Epilepsia benigna da infância com pontas centrotemporais

A Epilepsia Benigna da Infância com Pontas Centrotemporais é a síndrome epiléptica mais frequente na infância. A International League Against Epilepsy qualifica esta doença como uma Epilepsia Benigna Focal Idiopática, relacionada com a idade. É uma síndrome caracterizada por crises parciais simples, breves e com manifestações motoras e somatossensoriais, que ocorrem frequentemente associadas ao sono. Surge tipicamente entre os 3 e os 13 anos e a sua remissão ocorre habitualmente antes dos 16 anos, pelo que é considerada uma epilepsia benigna. Após a realização de diversos estudos sobre a influência da predisposição genética nesta doença, actualmente aceita-se que segue um modo de herança autossómica dominante com penetrância incompleta. O electroencefalograma inter-crítico é típico, mostrando pontas centrotemporais de alta voltagem, seguidas por ondas lentas. O tratamento nem sempre é necessário, dada a benignidade da doença e, quando utilizado, o controlo das crises é fácil apenas com um fármaco. O diagnóstico precoce e correcto é importante, pois permite que o médico ofereça à criança e aos seus pais um plano adequado e uma explicação cuidada, que poderão evitar os sentimentos de apreensão e angústia normalmente associados a um diagnóstico de epilepsia. O termo “benigno” aplica-se bem a esta síndrome, uma vez que a regra é a remissão das crises durante a adolescência. Há, contudo, uma pequena percentagem de casos em que a evolução é atípica e “não tão benigna”. Estudos recentes têm sugerido a possibilidade de haver prejuízo do perfil psicológico, psiquiátrico e das capacidades cognitivas em crianças com esta síndrome. É um tema bastante controverso, que necessita de mais estudos de investigação. Assim, tendo em conta os resultados de estudos recentes sobre esta temática, são aqui expostas as opiniões de diversos autores

Utilização de doppler na avaliação hemodinâmica ovárica de éguas pura raça espanhola : estudo piloto

Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina VeterináriaA ecografia (US) com recurso ao Doppler é uma tecnologia que tem ganho cada vez mais expressão em reprodução equina. Estudos recentes procuram entender de uma forma mais detalhada a fisiologia do tracto reprodutor e demonstrar que durante a maturação folicular são observáveis algumas características que só mais tarde poderão ser visualizadas através do modo-B. Atualmente o funcionamento do Doppler é extensamente conhecido. Contudo, ainda não existem estudos científicos que suportem o seu uso na clínica diária de reprodução equina. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a hemodinâmica dos folículos pré-ovulatórios e dos corpos lúteos (CLs), através da técnica de doppler em éguas Pura Raça Espanhola. Neste estudo foram utilizadas 15 éguas entre os 4 e os 19 anos. As imagens ecográficas obtidas foram analisadas com o software Image Color Summarizer, que permite a quantificação dos píxeis de cada imagem. Posteriormente, efectuou-se a análise estatística com recurso ao software SPSS STATISTIC v.22. Os parâmetros avaliados ecograficamente foram os seguintes: diâmetro e fluxo do folículo pré ovulatório e área e fluxo sanguíneo do CL maduro e ativo. Verificou-se a presença de uma relação direta entre o diâmetro e o fluxo do folículo pré ovulatório, tal como, a área e o fluxo do CL ativo e maduro. Observou-se a inexistência de correlação entre o fluxo folicular e luteal, ou seja, através da medição do fluxo do folículo pré ovulatório não podemos prever o fluxo do futuro CL. As éguas avaliadas neste estudo foram separadas em dois grupos (jovens <8 anos e velhas ≥8 de idade). Apenas se registou um aumento do fluxo sanguíneo do CL em éguas jovens quando comparado com o das éguas velhas, (p<0,05). Podemos concluir que a US Doppler tem o potencial para avaliar a hemodinâmica ovárica, que aplicando à prática poderá contribuir para o aperfeiçoamento do maneio reprodutivo equino, obtendo melhor aproveitamento do material genético e aumentando o retorno financeiro. O presente trabalho é pioneiro no estudo ecográfico com recurso ao Doppler do aparelho reprodutor das éguas Pura Raça Espanhola.ABSTRACT - Doppler evaluation of ovarian hemodynamics in Pure Spanish Horse mare – A pilot study - Doppler ultrasound is a technology that has gained increasing expression in equine reproduction. Recent studies seek to understand in a more detailed way the physiology of the reproductive tract and to demonstrate that during the follicular maturation some characteristics are observable that only later can be visualized through the mode B. Currently the Doppler technology is widely known. However, there are no scientific studies yet to support its use in the daily equine breeding clinic. The objective of this study was to evaluate the hemodynamics of preovulatory follicles and corpus luteum (CLs), using the Doppler technique in Spanish Horses mares. In this study 15 mares were used between the ages of 4 and 19 years. The ultrasound images obtained were analyzed with the Image Color Summarizer software, which allows the quantification of the pixels of each image. Subsequently, statistical analysis was performed using SPSS STATISTIC v.22 software. The parameters evaluated were the following: pre-ovulatory follicle diameter and flow and area and blood flow of mature and active CL. The presence of a direct relationship between the diameter and the blood flow of the preovulatory follicle, such as the area and blood flow of active and mature CL, was verified. It was observed the lack of correlation between the follicular and luteal flow, that is, by measuring the pre-ovulatory follicle flow we cannot predict the flow of the CL future. The mares evaluated in this study were separated into two groups (young <8 years and old ≥8 age). There was only an increase in LC blood flow in young mares when compared to that of old mares, (p <0.05). We can conclude that US Doppler has the potential to evaluate ovarian hemodynamics, which in practice can contribute to the improvement of equine reproductive management, obtaining better use of genetic material and increasing financial return. The present study is a pioneer in the ultrasound study using the Doppler of the reproductive tract of the PRE mares.N/

NEOTROPICAL ALIEN MAMMALS: a data set of occurrence and abundance of alien mammals in the Neotropics

Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Florida in the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus, Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. (n = 37,782), Sus scrofa (n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris (n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., Syncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set (n = 20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species Callithrix aurita, Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata, and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved