Auditory evoked potentials in multiple sclerosis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of auditory and neurotological disorders in multiple sclerosis (MS). Twenty female and 9 male with a definite diagnosis of multiple sclerosis without signs of involvement of the brain stem underwent an audiological and an early auditory evoked potentials (EAEP). The wave forms were classified according to Jerger's (1986) classification. In 58 EAEP it was found 55% of type I (normal response) according to Jerger's classification in both sexes. Considering as an abnormal response the EAEP classified in type II, III, IV or V according to Jerger in at least one side, it was found 60% of abnormalities in females and 56% in males, totalizing 58,62% of all the studied subjects. The authors emphasize the use of EAEP in MS.O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a incidência de alterações auditivas e dos potenciais evocados auditivos do tronco encefálico (PEATE) em indivíduos portadores de esclerose múltipla (EM). Participaram do estudo 20 indivíduos do sexo feminino e 9 do masculino com diagnóstico definido de EM, sem sinais clínicos ou de alterações à ressonância nuclear magnética de acometimento do tronco encefálico. Testes audiométricos e a pesquisa dos PEATE foram realizados em todos os indivíduos.Utilizou-se da classificação dos PEATE proposta por Jerger (1986) na análise da morfologia das ondas nos portadores de EM. Dos 58 PEATE realizados encontrou-se 55% classificados como tipo I (resposta normal ) na classificação de Jerger em ambos os sexos. Considerando-se como alterados as avaliações com PEATE dos indivíduos portadores de EM que apresentaram os demais tipos: II, III, IV ou V da classificação de Jerger em pelo menos um dos lados, encontrou-se 60% de alterações no sexo feminino e 56% no masculino, totalizando 58,62%. Estes achados enfatizam a relevância do estudo dos PEATE em casos de suspeita clínica de doenças desmielinizantes e naqueles com diagnóstico definido de EM.Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Departamento de NeurologiaUNIFESP-EPMUniversidade Federal de Minas Gerais Departamento de OftalmologiaUNIFESP-EPM Disciplina de OtoneurologiaUNIFESP-EPM Distúrbios da Comunicação HumanaUNIFESP, EPM, Disciplina de OtoneurologiaUNIFESP, EPM Distúrbios da Comunicação HumanaSciEL

Influência da crise financeira mundial na estrutura econômica das instituições financeiras bancárias brasileiras e seus reflexos no Índice de Basiléia: Uma abordagem comparativa

Amid Credit Crisis that hit financial institutions in several countries between 2008 and 2009, this study aims to examine their effects on the largest Brazilian banks, conducting a study to understand what aspects are involved. And yet, do a survey of the BIS ratio of the first quarter of 2006 until the last quarter of 2011 to assess the impact on the content and variation in the Balance Sheet which contributed to the changes in the index. Its main issue: what is the impact of the credit crisis on the results of the balance sheets of financial institutions, and examining how changes in the BIS ratio? Aims to identify the consequences of the worsening global financial crisis in the index of Basel II on Financial Institutions. It was felt a great influence of Credit Risk in the composition of the Risk of Domestic financial institutions. Risk that intensified after the impact of the crisis, indeed justifiable given the difficulty in obtaining external credit.Em meio a Crise de Crédito que atingiu instituições financeiras de vários países, entre 2008 e 2009, este trabalho pretende analisar seus efeitos para os maiores bancos brasileiros, realizando um estudo para compreender quais aspectos estão envolvidos. E ainda, faz um levantamento do índice de Basiléia do primeiro trimestre de 2006 até o último trimestre de 2009, para avaliar o impacto no índice e na variação no Balanço Patrimonial que mais contribuiu para as modificações no índice. Tem como questão problema: qual o impacto causado pela crise de crédito nos resultados dos balanços das instituições financeiras, tendo como análise as modificações no índice de Basiléia? Tem como objetivo Identificar os reflexos do agravamento da crise financeira mundial no índice de Basiléia II das Instituições Financeiras. Percebeu-se uma grande influência do Risco de Crédito na composição dos Riscos das Instituições Financeiras Nacionais. Risco este intensificado após o impacto da crise, fato justificável diante da dificuldade na obtenção de crédito externo

Valores de referência para selecionados testes oftálmicos para a arara canindé (Ara araruna)

Objetivou-se determinar os valores normais para testes oftálmicos diagnósticos selecionados para a Arara Canindé. Trinta e cinco Ara ararauna (70 olhos), de sexo indeterminado, adultas, com peso médio de 1kg e provenientes de cativeiro no Distrito Federal, foram avaliadas. Aferiram-se a produção lacrimal pelo Teste lacrimal de Schirmer (TLS), a avaliação microbiológica da conjuntiva ocular, a pressão intra-ocular (PIO) utilizando a tonometria de rebote e o comprimento horizontal da rima palpebral Neste estudo 84.1% das amostras analisadas foram positivas para crescimento microbiológico. Bactérias, fungos e hifas foram isolados e Staphylococcus spp. (21.9%) e Bacillus spp. (26.8%) foram isolados mais frequentemente. Os valores médios do teste de Lacrimal de Schirmer (TLS) foram de 7.6±4.6 e 6.6±4.4mm/min para olhos direito (OD) e esquerdo (OE), respectivamente (média = 7,11±0,76mm/min). A pressão intraocular média foi de 11.4±2.5 (OD) e 11.6±1.8mmHg (OE) anteriormente à anestesia (média 11,49±0,22 mmHg) e 7.6 ± 2.4 mmHg (OD) e 7.8 ± 1.8 mm Hg (OE) (média 7,71±0,08mm Hg) após a anestesia, verificando-se que a PIO foi significativamente menor quando os animais se encontravam sob anestesia comparativamente ao momento em que não estavam anestesiados. O comprimento horizontal da rima horizontal palpebral foi de 11.7±0.1mm OD e de 11.8±0.1mm OE (média 11,72±0,07mm). Verificou-se correlação positiva do TLS com o comprimento da fissura palpebral para a espécie estudada. Estes valores de referencia serão úteis no diagnóstico de alterações oculares da Arara Canindé.The aim of this study was to establish reference values for selected ophthalmic diagnostic tests in healthy blue-and-yellow macaws. We investigated a total of 35 adult macaws (70 eyes) of undetermined sex and with an average weight of 1 kg, who were living in captivity in the Federal District, Brazil. Tear production using the Schirmer tear test (STT), normal conjunctival flora, intraocular pressure (IOP) using a rebound tonometer and horizontal palpebral fissure length (HPFL) were evaluated. In this study, 84.1% of samples were positive for microbial growth. Bacteria, fungi and yeasts were isolated, and Staphylococcus spp. (21.9%) and Bacillus spp. (26.8%) were the most frequently isolated microorganisms. The mean value for STT was 7.6±4.6mm/min in the right eye (OD) and 6.6±4.4mm/min in the left eye (OS) (median = 7,11±0,76mm/min). Mean IOP was 11.4±2.5mm Hg OD and 11.6±1.8mm Hg OS (median = 11.49±0.22mm Hg), prior to anesthesia, and 7.6±2.4mm Hg OD and 7.8±1.8mm Hg OS (median 7.71±0.08mmHg) after anesthesia. The IOP was significantly lower when the animals were under anesthesia as compared to when they were conscious (p≤0.05). Horizontal palpebral fissure length was 11.7±0.1mm OD and 11.8±0.1mm OS (median = 11.72±0.07mm). The STT showed a positive correlation with palpebral fissure measurement for this species. These selected ophthalmic reference values will be particularly useful in diagnosing pathological changes in the eyes of blue-and-yellow macaws

Evaluation of the performance of a castor-oil based formulation in limiting pesticide residues in strawberry crops

A study was made to evaluate the effect of a castor oil-based detergent on strawberry crops treated with different classes of pesticides, namely deltamethrin, folpet, tebuconazole, abamectin and mancozeb, in a controlled environment. Experimental crops of greenhouse strawberries were cultivated in five different ways with control groups using pesticides and castor oil-based detergent. The results showed that the group 2, which was treated with castor oil-based detergent, presented the lowest amount of pesticide residues and the highest quality of fruit produced

Genome of the Avirulent Human-Infective Trypanosome—Trypanosoma rangeli

Background: Trypanosoma rangeli is a hemoflagellate protozoan parasite infecting humans and other wild and domestic mammals across Central and South America. It does not cause human disease, but it can be mistaken for the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi. We have sequenced the T. rangeli genome to provide new tools for elucidating the distinct and intriguing biology of this species and the key pathways related to interaction with its arthropod and mammalian hosts.  Methodology/Principal Findings: The T. rangeli haploid genome is ,24 Mb in length, and is the smallest and least repetitive trypanosomatid genome sequenced thus far. This parasite genome has shorter subtelomeric sequences compared to those of T. cruzi and T. brucei; displays intraspecific karyotype variability and lacks minichromosomes. Of the predicted 7,613 protein coding sequences, functional annotations could be determined for 2,415, while 5,043 are hypothetical proteins, some with evidence of protein expression. 7,101 genes (93%) are shared with other trypanosomatids that infect humans. An ortholog of the dcl2 gene involved in the T. brucei RNAi pathway was found in T. rangeli, but the RNAi machinery is non-functional since the other genes in this pathway are pseudogenized. T. rangeli is highly susceptible to oxidative stress, a phenotype that may be explained by a smaller number of anti-oxidant defense enzymes and heatshock proteins.  Conclusions/Significance: Phylogenetic comparison of nuclear and mitochondrial genes indicates that T. rangeli and T. cruzi are equidistant from T. brucei. In addition to revealing new aspects of trypanosome co-evolution within the vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, comparative genomic analysis with pathogenic trypanosomatids provides valuable new information that can be further explored with the aim of developing better diagnostic tools and/or therapeutic targets

The inventory of geological heritage of the state of São Paulo, Brazil: Methodological basis, results and perspectives

An inventory of geological sites based on solid and clear criteria is a first step for any geoconservation strategy. This paper describes the method used in the geoheritage inventory of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, and presents its main results. This inventory developed by the geoscientific community aimed to identify geosites with scientific value in the whole state, using a systematic approach. All 142 geosites representative of 11 geological frameworks were characterised and quantitatively evaluated according to their scientific value and risk of degradation, in order to establish priorities for their future management. An online database of the inventory is under construction, which will be available to be easily consulted and updated by the geoscientific community. All data were made available to the State Geological Institute as the backbone for the implementation of a future state geoconservation strategy.The authors acknowledge the Science Without Borders Programme, Process 075/2012, which supported this study and the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), Process 2011/17261-6. We also thanks C. Mazoca for his help with maps and figures.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

How can we reduce maternal mortality due to preeclampsia? The 4P rule

Abstract In low and middle-income countries such as Brazil, most maternal deaths are related to hypertensive complications. Preeclampsia is the leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity. Significant proportion is associated with the following factors: lack of identification of high-risk women, lack of adequate prevention, difficulty in maintaining a high-risk prenatal follow-up, delayed diagnosis, insecurity and low use of magnesium sulphate, delayed pregnancy interruption and lack of postpartum follow-up of these high-risk cases. Four major actions are proposed to minimize this alarming clinical picture and reduce the mortality rates due to preeclampsia, called the "4 P Rule" (Adequate Prevention – Vigilant Prenatal Care – Timely Delivery (Parturition) – Safe Postpartum). From this simple "rule" we can open a range of important processes and reminders that may help in the guidance of preeclampsia management