Synchrony of hand-foot coupled movements: is it attained by mutual feedback entrainment or by independent linkage of each limb to a common rhythm generator?

BACKGROUND: Synchrony of coupled oscillations of ipsilateral hand and foot may be achieved by controlling the interlimb phase difference through a crossed kinaesthetic feedback between the two limbs, or by an independent linkage of each limb cycle to a common clock signal. These alternative models may be experimentally challenged by comparing the behaviour of the two limbs when they oscillate following an external time giver, either alone or coupled together. RESULTS: Ten subjects oscillated their right hand and foot both alone and coupled (iso- or antidirectionally), paced by a metronome. Wrist and ankle angular position and Electromyograms (EMG) from the respective flexor and extensor muscles were recorded. Three phase delays were measured: i) the clk-mov delay, between the clock (metronome beat) and the oscillation peak; ii) the neur (neural) delay, between the clock and the motoneurone excitatory input, as inferred from the EMG onset; and iii) the mech (mechanical) delay between the EMG onset and the corresponding point of the limb oscillation. During uncoupled oscillations (0.4 Hz to 3.0 Hz), the mech delay increased from -7° to -111° (hand) and from -4° to -83° (foot). In contrast, the clk-mov delay remained constant and close to zero in either limb since a progressive advance of the motoneurone activation on the pacing beat (neur advance) compensated for the increasing mech delay. Adding an inertial load to either extremity induced a frequency dependent increase of the limb mechanical delay that could not be completely compensated by the increase of the neural phase advance, resulting in a frequency dependent increment of clk-mov delay of the hampered limb. When limb oscillations were iso- or antidirectionally coupled, either in the loaded or unloaded condition, the three delays did not significantly change with respect to values measured when limbs were moved separately. CONCLUSION: The absence of any significant effect of limb coupling on the measured delays suggests that during hand-foot oscillations, both iso- and antidirectionally coupled, each limb is synchronised to the common rhythm generator by a "private" position control, with no need for a crossed feedback interaction between limbs

Epidemiology of Strongyloides stercoralis in northern Italy: Results of a multicentre case-control study, February 2013 to July 2014

Strongyloides stercoralis is a soil-transmitted helminth widely diffused in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Autochthonous cases have been also diagnosed sporadically in areas of temperate climate. We aimed at defining the epidemiology of strongyloidiasis in immigrants and Italians living in three northern Italian Regions. Screening for S. stercoralis infection was done with serology, confirmation tests were a second serological method or stool agar culture. A case-control approach was adopted and patients with a peripheral eosinophil count 65 500/mcL were classified as cases. Of 2,701 individuals enrolled here 1,351 were cases and 1,350 controls; 86% were Italians, 48% women. Italians testing positive were in 8% (97/1,137) cases and 1% (13/1,178) controls (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 8.2; 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.5-14.8), while positive immigrants were in 17% (36/214) cases and in 2% (3/172) controls (aOR 9.6; 95% CI: 2.9-32.4). Factors associated with a higher risk of infection for all study participants were eosinophilia (p < 0.001) and immigration (p = 0.001). Overall, strongyloidiasis was nine-times more frequent in individuals with eosinophilia than in those with normal eosinophil count

Abundância de três espécies de aranhas (Araneae) em ecossistemas nativos e manejados no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

We assessed the abundance patterns of three theridiid species: Hetschkia gracilis (Keyserling 1886); Phycosoma altum (Keyserling 1886); and Thwaitesia affinis O.P.-Cambridge, 1882 in four habitats: Araucaria Forest (native forest) and plantations of A. angustifolia, Pinus spp., and Eucalyptus spp. in Floresta Nacional de São Francisco de Paula Reserve, southern Brazil. The plantation stands in the study system are managed by the selective cutting of adult trees, allowing longer rotation intervals. We collected spiders in 2003 and 2004 by beating the vegetation inside three replicates of each forest type. We performed a permanova to test whether there were differences on species abundances between habitats. We tested the influence of the stand sizes, distance between stands, and vegetation cover composition on each spider species abundance. Stands with higher vegetation cover of bushes and vines presented higher abundances of Hetschkia gracilis and Thwaitesia affinis. Phycosoma altum abundance did not respond to any explanatory variables. Results highlighted the importance of alternative management of plantation stands to enhance and maintain the understory vegetation diversity, which in turn support the spider populations.Key words: Araucaria Forest, Habitat structure, Pinus plantation, Eucalyptus plantation, Forest management.Os padrões de abundância de três espécies de Theridiidae - Hetschkia gracilis, Phycosoma altum e Thwaitesia affinis foram analisados em quatro habitats florestais: Floresta com Araucária, plantação de Araucária, plantação de Pinus e plantação de Eucalyptus na Floresta Nacional de São Francisco de Paula, sul do Brasil. O manejo florestal aplicado na área de estudo consiste no corte seletivo e no longo período de rotação. As coletas foram realizadas com guarda-chuva entomológico entre 2003 e 2004 em três repetições de cada tipo florestal. Diferenças nas abundâncias entre os habitats foram avaliadas através de permanova. Para testar a influência do tamanho dos talhões, da distância entre eles e da composição da cobertura vegetal sobre as abundâncias das três espécies, utilizou-se regressão múltipla. As abundâncias de Hetschkia gracilis e de Thwaitesia affinis estiveram diretamente correlacionadas com a presença de lianas e arbustos, enquanto a de Phycosoma altum não respondeu a nenhuma variável explicativa. Os resultados realçam a importância do manejo alternativo realizado nesta Floresta Nacional para o incremento e a manutenção da diversidade da vegetação do sub-bosque, o que proporciona estrutura para sustentar as populações de aranhas.Palavras-chave: Floresta com Araucária, Estrutura de habitat, Plantação de Pinus, Plantação de Eucalyptus, Manejo florestal

Using of essential oils in the treatment of mice infected with Trypanosoma evansi

Objective. This study aimed to test the effectiveness of copaiba, andiroba and aroeira essential oils for controlling trypanosomosis by Trypanosoma evansi with mice as experimental model. Materials and methods. Sixty-six mice were divided into eleven groups (A to L) with six animals each. Group A was the unique composed by healthy and uninfected animals (negative control). Animals in groups B to L were inoculated with 0.1 mL of blood containing 2.7 x 106 trypanosomes. Group B was used as a positive control without treatment. In experiment were tested copaiba (C, D and E), andiroba (F, G and H) and aroeira (I, J and L) oils at doses of 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 mL kg-1 to infected mice (T. evansi). Results. These protocols did not provide curative efficacy; however, the mice treated with highest dose of copaiba showed a significant increase in the longevity when compared others groups. Conclusions. Previously in our studies, these essential oils have shown trypanocidal activity in vitro, but when they were tested in vivo in mice infected with T. evansi, this trypanocidal activity, or the curative effect was not found, being only able to prolong the lifespan of the animals treated with copaiba oil

Impact of weather conditions on the energetic quality of aciculated dry branches of Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze produced throughout a year.

The aciculated dry branches of Araucaria angustifolia, which fall throughout the year by the natural pruning of the species, can be a renewable and sustainable alternative for energy generation and income for rural producers inserted in the Mixed Ombrophilous Forest. This research aimed to energetically characterize these dry branches produced by free-growing trees throughout the year in the Santa Catarina's Plateau Region. Also, it aimed to determine the influence of weather conditions on the energetic quality of the aciculated dry branches. To that end, we demarcated 37 trees by choosing a quadrant according to the radius of the crowns in which the dry branches were collected. Collections happened monthly between June 2018 and May 2019. Subsequently, the biomass's physical, chemical, and energetic properties were determined. A simple correlation between climatic variables and properties was obtained. The main advantage of aciculated dry branches as an energy resource was their low moisture content (18%) and the disadvantages were the high ash content and the low basic density (220 kg.m-3). Except for the moisture content, all the properties of the aciculated dry branches varied throughout the year, and they were influenced by the weather variables. The correlations between the climatic variables and the properties analyzed indicated that the energetic quality of the dry branches was better in the months with the highest values of average temperatures and solar radiation. Keywords: dry biomass, free-growing trees, solid fuel, renewable energy

Restoration of diaphragmatic function after diaphragm reinnervation by inferior laryngeal nerve; experimental study in rabbits

OBJECTIVES: To assess the possibilities of reinnervation in a paralyzed hemidiaphragm via an anastomosis between phrenic nerve and inferior laryngeal nerve in rabbits. Reinnervation of a paralyzed diaphragm could be an alternative to treat patients with ventilatory insufficiency due to upper cervical spine injuries. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Rabbits were divided into five groups of seven rabbits each. Groups I and II were respectively the healthy and the denervated control groups. The 3 other groups were all reinnervated using three different surgical procedures. In groups III and IV, phrenic nerve was respectively anastomosed with the abductor branch of the inferior laryngeal nerve and with the trunk of the inferior laryngeal nerve. In group V, the fifth and fourth cervical roots were respectively anastomosed with the abductor branch of the inferior laryngeal nerve and with the nerve of the sternothyroid muscle (originating from the hypoglossal nerve). Animals were evaluated 4 months later using electromyography, transdiaphragmatic pressure measurements, sonomicrometry and histological examination. RESULTS: A poor inspiratory activity was found in quiet breathing in the reinnervated groups, with an increasing pattern of activity during effort. In the reinnervated groups, transdiaphragmatic pressure measurements and sonomicrometry were higher in group III with no significant differencewith groups IV and V. CONCLUSION: Inspiratory contractility of an hemidiaphragm could be restored with immediate anastomosis after phrenic nerve section between phrenic nerve and inferior laryngeal nerve

RESVERATROL INCLUSION COMPLEX WITH β-CYCLODEXTRIN (RCD): CHARACTERIZATION AND EVALUATION OF TOXICITY IN WISTAR RATS

Objective: The aim of this study was to characterise the resveratrol inclusion complex with β-cyclodextrin (RCD) and evaluate their toxicity in wistar rats.Methods: The RCD were prepared in ultra-turrax. For characterization of the RCD were used: Fourier transform infra-red Spectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray powder diffraction. The RCD and others 4 treatments were performed by the chronic oral administration in 35 rats during 60 ds. After the treatments they were euthanized and the serum blood were collected to analyzed some hemogram and biochemical parameters including aspartyl aminotransferase (AST); alanine aminotransferase (AST); phosphatase alkaline (ALP); total bilirubin (TB); direct bilirubin (DB); total protein (TP); total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TAG), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), calcium, iron and phosphate using fully automated biochemistry analyzer.Results: The characterization results indicated a successful formation of the RCD. All hematological parameters analysed were within the normal values in all the groups. Furthermore, the hemogram and biochemical parameters were significantly (P>0.05) similar to the control group.Conclusion: The daily oral administration during 60 d of RCD are not harmful on blood parameters of Wistar rats. Thus, RCD can be used safely for treatment of some metabolic diseases

Influencia de la infección subclínica por agentes de la fiebre por garrapatas en vacas lecheras

ABSTRACTObjective. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of subclinical infection by agents of tick fever in dairy cattle on milk parameters, such as production, composition, and quality. Materials and methods. The study was conducted in a private farm with 75 free-stall-housed dairy cows, from which 37 were evaluated. Monthly, individual milk samples were collected for compositional (fat, lactose, protein, and total solids) and quality (somatic cell counts (SCC)) analyses. In addition, blood samples were collected in order to identify cows that were tick fever-negative and positive by PCR for one or more of the following etiological agents: Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina and Anaplasma marginale. Results. The results showed increased SCC in positive animals for at least one of the agents when compared to non-infected cows (p<0.05). Milk production was significantly lower in A. marginale positive animals (p<0.05). An increase of about 40% in milk solids content was found in B. bovis positive cows. Also, an increment of approximately 23% in lactose was found on cows positives for B. bigemina. Conclusions. We may conclude that the presence of at least one of these parasites in dairy cattle affects composition or quality of their milk.RESUMENObjetivo. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto de la infección subclínica por agentes de la fiebre por garrapatas en el ganado lechero en producción de leche, la composición y calidad. Materiales y métodos. El estudio se realizó en una finca privada con 75 vacas lecheras alojadas-libre puesto, y de estas se evaluaron 37. Se recogieron muestras de leche individuales mensuales para determinar la composición (grasa, lactosa, proteína y sólidos totales) y la calidad (recuento de células somáticas (SCC)). Además, se recogieron muestras de sangre para identificar vacas que fueron negativas a fiebre de garrapatas y positivos por PCR para uno o más de los siguientes agentes etiológicos: Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina y Anaplasma marginale. Resultados. Los resultados mostraron un aumento de SCC en los animales positivos, al menos para uno de los agentes cuando se comparó con vacas no infectadas (p<0.05). La producción de leche fue significativamente menor en A. marginale animales positivos (p<0.05). Un aumento de aproximadamente el 40% en el contenido de sólidos de la leche fue encontrado en vacas positivas a B. bovis. También, un incremento de aproximadamente el 23% de la lactosa se encontró en vacas positivas para B. bigemina. Conclusiones. Se puede concluir que la presencia de al menos uno de estos parásitos en el ganado lechero afecta composición o calidad de su leche