Apathy and functional disability in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia

Background Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) has profound consequences on patients and their families. In this multicenter study, we investigated the contribution of cognitive and neuropsychiatric factors to everyday function at different levels of overall functional impairment. Methods In a retrospective cross-sectional study, 109 patients with bvFTD from 4 specialist frontotemporal dementia centers (Australia, England, India, and Brazil) were included. The measures administered evaluated everyday function (Disability Assessment for Dementia [DAD]), dementia staging (Clinical Dementia Rating [CDR]), general cognition (Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination–revised [ACE-R]), and neuropsychiatric symptoms (Neuropsychiatric Inventory [NPI]). Patients were then subdivided according to functional impairment on the DAD into mild, moderate, severe, and very severe subgroups. Three separate multiple linear regression analyses were run, where (1) total DAD, (2) basic activities of daily living (BADL), and (3) instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) scores were dependent variables; ACE-R total score and selected NPI domains (agitation/aggression, euphoria, apathy, disinhibition, irritability, aberrant motor behavior) were used as independent variables. Age, sex, education, and country of origin were controlled for in the analyses. Results Cognitive deficits were similar across the mild, moderate, and severe subgroups but significantly worse in the very severe subgroup. NPI domain scores (agitation/aggression, euphoria, apathy, disinhibition, irritability, aberrant motor behavior) did not differ across the DAD subgroups. In the multiple regression analyses, a model including ACE-R and NPI apathy explained 32.5% of the variance for total DAD scores. For IADL, 35.6% of the variance was explained by the ACE-R only. No model emerged for BADL scores. Conclusions Cognitive deficits and apathy are key contributors to functional disability in bvFTD but factors underlying impairment in BADLs remain unclear. Treatments targeting reduction of disability need to address apathy and cognitive impairment to ensure greater efficacy, especially in regards to IADLs

Seroprevalence of Chikungunya virus and living conditions in Feira de Santana, Bahia-Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Chikungunya is an arbovirus, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, which emerged in the Americas in 2013 and spread rapidly to almost every country on this continent. In Brazil, where the first cases were detected in 2014, it currently has reached all regions of this country and more than 900,000 cases were reported. The clinical spectrum of chikungunya ranges from an acute self-limiting form to disabling chronic forms. The purpose of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of chikungunya infection in a large Brazilian city and investigate the association between viral circulation and living condition. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We conducted a population-based ecological study in selected Sentinel Areas (SA) through household interviews and a serologic survey in 2016/2017. The sample was of 1,981 individuals randomly selected. The CHIKV seroprevalence was 22.1% (17.1 IgG, 2.3 IgM, and 1.4 IgG and IgM) and varied between SA from 2.0% to 70.5%. The seroprevalence was significantly lower in SA with high living conditions compared to SA with low living condition. There was a positive association between CHIKV seroprevalence and population density (r = 0.2389; p = 0.02033). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The seroprevalence in this city was 2.6 times lower than the 57% observed in a study conducted in the epicentre of the CHIKV epidemic of this same urban centre. So, the herd immunity in this general population, after four years of circulation of this agent is relatively low. It indicates that CHIKV transmission may persist in that city, either in endemic form or in the form of a new epidemic, because the vector infestation is persistent. Besides, the significantly lower seroprevalences in SA of higher Living Condition suggest that beyond the surveillance of the disease, vector control and specific actions of basic sanitation, the reduction of the incidence of this infection also depends on the improvement of the general living conditions of the population

A legitimação cultural dos quadrinhos e o Programa Nacional Biblioteca da Escola: uma história inacabada = The cultural legitimization of comic books and the National Program of School Libraries in Brazil: an unfinished business

As histórias em quadrinhos (HQs) foram historicamente relegadas a uma posição subalterna entre os produtos culturais de massa desenvolvidos no século XX. O presente artigo revisita alguns episódios históricos que comprovam a desconfiança e reserva que a academia e a sociedade estadunidense e latino-americana desenvolveram em relação à indústria de quadrinhos. A segunda metade do século, entretanto, testemunhou a reversão de tal quadro com a reavaliação da importância das HQs e reconhecimento de suas propriedades artísticas. O artigo defende o argumento de que no Brasil o Programa Nacional Biblioteca da Escola (PNBE) tem tido um papel determinante no inacabado processo de legitimação e consolidação da indústria de quadrinhos no Brasi

Identificação e pesquisa de Rickettsia spp. em carrapatos colhidos em cães e equinos em Quirinópolis, Goiás, Brasil

Objetivando verificar a presença de carrapatos vetores em um soposto foco de febre maculosa em Quirinópolis, Goiás, Brasil, colheu-se carrapatos em 14 propriedades rurais e em cães da área urbana da cidade. Os carrapatos foram colhidos por todo corpo dos animais, identificados e submetidos ao PCR para detecção da presença de DNA de Rickettsia sp. Das propriedades rurais foram colhidos 675 exemplares de carrapatos (seis larvas, 79 ninfas e 587 adultos) parasitando eqüinos no meio rural de Quirinópolis, entre fevereiro e março de 2007. Os carrapatos adultos foram caracterizados como de três espécies: Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (55 fêmeas e 17 machos), Dermacentor nitens (274 fêmeas e 235 machos) e Amblyomma cajennense (cinco fêmeas e um macho). Este último foi observado em uma (7,1%) propriedade. Observou-se 1% de A. cajennense em relação ao total de carrapatos adultos, considerando 292 eqüinos. Os 89 carrapatos adultos (17 machos e 72 fêmeas) colhidos em 24 cães errantes urbanos foram caracterizados como pertencentes à espécie Rhipicephalus sanguineus, igualmente aos 20 carrapatos adultos (4 machos e 16 fêmeas) colhidos em dois cães na residência de um suspeito caso de FM ocorrido em Quirinópolis. A presença de DNA riquetsial não foi observada ao PCR em nenhum dos carrapatos colhidos. O principal vetor de FM foi identificado na região alvo do estudo. Sugere-se que futuros estudos devem abranger também ectoparasitos de vida livre, maior número de amostras, melhor distribuição das amostras no território de Goiás e que abranja também o ambiente silvestre, a fim de se constatar a real ausência de vetores infectados com Rickettsia sp

Associated factors and prevalence of erectile dysfunction in hemodialysis patients

Purpose: The proposal of this study was to determine the prevalence and the associated factors of erectile dysfunction (ED) among hemodialysis (HD) patients. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study based on data collected from HD male patients. Clinical, demographic and laboratory data of all patients were collected in three HD clinics from December 2010 to June 2011. Patients answered questions of erectile function domain from International Index of Erectile Function. Data were evaluated by descriptive analysis and by univariate (ULRA) and multivariate logistic regression analysis (MLRA). Results: Three hundred and five patients participated of the study. The prevalence of ED was 68.19%. ED was associated with diabetes (DM), benign prostatic hyperplasia, glomerulonephritis as cause of chronic renal failure (CRF), smoking habits, lower creatinine levels (ULRA), use of calcium channel blocker (MLRA), aging, lower education level, alcohol consumption, DM (as cause of CRF) and coronary insufficiency (ULRA and MLRA). Conclusions: ED was highly prevalent in the HD men. It was independently associated with aging, current use of alcohol, long alcohol use (even for those who do not drink more), lower education level, diabetes as cause of CRF, coronary insufficiency and use of channel blockers calcium

Associated factors and prevalence of erectile dysfunction in hemodialysis patients

Purpose: The proposal of this study was to determine the prevalence and the associated factors of erectile dysfunction (ED) among hemodialysis (HD) patients. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study based on data collected from HD male patients. Clinical, demographic and laboratory data of all patients were collected in three HD clinics from December 2010 to June 2011. Patients answered questions of erectile function domain from International Index of Erectile Function. Data were evaluated by descriptive analysis and by univariate (ULRA) and multivariate logistic regression analysis (MLRA). Results: Three hundred and five patients participated of the study. The prevalence of ED was 68.19%. ED was associated with diabetes (DM), benign prostatic hyperplasia, glomerulonephritis as cause of chronic renal failure (CRF), smoking habits, lower creatinine levels (ULRA), use of calcium channel blocker (MLRA), aging, lower education level, alcohol consumption, DM (as cause of CRF) and coronary insufficiency (ULRA and MLRA). Conclusions: ED was highly prevalent in the HD men. It was independently associated with aging, current use of alcohol, long alcohol use (even for those who do not drink more), lower education level, diabetes as cause of CRF, coronary insufficiency and use of channel blockers calcium

Caracterização morfológica, molecular e filogenética de Borrelia theileri em Rhipicephalus microplus

Submitted by Sandra Infurna ([email protected]) on 2019-02-15T16:35:50Z No. of bitstreams: 1 alexandro_guterres_etal_IOC_2018.pdf: 1220000 bytes, checksum: a43f569f8a5c7178e23189d66a2be27e (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Sandra Infurna ([email protected]) on 2019-02-15T16:41:05Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 alexandro_guterres_etal_IOC_2018.pdf: 1220000 bytes, checksum: a43f569f8a5c7178e23189d66a2be27e (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2019-02-15T16:41:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 alexandro_guterres_etal_IOC_2018.pdf: 1220000 bytes, checksum: a43f569f8a5c7178e23189d66a2be27e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro. Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias. Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro. Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias. Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro. Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias. Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Hantaviroses e Rickettsioses. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro. Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias. Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.O estudo teve como objetivo realizar a caracterização morfológica, molecular e filogenética de Borrelia theileri obtida de Rhipicephalus microplus naturalmente infectado em bovino no estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Um total de 50 fêmeas de R. microplus ingurgitadas foram analisadas para espiroquetas por meio de esfregaço de hemolinfa. Ovos macerados e carrapatos, assim como sangue de bovinos infectados por esses carrapatos, foram analisados os genes glpQ, flaB e hpt por PCR. Os produtos de PCR foram purificados e sequenciados para análise e construção de uma árvore filogenética. Apenas 2% (1/50) dos carrapatos geraram um resultado positivo tanto pelo esfregaço como pela PCR. As formas espirais (n = 50) apresentaram (média ± DP) comprimento médio de 19,17 ± 4,12, diâmetro de 0,2935 ± 0,0469 e número de voltas de 8,44 ± 2,59. Os alinhamentos das sequências dos três genes avaliados exibiram 98% de similaridade aos isolados de B. theileri, ocorrendo em um clado altamente relacionado à linhagem de B. theileri KAT. As amostras de maceração de ovos foram positivas para os três genes avaliados, enquanto o sangue bovino foi negativo pela PCR. Esta é a mais completa caracterização de B. theileri nas Américas, apresentando dados morfológicos, moleculares e filogenéticos, incluindo a transmissão transovarial da espiroqueta no carrapato hospedeiro.This study aimed to perform a morphological, molecular and phylogenetic characterization of Borrelia theileri obtained from infected Rhipicephalus microplus in Brazil. Fifty engorged R. microplus females from cattle in the municipality of Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, were analyzed for spirochetes by hemolymph smear. Macerated eggs and positive ticks, as well as blood from the bovine infested by these ticks, were analyzed the glpQ, flaB and hpt genes by PCR. The PCR products were purified and sequenced for analysis and construction of a phylogenetic tree. Only 2% (1/50) of the ticks generated a positive result by both smear and PCR. The spiral forms (n = 50) had (media ± SD) a mean length of 19.17 ± 4.12 µm, diameter of 0.2935 ± 0.0469 and number of turns 8.44 ± 2.59. Sequence alignments of the three evaluated genes exhibited 98% similarity to B. theileri isolates, occurring in a clade highly related to B. theileri strain KAT. Egg maceration samples were positive for the three evaluated genes, whereas bovine blood was negative by PCR. This is the most detailed characterization of B. theileri in the Americas to-date, presenting morphological, molecular and phylogenetic data, including the transovarial transmission of the spirochete in the host tick

Morphological, molecular and phylogenetic characterization of Borrelia theileri in Rhipicephalus microplus

Abstract This study aimed to perform a morphological, molecular and phylogenetic characterization of Borrelia theileri obtained from infected Rhipicephalus microplus in Brazil. Fifty engorged R. microplus females from cattle in the municipality of Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, were analyzed for spirochetes by hemolymph smear. Macerated eggs and positive ticks, as well as blood from the bovine infested by these ticks, were analyzed the glpQ, flaB and hpt genes by PCR. The PCR products were purified and sequenced for analysis and construction of a phylogenetic tree. Only 2% (1/50) of the ticks generated a positive result by both smear and PCR. The spiral forms (n = 50) had (media ± SD) a mean length of 19.17 ± 4.12 µm, diameter of 0.2935 ± 0.0469 and number of turns 8.44 ± 2.59. Sequence alignments of the three evaluated genes exhibited 98% similarity to B. theileri isolates, occurring in a clade highly related to B. theileri strain KAT. Egg maceration samples were positive for the three evaluated genes, whereas bovine blood was negative by PCR. This is the most detailed characterization of B. theileri in the Americas to-date, presenting morphological, molecular and phylogenetic data, including the transovarial transmission of the spirochete in the host tick