucleus. The present approach correlates the intensity of detected fluorescent dye with liposome disruption and consequently assesses drug delivery within the cells.

The influence of biofilm formation by Gardnerella vaginalis and other anaerobes on bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the worldwide leading vaginal disorder in women of reproductive age. BV is characterized by the replacement of beneficial lactobacilli and the augmentation of anaerobic bacteria. Gardnerella vaginalis is a predominant bacterial species, however, BV is also associated with other numerous anaerobes, such as Atopobium vaginae, Mobiluncus mulieris, Prevotella bivia, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Peptoniphilus sp.. Currently, the role of G. vaginalis in the etiology of BV remains a matter of controversy. It is however known that, in BV patients, a biofilm is usually formed on the vaginal epithelium and G. vaginalis is typically the predominant species. So, the current paradigm is that the establishment of a biofilm plays a key role in the pathogenesis of BV. This review provides background on the influence of biofilm formation by G. vaginalis and other anaerobes in the polymicrobial etiology of BV, through its initial adhesion until biofilm formation and discusses the commensal and synergic interactions established between them to understand the phenotypic shift of G. vaginalis' biofilms into BV establishment.

Type 2 diabetes-related variants influence the risk of developing multiple myeloma: results from the IMMEnSE consortium

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been suggested to be a risk factor for multiple myeloma (MM), but the relationship between the two traits is still not well understood. The aims of this study were to evaluate whether 58 genome-wide-association-studies (GWAS)-identified common variants for T2D influence the risk of developing MM and to determine whether predictive models built with these variants might help to predict the disease risk. We conducted a case–control study including 1420 MM patients and 1858 controls ascertained through the International Multiple Myeloma (IMMEnSE) consortium. Subjects carrying the KCNQ1rs2237892T allele or the CDKN2A-2Brs2383208G/G, IGF1rs35767T/T and MADDrs7944584T/T genotypes had a significantly increased risk of MM (odds ratio (OR)=1.32–2.13) whereas those carrying the KCNJ11rs5215C, KCNJ11rs5219T and THADArs7578597C alleles or the FTOrs8050136A/A and LTArs1041981C/C genotypes showed a significantly decreased risk of developing the disease (OR=0.76–0.85). Interestingly, a prediction model including those T2D-related variants associated with the risk of MM showed a significantly improved discriminatory ability to predict the disease when compared to a model without genetic information (area under the curve (AUC)=0.645 vs AUC=0.629; P=4.05×10-06). A gender-stratified analysis also revealed a significant gender effect modification for ADAM30rs2641348 and NOTCH2rs10923931 variants (Pinteraction=0.001 and 0.0004, respectively). Men carrying the ADAM30rs2641348C and NOTCH2rs10923931T alleles had a significantly decreased risk of MM whereas an opposite but not significant effect was observed in women (ORM=0.71 and ORM=0.66 vs ORW=1.22 and ORW=1.15, respectively). These results suggest that TD2-related variants may influence the risk of developing MM and their genotyping might help to improve MM risk prediction models.

Enumeratio plantarum Africae australis extratropicae :quae collectae, determinatae et expositae /a Christiano Friederico Ecklon & Carolo Zeyher. Pars I-III.

1835

Enumeratio plantarum Africae australis extratropicae :quae collectae, determinatae et expositae /a Christiano Friederico Ecklon & Carolo Zeyher. Pars I-III.

1836-37