Electroacupuncture reverses ethanol-induced locomotor sensitization and subsequent pERK expression in mice

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) plays a role in neuronal changes induced by repeated drug exposure. Given that electroacupuncture reverses locomotor sensitization induced by ethanol, we investigated whether this effect is parallel to ERK signalling. Mice received daily ethanol (2 g/kg i.p), for 21 d. Electroacupuncture was performed daily, during four (subsequent) days of ethanol withdrawal. the stimulus of 2 Hz or 100 Hz was provided in combinations of two acupoints: Ea1 (ST-36/Zusanli and PC-6/Neiguan) or Ea2 (Du-14/Dazhui and Du-20/Baihui). the specificity of acupoint effects were assessed by the inclusion of additional groups: Ea3 (ST-25/Tianshu - acupoint used for other non-related disorders), Sham1 or Sham2 (transdermic stimulation near the respective acupoints). the control group was only handled during withdrawal and the saline group was chronically treated with saline and handled similarly to controls. At day 5 of withdrawal, each group was divided in two subgroups, according to the presence or absence of ethanol challenge. the animals were perfused and their brains processed for pERK immunohistochemistry. Only Ea1 at 100 Hz (Ea1_100) and Ea2 at 2 Hz (Ea2_2) reversed locomotor sensitization induced by ethanol. Ethanol withdrawal decreases pERK in the dorsomedial striatum. This decrease is not abolished by electroacupuncture. Conversely, ethanol challenge increases pERK in the dorsomedial striatum, infralimbic cortex and central nucleus of amygdala. the specificity of acupoint stimulation to reverse these increases was seen only for Ea2_2, in the infralimbic cortex and dorsomedial striatum. Therefore, behavioural effects of Ea2_2 (but not Ea1_100) depend, at least in part, on ERK signalling.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Neurobiol Lab, Grp Neuronal Plast & Psychiat Disorders, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Orthoped & Traumatol, Div Chinese Med Acupuncture, São Paulo, BrazilFac Med Sci, Dept Physiol Sci, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Neurobiol Lab, Grp Neuronal Plast & Psychiat Disorders, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Orthoped & Traumatol, Div Chinese Med Acupuncture, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 2010-03896-7FAPESP: 2007/55458-0Web of Scienc

Oficina de saúde bucal aplicada na operação Porta do Sol, Itatuba-PB e na E.E. Júlio de Mesquita Filho, São Paulo-SP

Trabalho apresentado no II Congresso Nacional do PROJETO RONDON, realizado em Florianópolis, SC, no período de 23 a 25 de setembro de 2015 - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina.A extensão universitária desempenha um papel fundamental na formação cidadã dos alunos. Com isso, o Projeto Rondon que visa a integração social aliada ao voluntariado dos estudantes universitários, aborda em suas operações o tema de Saúde e Higiene Bucal. O objetivo deste trabalho foi de conscientizar sobre as práticas da higiene bucal e prevenção de doenças bucais e sistêmicas, incentivar a higiene pessoal dos alunos e ensinar a técnica correta de escovação dentária. As oficinas de higiene bucal ocorreram no ano de 2015, nos meses de janeiro e abril, no município de Itatuba-PB, na Operação Porta do Sol do Projeto Rondon e em São Paulo-SP, na E.E. Júlio de Mesquita Filho. A oficina consistiu de aula expositiva sobre higienização bucal, diálogo sobre a importância de uma boa escovação, seguida de dinâmica em que foi utilizado um modelo de escova de dente e boca de tamanhos ampliados. Em Itatuba-PB 125 pessoas participaram da oficina, e foram entregues 500 escovas de dente no período da operação. Já em São Paulo-SP cerca de 580 alunos participaram da ação e foram entregues mais de 500 escovas de dente. A distribuição de escovas de dente contribui para bons hábitos de higiene e ajuda a diminuir a influência das condições socioeconômicas. O estudante universitário atua como multiplicador de informações que são extremamente importantes e que contribuem para o bem-estar do público alvo, ações preconizadas pelo Projeto Rondon e que atendem ao papel que a extensão universitária exerce dentro da comunidade

Intermittent ethanol binge exposure impairs object recognition but spares contextual and tone fear memory in adolescent rats

Adolescent brain development seems to be important for the maturation of brain structures and behavior. Intermittent binge ethanol drinking is common among adolescents, and this type of drinking can induce brain damage and cognitive deficits. In addition, emotional changes are frequently seen in alcoholics and rodents treated with ethanol. Considering the close relation between emotional arousal and cognitive responses, the present work investigates if intermittent ethanol binge exposure could differentially alter the performance of adolescent rats in aversive and non-aversive motivated tests. Male adolescent rats were submitted to ethanol treatment (2.5 or 5.0 g/Kg, o.a.) at 48-h intervals over postnatal day (PND) 30 to 60. Control animals were exposed to a similar administration protocol with saline administration. At PND61-PND63 animals were submitted to one-trial object recognition or contextual and tone fear conditioning paradigms. Binge ethanol drinking (at both 2.5 and 5.0 g/Kg) did not change freezing response in the contextual and tone fear conditioning. However, all doses impaired recognition rates 24h after training in object recognition test. In addition, despite a diminution of horizontal locomotion in the open field (only for the 5.0 g/Kg dose), no difference was detected regarding time in immobility, time in grooming and number of rearing in this paradigm. The present results show that the cognitive impairment resulting from intermittent binge ethanol exposure has a negative correlation with learning-associated emotional arousal.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Santa Casa de São Paulo Faculdade de Ciências MédicasUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESPSciEL

Treinamento e capacitação de rondonistas junto ao núcleo de dança pélagos, São Paulo/SP

Trabalho apresentado no II Congresso Nacional do PROJETO RONDON, realizado em Florianópolis, SC, no período de 23 a 25 de setembro de 2015 - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina.A Extensão Universitária auxilia o acadêmico a direcionar as práticas de ensino e pesquisa à prestação de serviços de forma assistencialista. Como forma de treinamento e capacitação dos alunos rondonistas do Centro Universitário São Camilo foram realizadas oficinas da área da saúde junto aos dançarinos de uma ONG paulistana, Projeto Arrastão - Núcleo de Dança Pélagos entre os anos de 2012 e 2015. Os temas abordados nas oficinas são adequados aos jovens de todo o país, começando pela questão da prevenção de gravidez na adolescência e DST’s. Posteriormente, foram abordados temas como, aproveitamento integral de alimentos, uso de drogas lícitas e ilícitas, conscientização corporal e postural e, por fim, foi realizada uma oficina sobre problemas de visão. Considerando a característica extensionista do Projeto Rondon as atividades foram desenvolvidas por meio de oficinas e palestras de orientação e capacitação. As atividades rondonistas e extensionistas buscam atender as necessidades comuns das comunidades brasileiras, seja na zona rural, na região do interior do nordeste, seja junto de grandes centros urbanos. Estes treinamentos são fundamentais para dar coesão às equipes e confiança, e dar ao extensionista uma prévia das operações do Projeto Rondon

ERICA: prevalência de tabagismo em adolescentes brasileiros

OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalences of tobacco use, tobacco experimentation, and frequent smoking among Brazilian adolescents. METHODS We evaluated participants of the cross-sectional, nation-wide, school-based Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA), which included 12- to 17-year-old adolescents from municipalities of over 100 thousand inhabitants. The study sample had a clustered, stratified design and was representative of the whole country, its geographical regions, and all 27 state capitals. The information was obtained with self-administered questionnaires. Tobacco experimentation was defined as having tried cigarettes at least once in life. Adolescents who had smoked on at least one day over the previous 30 days were considered current cigarette smokers. Having smoked cigarettes for at least seven consecutive days was an indicator for regular consumption of tobacco. Considering the complex sampling design, prevalences and 95% confidence intervals were estimated according to sociodemographic and socio-environmental characteristics. RESULTS We evaluated 74,589 adolescents. Among these, 18.5% (95%CI 17.7-19.4) had smoked at least once in life, 5.7% (95%CI 5.3-6.2) smoked at the time of the research, and 2.5% (95%CI 2.2-2.8) smoked often. Adolescents aged 15 to 17 years had higher prevalences for all indicators than those aged 12 to 14 years. The prevalences did not differ significantly between sexes. The highest prevalences were found in the South region and the lowest ones, in the Northeast region. Regardless of sex, the prevalences were found to be higher for adolescents who had had paid jobs, who lived with only one parent, and who reported having been in contact with smokers either inside or outside their homes. Female public school adolescents were found to smoke more than the ones from private schools. CONCLUSIONS Tobacco use among adolescents is still a challenge. Intending to reduce the prevalence of tobacco use among young people, especially the ones under socioeconomic vulnerability conditions, Brazil must consolidate and increase effective public health care measures.OBJETIVO Estimar as prevalências de tabagismo, experimentação e fumo frequente em adolescentes brasileiros. MÉTODOS Foram avaliados os participantes do Estudo de Riscos Cardiovasculares em Adolescentes (ERICA), estudo transversal de base escolar e abrangência nacional. Participaram adolescentes de 12 a 17 anos de municípios com mais de 100 mil habitantes. A amostra foi estratificada e conglomerada e tem representatividade nacional, regional e para as 27 capitais. As informações foram obtidas usando-se questionário autopreenchível. Experimentação foi definida como: ter experimentado cigarros alguma vez na vida. Foram considerados fumantes atuais de cigarros aqueles que fumaram pelo menos um dia nos últimos 30 dias. Utilizou-se como indicador de uso frequente de tabaco ter fumado cigarros por pelo menos sete dias seguidos. Considerando-se o desenho complexo da amostra, prevalências e intervalos de confiança de 95% foram estimados segundo características sociodemográficas e socioambientais. RESULTADOS Foram avaliados 74.589 adolescentes; dentre esses, 18,5% (IC95% 17,7-19,4) fumaram pelo menos uma vez na vida, 5,7% (IC95% 5,3-6,2) fumavam no momento da pesquisa e 2,5% (IC95% 2,2-2,8) fumavam com frequência. Adolescentes de 15 a 17 anos tiveram prevalências mais elevadas de todos os indicadores comparados aos de 12 a 14 anos. As prevalências não apresentaram diferenças significativas entre sexos. Maiores prevalências foram observadas na região Sul e menores na região Nordeste. Independentemente de sexo, as prevalências foram maiores para adolescentes que tinham tido trabalho remunerado, nos que não moravam com os dois pais e que referiram ter tido contato com fumante em casa ou fora. Adolescentes do sexo feminino de escolas públicas fumavam mais do que as de escolas privadas. CONCLUSÕES O tabagismo entre adolescentes ainda é um desafio. Visando a redução da prevalência de tabagismo entre jovens, em especial os que se encontram em situação de vulnerabilidade socioeconômica, o Brasil deve consolidar e ampliar medidas de saúde pública efetivas

Tolerance and Adaptability of Tomato Genotypes to Saline Irrigation

High salt concentration in irrigation water is often a limiting factor to tomato production in Brazil. However, there is limited information available regarding the tolerance of tomato genotypes to saline irrigation. An experiment was conducted in a protected environment using a randomized block design with four replications. Treatments consisted of 12 tomato genotypes cultivated in an environment with varying levels of salt stress. Moderate and severe salt stress affected plant height, transversal and longitudinal diameter of fruit, fresh mass, yield, and number of tomato fruit per plant. Cluster analysis, stability, and adaptability provided the best estimates to identify the most adaptable genotype to saline stress, with the genotypes Maestrina, Onix, Pizzadoro, and Shanty being the best adapted to moderate and severe saline stress conditions. The genotypes Maestrina, Onix, Pizzadoro, and Shanty were identified as most adaptable to and stable under salt stress. Sodium absorption increased as irrigation salinity increased. In addition, P, K, and Ca concentration decreased under salt stress, which caused damage to all yield components and plant nutrition. The genotype Onix was more tolerant to the effects of moderate saline irrigation, while the genotypes Sheena, Sperare, Santa Clara, IPA 6, and Dominador had lower losses under severe salt stress conditions

Contribution of the Cerrado as Habitat for Sunflower Pollinating Bees

Agricultural landscapes sometimes include natural habitats which can support the ecosystem by enhancing the pollination of crops, thus boosting the productivity. This research was conducted between May and July 2017, in the municipality of Tangará da Serra, Mato Grosso, Brazil, to assess the Cerrado from the perspective of it being a crucial habitat to sustain the sunflower-pollinating bees (Helianthus annuus L.). The bees were sampled using entomological nets and pan traps, in specifically marked out plots (20 m x 150 m), in the Cerrado, and in a sunflower crop, at different distances from the Cerrado border. The assessment was done in terms of the composion and species richness, abundance of individuals and the mass (g) of the sunflower chapters exposed and isolated from the floral visitors. While species richness showed no differences between the Cerrado and sunflower crop, a difference was observed for abundance, with more numbers of individuals in the sunflower crop, most likely because of the food source supply. In the sunflower crop, the bee diversity decreased proportionally as the distance from the border increased. The seed mass of the sunfl ower chapters was significantly higher in the flowers open to visitors than in those of the isolated chapters open for visitation. From the results, it was evident that the bees presente in the Cerrado visit the sunflower crop to gather pollen and nectar, and thus assist in cross-pollinating them and raising the productivity

Seasonal trends of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in the megacity of São Paulo

The Metropolitan Area of São Paulo (MASP) is the largest megacity in South America, with 21 million inhabitants and more than 8 million vehicles. Those vehicles run on a complex fuel mix, with ethanol accounting for nearly 50% of all fuel sold. That has made the MASP a unique case study to assess the impact of biofuel use on air quality. Currently, the greatest challenge in terms of improving air quality is controlling the formation of secondary pollutants such as ozone, which represents the main air pollution problem in the MASP.We evaluated the temporal trends in the concentrations of ozone, its precursors (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and NO2), CO, and NO, from 2012 to 2016. Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde concentrations were frequently higher in winter than in other seasons, showing the importance of meteorological conditions to the distribution of atmospheric pollutants in the MASP.We found no clear evidence that the recent growth in ethanol consumption in Brazil has affected acetaldehyde concentrations, which are associated with emissions from ethanol combustion. In fact, the formaldehyde/acetaldehyde ratio remained relatively constant over the period studied, despite the change in the fuel consumption profile in the MASP

Lung-Digit Syndrome Related to an Adenosquamous Feline Lung Carcinoma

Background: The lung-digit syndrome is a rare syndrome characterized by the presence of a primary pulmonar neoplasia manifesting metastasis to the digit, occurring exclusively in felines. The diagnosis is based on the clinical signs, associated with radiographic and histopathological exams. There are no therapeutic protocols well-established, and surgical excision is considered controversial due to high recurrence and metastasis rates. The prognosis is considered poor, with low survival rates. The aim of this paper is to report a case of lung-digit syndrome attended in Rio de Janeiro.Case: A 12-year-old female cat, no defined race, was attend with the complaint of weight loss and injury in the right thoracic limb, already having histopathological diagnosis of squamous differentiation adenocarcinoma through biopsy. Physical examination showed no other clinical signs at first, including no signs of respiratory disease. Laboratory and imaging exams were performed, and the radiographic examination showed alterations in the pulmonary parenchyma showing a nodular area of increased radiographic density. Followed up by the manifestation of breathing noise at rest, as the first respiratory signs. The association of the clinical evaluation, medical history, and histopathological report from the limb lesion, lead to the suspicion diagnostic of lung-digit syndrome. The owners decide for the palliative treatment with chemotherapy, using carboplatin and prednisolone. Only the first session was performed, with the animal being euthanized due to clinical worsening 48 days after the initial manifestation of clinical signs. The diagnosis was confirmed by post mortem exams, and the pulmonary nodule were diagnosed as adenocarcinoma with squamous differentiation in concordance with the limb lesion diagnosis.Discussion: The lung-digit syndrome is still poorly studied in the veterinary medicine, with few reports published. Epidemiological data shows major incidence in elderly cats, with no racial or sexual predisposition, occurring in a 12-year-old cat in the present case. There are few theorys to explain the etiopathogenesis of the syndrome, however, none have been fully comproved. The clinical symptomatology varies from asymptomatic animals to those manifesting nonspecific systemic signs and respiratory signs. In this case the animal initially manifested only the presence of the digit injury and weight loss, with respiratory signs manifesting later. The digital lesion local signs usually include swelling, ulceration, purulent discharge, nail loss, and pain, occurring more frequently in the thoracic limbs, involving weight-bearing digits, as in the present report that occurred in the right thoracic limb, with involvement of the first and third digits. Radiographic findings may help in the diagnosis suspicion, having the confirmation by histopathological examination. The most frequent histological types involved in the syndrome are the adenocarcinoma, bronchoalveolar carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma. The squamous-differentiated adenocarcinoma or adenosquamous carcinoma, as described in the histopathological report in the present case, is the least frequent. The treatment protocol is not well-established with no proven effective treatment. Surgical excision is not recomended as a palliative method, and the chemotherapy and radiotherapy sucess rates are still unknown. The prognosis is considered extremely unfavorable and early diagnosis represents the best attempt to control the disease

Composted Sewage Sludge Application Reduces Mineral Fertilization Requirements and Improves Soil Fertility in Sugarcane Seedling Nurseries

Sugarcane demands large amounts of nutrients to reach a high level of productivity. Nutrients are generally supplied by mineral fertilizers, but their high costs and negative environmental impacts have generated interest in greater use of organic nutrient sources such as composted sewage sludge (CSS). In this study, we evaluated changes in soil chemical properties after the application of CSS or CSS/mineral fertilizer (MF) combinations to soil containing sugarcane seedlings under nursery conditions. Treatments included: T1: conventional mineral fertilization (MF) without application of CSS, T2: 100% of the recommended MF (06–30–24); T3: application of 2.5 Mg−1 CSS; T4: 5.0 Mg−1 CSS, T5: 7.5 Mg−1 CSS, T6: 2.5 Mg−1 CSS and 50% MF, T7: 5.0 Mg−1 CSS and 50% MF, T8: 7.5 Mg−1 CSS and 50% MF, T9: 2.5 Mg−1 CSS and 100% MF, T10: 5.0 Mg−1 CSS and 100% MF, T11: 7.5 Mg−1 CSS and 100% MF. Soil chemical properties were evaluated from the soil surface (0.0–0.25 m) and subsurface (0.25–0.50 m) horizons. The results showed that the increase in CSS application did not affect soil organic matter content at either depth, while Zn concentrations increased in the soil subsurface horizon. The application of CSS at 5.0 Mg ha−1 with or without 50% MF resulted in the highest pH values, sum of bases, cation-exchange capacity, P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, and Zn in surface horizons. The use of CSS as an organic fertilizer in sugarcane nurseries improves soil fertility, reduces mineral fertilizer requirements, and, thus, facilitates the sustainable disposal of sewage sludge