Variations in the spatial distribution of the amplitude of surface electromyograms are unlikely explained by changes in the length of medial gastrocnemius fibres with knee joint angle

This study investigates whether knee position affects the amplitude distribution of surface electromyogram (EMG) in the medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscle. Of further concern is understanding whether knee-induced changes in EMG amplitude distribution are associated with regional changes in MG fibre length. Fifteen surface EMGs were acquired proximo-distally from the MG muscle while 22 (13 male) healthy participants (age range: 23-47 years) exerted isometric plantar flexion at 60% of their maximal effort, with knee fully extended and at 90 degrees flexion. The number of channels providing EMGs with greatest amplitude, their relative proximo-distal position and the EMG amplitude averaged over channels were considered to characterise changes in myoelectric activity with knee position. From ultrasound images, collected at rest, fibre length, pennation angle and fat thickness were computed for MG proximo-distal regions. Surface EMGs detected with knee flexed were on average five times smaller than those collected during knee extended. However, during knee flexed, relatively larger EMGs were detected by a dramatically greater number of channels, centred at the MG more proximal regions. Variation in knee position at rest did not affect the proximo-distal values obtained for MG fibre length, pennation angle and fat thickness. Our main findings revealed that, with knee flexion: i) there is a redistribution of activity within the whole MG muscle; ii) EMGs detected locally unlikely suffice to characterise the changes in the neural drive to MG during isometric contractions at knee fully extended and 90 degrees flexed positions; iii) sources other than fibre length may substantially contribute to determining the net, MG activation

Molecular phylogeny of atractus (Serpentes, dipsadidae), with emphasis on Ecuadorian species and the description of three new taxa

Volume: 661Start Page: 91End Page: 12

Pancreatite aguda grave em centro de terapia intensiva: análise de 10 anos

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate etiology, complications, treatment, hospital and intensive care unit stay and mortality in all patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre with acute pancreatitis, from January 1st, 1990 to December 31st, 1999. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a historical cohort study with 57 patients, 37% female and 63% male, with an age average of 48±17 years. Patients were classified in two groups – survivors (n=26, 45.6%) and non-survivors (n=31, 54.4%) – and compared considering hospital and intensive care unit stay, Ranson’s and modified Glasgow’s signs, APACHE II (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation), organ failure, surgery, parenteral nutrition and antibiotics.RESULTS: The most common causes of severe acute pancreatitis were alcohol (37%) and gallstones (31%). Mortality was 54.4 %. Hospital stays were longer for survivors than for non-survivors. Non-survivors presented more organ failures (respiratory, renaland cardiovascular failures) and more Ranson’s and modified Glasgow’s signs than survivors. Other parameters were similar in both groups.CONCLUSIONS: In order to better evaluate the reasons for the high rate of mortality identified in the present group in the studied period it would be necessary to perform a prospective study with stronger control of the interfering factors, including an evaluation of the cases of severe acute pancreatitis that are not admitted in the intensive care unit.OBJETIVO: Avaliar etiologia, complicações, tratamento, tempo de internação – hospitalar e em centro de terapia intensiva – e mortalidade de todos os pacientes internados por pancreatite aguda no centro de tratamento intensivo do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, no período de janeiro de 1990 a dezembro de 1999.MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Realizamos um estudo de coorte histórico, no qual foram avaliados 57 pacientes, 37% do sexo feminino e 63% do sexo masculino, com média de idade de 48 ± 17 anos. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos – sobreviventes (n=26;45,6%) e não-sobreviventes (n=31;54,4%) –, e foram comparados quanto a tempo de internação, critérios de Ranson e de Glasgow modificados, APACHE II (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation), falências orgânicas, procedimentos cirúrgicos, nutrição parenteral e antibióticos recebidos.RESULTADOS: As etiologias mais freqüentes foram alcoólica (37%) e biliar (31%). A mortalidade foi de 54,4%. Os sobreviventes apresentaram maior tempo de internação que os não-sobreviventes (47 ± 36 dias contra 21 ± 20 dias). Os não-sobreviventes apresentaram maiores taxas de falências orgânicas (respiratória, renal e cardiovascular) e maior número de critérios de Ranson e de Glasgow modificados, quando comparados aos sobreviventes. Os parâmetros restantes foram semelhantes entre os dois grupos.CONCLUSÕES: Para melhor avaliar os motivos da alta taxa de mortalidade identificada neste grupo, neste período, seria necessário um trabalho prospectivo com melhor controle dos fatores interferentes e que incluísse ainda a avaliação dos casos de pancreatite aguda com critérios de gravidade que não são admitidos no centro de tratamento intensivo

Modelação da hidrodinâmica e da morfodinâmica na costa Noroeste de Portugal em cenários de alterações climáticas

No presente artigo, é apresentada a modelação de três trechos costeiros na costa Noroeste portuguesa. Apresentam-se as metodologias de construção, calibração e validação de modelos de propagação da agitação marítima e resultados de níveis extremos para diferentes cenários de alterações climáticas nos três trechos e de morfodinâmica de curto termo numa das praias. É aplicado o software SWAN na implementação de um modelo regional da zona costeira da Península Ibérica, que possibilita a aplicação de uma metodologia de downscaling dinâmico de resultados de modelos globais (atmosféricos e oceânicos), a qual permite a utilização de modelos locais de elevada resolução espacial (Delft3D). A interação dos dois modelos assim acoplados permite simular a propagação da agitação marítima até localizações próximas da costa. A modelação dos processos costeiros que governam a dinâmica sedimentar na interface mar-terra foi realizada com o software XBeach integrado no sistema de modelação SWAN+Delft3D.This paper presents a modelling work of three coastal stretches at the Northwest coast of Portugal. The implementation, calibration and validation methodologies of wave propagation models and extreme levels simulation for different climate change scenarios are presented for three coastal stretches and the short term morphodynamics is presented for one of the beaches. SWAN software is applied for the implementation of a regional coastal model of the Iberian Peninsula, which enables the application of a dynamic downscaling methodology for global (atmospheric and oceanic) model results, allowing the use of local models of high spatial resolution (Delft3D). The interaction of the two coupled models allows simulating the propagation of waves to near shore locations. Modelling of sediment dynamics at the sea-land interface was performed using XBeach software integrated with the SWAN + Delft3D modelling system.Este estudo foi parcialmente apoiado pelo fundo estratégico UID/ Multi/04423/2019 através de fundos nacionais da FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia e o Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (ERDF), no âmbito do programa PT2020

Atlantic mammal traits: a dataset of morphological traits of mammals in the atlantic forest of south America

Measures of traits are the basis of functional biological diversity. Numerous works consider mean species-level measures of traits while ignoring individual variance within species. However, there is a large amount of variation within species and it is increasingly apparent that it is important to consider trait variation not only between species, but also within species. Mammals are an interesting group for investigating trait-based approaches because they play diverse and important ecological functions (e.g., pollination, seed dispersal, predation, grazing) that are correlated with functional traits. Here we compile a data set comprising morphological and life history information of 279 mammal species from 39,850 individuals of 388 populations ranging from −5.83 to −29.75 decimal degrees of latitude and −34.82 to −56.73 decimal degrees of longitude in the Atlantic forest of South America. We present trait information from 16,840 individuals of 181 species of non-volant mammals (Rodentia, Didelphimorphia, Carnivora, Primates, Cingulata, Artiodactyla, Pilosa, Lagomorpha, Perissodactyla) and from 23,010 individuals of 98 species of volant mammals (Chiroptera). The traits reported include body mass, age, sex, reproductive stage, as well as the geographic coordinates of sampling for all taxa. Moreover, we gathered information on forearm length for bats and body length and tail length for rodents and marsupials. No copyright restrictions are associated with the use of this data set. Please cite this data paper when the data are used in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using the data.Fil: Gonçalves, Fernando. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Bovendorp, Ricardo S.. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Beca, Gabrielle. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Bello, Carolina. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Costa Pereira, Raul. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Muylaert, Renata L.. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Rodarte, Raisa R.. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Villar, Nacho. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Souza, Rafael. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Graipel, Maurício E.. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Cherem, Jorge J.. Caipora Cooperativa, Florianopolis; BrasilFil: Faria, Deborah. Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz; BrasilFil: Baumgarten, Julio. Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz; BrasilFil: Alvarez, Martín R.. Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz; BrasilFil: Vieira, Emerson M.. Universidade do Brasília; BrasilFil: Cáceres, Nilton. Universidade Federal de Santa María. Santa María; BrasilFil: Pardini, Renata. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Leite, Yuri L. R.. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; BrasilFil: Costa, Leonora Pires. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; BrasilFil: Mello, Marco Aurelio Ribeiro. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Fischer, Erich. Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul; BrasilFil: Passos, Fernando C.. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Varzinczak, Luiz H.. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Prevedello, Jayme A.. Universidade do Estado de Rio do Janeiro; BrasilFil: Cruz-Neto, Ariovaldo P.. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Carvalho, Fernando. Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense; BrasilFil: Reis Percequillo, Alexandre. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Paviolo, Agustin Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; ArgentinaFil: Duarte, José M. B.. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasil. Fundación Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: Bernard, Enrico. Universidade Federal de Pernambuco; BrasilFil: Agostini, Ilaria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; ArgentinaFil: Lamattina, Daniela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina. Ministerio de Salud de la Nación; ArgentinaFil: Vanderhoeven, Ezequiel Andres. Ministerio de Salud de la Nación; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentin

MicroRNA Hsa-miR-134 is a circulating biomarker for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Epilepsy is misdiagnosed in up to 25% of patients, leading to serious and long-lasting consequences. Recently, circulating microRNAs have emerged as potential biomarkers in a number of clinical scenarios. The purpose of this study was to identify and to validate circulating microRNAs that could be used as biomarkers in the diagnosis of epilepsy. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure plasma levels of three candidate microRNAs in two phases of study: an initial discovery phase with 14 patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE), 13 with focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) and 16 controls; and a validation cohort constituted of an independent cohort of 65 patients with MTLE and 83 controls. We found hsa-miR-134 downregulated in patients with MTLE (p = 0.018) but not in patients with FCD, when compared to controls. Furthermore, hsa-miR-134 expression could be used to discriminate MTLE patients with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.75. To further assess the robustness of hsa-miR-134 as a biomarker for MTLE, we studied an independent cohort of 65 patients with MTLE, 27 of whom MTLE patients were responsive to pharmacotherapy, and 38 patients were pharmacoresistant and 83 controls. We confirmed that hsa-miR-134 was significantly downregulated in the plasma of patients with MTLE when compared with controls (p < 0.001). In addition, hsa-miR-134 identified patients with MTLE regardless of their response to pharmacotherapy or the presence of MRI signs of hippocampal sclerosis. We revealed that decreased expression of hsa-miR-134 could be a potential non-invasive biomarker to support the diagnosis of patients with MTLE.Epilepsy is misdiagnosed in up to 25% of patients, leading to serious and long-lasting consequences. Recently, circulating microRNAs have emerged as potential biomarkers in a number of clinical scenarios. The purpose of this study was to identify and to v124FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIORCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)2013/07559-3; 2013/00099-7sem informaçãosem informaçã

Gestão hospitalar de equipamentos de proteção individual no enfrentamento à pandemia covid19 / Hospital management of personal protection equipment in addressing the pandemic covid19

A pandemia COVID19 impactou fortemente o mundo no ano de 2020, afetando principalmente o setor hospitalar, demandando cuidados específicos em relação a insumos médicos, equipamentos e mão de obra qualificada. O presente trabalho tem por objetivo a identificação dos fatores influenciadores nos processos de decisão referentes às compras hospitalares feitas durante a pandemia. Foi feito um estudo de caso junto a um hospital do Vale do Paraíba, realizando-se coleta de dados sobre porcentagem de ocupação hospitalar, evolução de gastos, demanda de suprimentos e gerenciamento de estoque, incluindo compras feitas na instituição hospitalar e sua gestão logística. Os resultados são apresentados na forma de tabelas e gráficos, sendo feito levantamento bibliográfico e pesquisa de notícias para fundamentar a análise de custos operacionais, com a discussão dos resultados no contexto da pandemia. A análise apresentada aponta caminhos para equilíbrio e gerenciamento de estoque relativo ao material médico hospitalar em períodos como o da pandemia COVID19.

Efficient differentiation of Corynebacterium striatum, Corynebacterium amycolatum and Corynebacterium xerosis clinical isolates by multiplex PCR using novel species-specific primers

A multiplex-PCR (mPCR) assay was designed with species-specific primers which generate amplicons of 226 bp, 434 bp and 106 bp for differentiating the species C. striatum, C. amycolatum, and C. xerosis, respectively. mPCR results were 100% in agreement with identifications achieved by 16S rRNA and rpoB gene sequencing and by VITEK-MS.This work was supported by grants from FAPESB (JCB0031/2013) and CAPES (PROCAD 071/2013)

Nc886 is epigenetically repressed in prostate cancer and acts as a tumor suppressor through the inhibition of cell growth

Background: Nc886 is a 102 bp non-coding RNA transcript initially classified as a microRNA precursor (Pre-miR-886), later as a divergent homologue of the vault RNAs (vtRNA 2-1) and more recently as a novel type of RNA (nc886). Although nc886/vtRNA2-1/Pre-miR-886 identity is still controversial, it was shown to be epigenetically controlled, presenting both tumor suppressor and oncogenic function in different cancers. Here, we study for the first time the role of nc886 in prostate cancer. Methods: Nc886 promoter methylation status and its correlation with patient clinical parameters or DNMTs levels were evaluated in TCGA and specific GEO prostate tissue datasets. Nc886 level was measured by RT-qPCR to compare normal/neoplastic prostate cells from radical prostatectomies and cell lines, and to assess nc886 response to demethylating agents. The effect of nc886 recovery in cell proliferation (in vitro and in vivo) and invasion (in vitro) was evaluated using lentiviral transduced DU145 and LNCaP cell lines. The association between the expression of nc886 and selected genes was analyzed in the TCGA-PRAD cohort. Results: Nc886 promoter methylation increases in tumor vs. normal prostate tissue, as well as in metastatic vs. normal prostate tissue. Additionally, nc886 promoter methylation correlates with prostate cancer clinical staging, including biochemical recurrence, Clinical T-value and Gleason score. Nc886 transcript is downregulated in tumor vs. normal tissue -in agreement with its promoter methylation status- and increases upon demethylating treatment. In functional studies, the overexpression of nc886 in the LNCaP and DU145 cell line leads to a decreased in vitro cell proliferation and invasion, as well as a reduced in vivo cell growth in NUDE-mice tumor xenografts. Finally, nc886 expression associates with the prostate cancer cell cycle progression gene signature in TCGA-PRAD. Conclusions: Our data suggest a tumor suppressor role for nc886 in the prostate, whose expression is epigenetically silenced in cancer leading to an increase in cell proliferation and invasion. Nc886 might hold clinical value in prostate cancer due to its association with clinical parameters and with a clinically validated gene signature