Prevalência de anticorpos IgG específicos anti Toxoplasma gondii em doadores de sangue no Recife, nordeste do Brasil

Estudo epidemiológico de infecção por Toxoplasma gondii em doadores de sangue foi realizado com vistas ao estabelecimento da soroprevalência em Recife. Soro de 160 indivíduos (119 masculinos e 41 femininos) foram analisados mediante o emprego de ensaio imunoenzimático para a detecção de anticorpos IgG anti-Toxoplasma (Denka Seiken Co., LTD., Tokyo, Japan). O percentual de soropositivos para os indivíduos do sexo masculino (79,0%) foi maior (p < 0,005) do que para os do feminino (63,4%). Esta soropositividade aumentou com a idade, variando de 18,2% para os indivíduos menores de 20 anos até 92,6% para aqueles entre 40 e 50 anos de idade. Para as mulheres na idade fértil (18-40 anos) foi encontrada prevalência de 51,6%.A serological survey of Toxoplasma gondii infection in blood donors was carried out in order to identify seroprevalence in Recife, Brazil. Sera from 160 individuals (119 male and 41 female) were evaluated by using a Toxoplasma IgG-antibody enzyme immunoassay (Denka Seiken Co., LTD., Tokyo, Japan). The seropositive percentual for males (79.0%) showed to be higher (p < 0.05) than for females (63.4%). This percentage increases with age, ranging from 18.2% to 92.6% for individuals aging under 20 and 40-50 years old, respectively. For women of childbearing age (18-40 years) it was found a prevalence of 51.6%

A Reference Matrix for Information System in Supply Chain Management

Considering the importance of information systems (ISs) in supply chain management (SCM), an attempt has been made in this paper to review the literature concerning reference models that organize the different ISs necessary for the success of a supply chain under a SCM perspective. These ISs are generally organized in a SCM matrix formed by two dimensions: decision levels (the vertical axis) and supply chain business processes (the horizontal axis). The goal of this paper is to conduct an exploratory study concerning SCM matrixes for IS in order to bring out pertinent factors that would support other researchers&lt;br /&gt;and practitioners in understanding the organization of ISs in SCM. Several reference models based on the SCM matrix were identified and analyzed and then used to form the basis of a general framework that was applied to two supply chain cases in Brazil

Beyond the shortest path: the path length index as a distribution

The traditional complex network approach considers only the shortest paths from one node to another, not taking into account several other possible paths. This limitation is significant, for example, in urban mobility studies. In this short report, as the first steps, we present an exhaustive approach to address that problem and show we can go beyond the shortest path, but we do not need to go so far: we present an interactive procedure and an early stop possibility. After presenting some fundamental concepts in graph theory, we presented an analytical solution for the problem of counting the number of possible paths between two nodes in complete graphs, and a depth-limited approach to get all possible paths between each pair of nodes in a general graph (an NP-hard problem). We do not collapse the distribution of path lengths between a pair of nodes into a scalar number, we look at the distribution itself - taking all paths up to a pre-defined path length (considering a truncated distribution), and show the impact of that approach on the most straightforward distance-based graph index: the walk/path length

Field Dependence/Independence and its Relationship to Schema Utilization during Discourse Processing

This study investigated the relationship between field dependence/independence and the ability to utilize prior knowledge during discourse processing. A sample population of thirty-one eighth grade students were given the Group Embedded Figures Test, a measure of field dependence/independence, and one of two narrative passages designed to measure the degree to which an individual utilizes prior knowledge. The scores of these two measures were analyzed to determine if there was a significant difference between the field dependents and the field independents in their performance on the constrained and unconstrained passages, measuring schema utilization. A significant difference was found in the mean score of the two groups on the constrained passage, no difference was found in their performance on the unconstrained passage. This analysis leads to the conclusion that in this testing population of eighth graders, the field independent students were better able to utilize their prior knowledge to comprehend a written passage than the field dependent students

Determining the best sectioning method and intestinal segment for morphometric analysis in broilers

Brazilian poultry production is very efficient and demands maximum broiler performance. Therefore, digestive system pathologies have a relevant role. Considering it is difficult to obtain consistent information on intestinal morphometric analysis, this study aimed at establishing essential and clear criteria for the collection of intestinal segments for morphometric analysis. Fifteen 13-d-old broilers were sacrificed and three intestinal segments were collected per bird. Two 3-cm long sections were obtained from each of the intestinal segments. Samples were collected open or closed. The closed samples were transversely, hemicylindrically, or longitudinally sectioned. Samples were processed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The number of microscopic fields in each section was counted. Villi presenting the base clearly embedded in the submucosa, no damage or folds, and simple columnar epithelium at the tip were considered adequate for measurements. These villi were counted in each sample. The results shows that hemicylindrical sections presented the highest number of observation fields, with an average of 9.76 fields. Jejunum samples were among the three highest average villi counts, with 18.23 in longitudinal sections and 15.61 in hemicylindrical sections. The results of the present study indicate that hemicylindrical sectioning and jejunal samples were, respectively, the best sectioning method and the best intestinal segment for the morphometric analysis of the intestines of broilers

Estudo da infecção esquistossomótica produzida pelas linhagens humana e silvestre do Vale do Rio Paraíba do Sul, SP (Brasil), em camundongos isogênicos

The behavior of a human S. mansoni strain was studied in infected, outbred mice. A comparative study was carried out to evaluate the effects of the infection in inbred mice, employing human and wild rodent strains of S. mansoni. The use of inbred mice was advantageous in that it allowed greater uniformity in the results as well as greater penetration of surrounding areas through the caudal tegmentum.Foi estudada a influência da isogenicidade de camundongos de laboratório na capacidade de penetração de cercárias de Schistosoma mansoni de linhagem humana do Vale do Rio Paraíba do Sul, SP. Foram estudados, comparativamente, aspectos da biologia e da patogenia das linhagens humana e silvestre do S. mansoni do Vale do Rio Paraíba do Sul, SP (Brasil) em camundongos isogênicos. Foi vantajoso o uso de camundongos isogênicos devido a maior homogeneidade dos resultados e a maior penetração de cercárias pelo tegumento da cauda dos roedores

Modeling the angle-specific isokinetic hamstring to quadriceps ratio using multilevel generalized additive models

This study considered the use of a generalized additive multilevel model to describe the joint-angle-specific functional hamstring to quadriceps ratio (H:Q ratio) in the knee, using all of the available truly isokinetic data within the range. Materials and Methods: Thirty healthy male basketball players aged 15.0 (1.4) years (average stature = 180.0 cm, SD = 11.1 cm; average body mass = 71.2, SD = 14.9 kg) years were considered. All players considered had no history of lower extremity musculoskeletal injury at the time of testing or during the 6 months before testing, and had been engaged in formal basketball training and competition for 5.9 (2.4) years. Moments of force of the reciprocal concentric and eccentric muscular actions for the knee extensors and flexors assessed by isokinetic dynamometry at 60 degrees .s(-1) were used. Results: Maximum moments of force were attained at different angle positions for knee extension. For knee flexion, it was apparent that there was an ability to maintain high levels of moment of force between 30 degrees and 60 degrees in the concentric muscular action, corresponding to the concentric action of the hamstrings. However, for the eccentric knee flexion, corresponding to the quadriceps action, there was a marked peak of moment of force at about 55 degrees. The functional H:Q ratio for the knee extension was non-linear, remaining higher than 1.0 (i.e., point of equality) from the beginning of the extension until approximately 40 degrees of the knee extension, leveling off below the point of equality thereafter. On average, the functional H:Q ratio for the knee flexion did not attain 1.0 across the range of motion. The functional H:Q ratio for the knee in the present sample peaked at 20 degrees and 80 degrees, declining between these angle positions to below 0.50 at about 0.54. Conclusions: Estimating the form of the non-linear relationship on-the-fly using a generalized additive multilevel model provides joint-angle-specific curves and joint-angle-specific functional H:Q ratio patterns, allowing the identification and monitoring of strength development, with potential implications for injury and performance558COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESsem informaçã

Características clínicas e de neuroimagem molecular de pacientes brasileiros com doença de Parkinson e mutações nos genes PARK2 ou PARK8

OBJECTIVE: To describe clinical and neuroimaging (SPECT) characteristics of Brazilian patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and mutations in PARK2 or PARK8 genes. METHOD: A total of 119 patients meeting clinical criteria for PD were evaluated. RESULTS: Of all patients studied, 13 had mutations in either PARK2 (n=9) or PARK8 genes (n=4). No statistically significant differences in clinical characteristics in both groups were seen. SPECT with [99mTc] TRODAT-1 showed significant differences between patient and control and the most remarkable difference was between PARK2 and control. CONCLUSION: The study found a frequency of mutation of 10.1% and it was most commonly seen in women. These patients had long disease course and high rates of dyskinesia after L-DOPA use. PARK8 patients did not have a relevant family history of PD.OBJETIVO: Descrever as características clínicas e de neuroimagem (SPECT) de pacientes brasileiros com doença de Parkinson e mutações PARK2 e PARK8. MÉTODO: Foram avaliados 119 pacientes com critérios clínicos para a doença de Parkinson. RESULTADO: Entre os pacientes avaliados foram encontrados 13 pacientes com mutação nos genes PARK2 (n=9) ou PARK8 (n=4). Não houve diferença significativa na avaliação das características clínicas entre os dois grupos. Os resultados de SPECT mostraram diferenças significativas quanto ao potencial de ligação do [99mTc] TRODAT-1 SPECT entre pacientes vs. controle, sendo a diferença mais pronunciada entre PARK2 e controle. CONCLUSÃO: A freqüência de mutação encontrada foi 10,1%, sendo mais comum em mulheres. Estes pacientes apresentavam longo tempo de doença e alta prevalência de discinesias associadas ao uso da levodopa. Nossos pacientes com PARK8 não apresentaram uma história familiar relevante de doença de Parkinson.Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein Instituto Israelita de Ensino e PesquisaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Division of Movement DisordersUNIFESP-EPM Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Neurociências ClínicasUNIFESP, EPM, Division of Movement DisordersUNIFESP, EPM Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Neurociências ClínicasSciEL