Análise de redes sociais: a utilização de artefatos tecnológicos na educação profissional

As discussões apresentadas neste artigo emergiram a partir de pesquisas realizadas no programa de Mestrado Profissional em Gestão e Tecnologia Aplicadas à Educação. Trata-se de uma pesquisa bibliográfica e de campo, de cunho qualitativo, que apresenta uma análise de redes sociais (ARS) a partir da intervenção em uma turma de nível técnico do ensino profissionalizante. Utilizou-se como técnica para a coleta de dados a elaboração e aplicação de um formulário do Google Forms, com a finalidade de identificar quais os três artefatos tecnológicos mais utilizados pelos alunos. Os dados coletados foram tratados a partir da plataforma de composição e análise de redes Gephi, que proporcionou a análise das redes evidenciando a interpretação dos elementos analíticos utilizados nos instrumentos de coleta. Nessa perspectiva, a pesquisa foi estruturada para investigar como o uso das tecnologias digitais na educação profissional pode ser estrategicamente planejado, com dados oriundos de uma análise de redes sociais

Análise de redes sociais: a utilização de artefatos tecnológicos na educação profissional

As discussões apresentadas neste artigo emergiram a partir de pesquisas realizadas no programa de Mestrado Profissional em Gestão e Tecnologia Aplicadas à Educação. Trata-se de uma pesquisa bibliográfica e de campo, de cunho qualitativo, que apresenta uma análise de redes sociais (ARS) a partir da intervenção em uma turma de nível técnico do ensino profissionalizante. Utilizou-se como técnica para a coleta de dados a elaboração e aplicação de um formulário do Google Forms, com a finalidade de identificar quais os três artefatos tecnológicos mais utilizados pelos alunos. Os dados coletados foram tratados a partir da plataforma de composição e análise de redes Gephi, que proporcionou a análise das redes evidenciando a interpretação dos elementos analíticos utilizados nos instrumentos de coleta. Nessa perspectiva, a pesquisa foi estruturada para investigar como o uso das tecnologias digitais na educação profissional pode ser estrategicamente planejado, com dados oriundos de uma análise de redes sociais

High frequency of mutation G377S in Brazilian type 3 Gaucher disease patients

Gaucher disease (GD), the most prevalent lysosome storage disorder, presents an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. It is a paradigm for therapeutic intervention in medical genetics due to the existence of effective enzyme replacement therapy. We report here the analysis of GD in 262 unrelated Brazilian patients, carried out in order to establish the frequency of the most common mutations and to provide prognostic information based on genotype-phenotype correlations. Among 247 type 1 GD patients, mutation N370S was detected in 47% of all the alleles, but N370S/N370S homozygosity was found in only 10% of the patients, a much lower frequency than expected, suggesting that most individuals presenting this genotype may not receive medical attention. Recombinant alleles were detected at a high frequency: 44% of the chromosomes bearing mutation L444P had other mutations derived from the pseudogene sequence, present in 25% of patients. Three neuronopathic type 2 patients were homozygous for L444P, all presenting additional mutations (E326K or recombinant alleles) that probably lead to the more severe phenotypes. Six children, classified as type 1 GD patients, had a L444P/L444P genotype, showing that neuronopathic symptoms may only manifest later in life. This would indicate the need for a higher treatment dose during enzyme replacement therapy. Finally, mutation G377S was present in 4 homozygous type 1 patients and also in compound heterozygosity in 5 (42%) type 3 patients. These findings indicate that G377S cannot be unambiguously classified as mild and suggest an allele-dose effect for this mutation.Univ São Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Dept Genet & Biol Evolut, BR-05508900 São Paulo, SP, BrazilHosp Evangel Londrina, Londrina, PR, BrazilHosp Base Distrito Fed, Brasilia, DF, BrazilUniv Fed Estado São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Pediat, São Paulo, BrazilHEMORIO, Serv Hemoterapia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilSanta Casa São Paulo, Fac Ciencias Med, Serv Hemato Oncol, São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Estado São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Pediat, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Leptin signaling in Kiss1 neurons arises after pubertal development

The adipocyte-derived hormone leptin is required for normal pubertal maturation in mice and humans and, therefore, leptin has been recognized as a crucial metabolic cue linking energy stores and the onset of puberty. Several lines of evidence have suggested that leptin acts via kisspeptin expressing neurons of the arcuate nucleus to exert its effects. Using conditional knockout mice, we have previously demonstrated that deletion of leptin receptors (LepR) from kisspeptin cells cause no puberty or fertility deficits. However, developmental adaptations and system redundancies may have obscured the physiologic relevance of direct leptin signaling in kisspeptin neurons. To overcome these putative effects, we re-expressed endogenous LepR selectively in kisspeptin cells of mice otherwise null for LepR, using the Cre-loxP system. Kiss1-Cre LepR null mice showed no pubertal development and no improvement of the metabolic phenotype, remaining obese, diabetic and infertile. These mice displayed decreased numbers of neurons expressing Kiss1 gene, similar to prepubertal control mice, and an unexpected lack of re-expression of functional LepR. To further assess the temporal coexpression of Kiss1 and Lepr genes, we generated mice with the human renilla green fluorescent protein (hrGFP) driven by Kiss1 regulatory elements and crossed them with mice that express Cre recombinase from the Lepr locus and the R26-tdTomato reporter gene. No coexpression of Kiss1 and LepR was observed in prepubertal mice. Our findings unequivocally demonstrate that kisspeptin neurons are not the direct target of leptin in the onset of puberty. Leptin signaling in kisspeptin neurons arises only after completion of sexual maturation.National Institutes of Health, R01HD061539National Institutes of Health, R01HD69702National Institutes of Health, R01DA024680National Institutes of Health, R01MH085298National Institutes of Health, K01DK087780National Institutes of Health, DK081182-01National Institutes of Health, UL1RR02492

Amazonian plant natural products:perspectives for discovery of new antimalarial drug leads

Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax malaria parasites are now resistant, or showing signs of resistance, to most drugs used in therapy. Novel chemical entities that exhibit new mechanisms of antiplasmodial action are needed. New antimalarials that block transmission of Plasmodium spp. from humans to Anopheles mosquito vectors are key to malaria eradication efforts. Although P. vivax causes a considerable number of malaria cases, its importance has for long been neglected. Vivax malaria can cause severe manifestations and death; hence there is a need for P. vivax-directed research. Plants used in traditional medicine, namely Artemisia annua and Cinchona spp. are the sources of the antimalarial natural products artemisinin and quinine, respectively. Based on these compounds, semi-synthetic artemisinin-derivatives and synthetic quinoline antimalarials have been developed and are the most important drugs in the current therapeutic arsenal for combating malaria. In the Amazon region, where P. vivax predominates, there is a local tradition of using plant-derived preparations to treat malaria. Here, we review the current P. falciparum and P. vivax drug-sensitivity assays, focusing on challenges and perspectives of drug discovery for P. vivax, including tests against hypnozoites. We also present the latest findings of our group and others on the antiplasmodial and antimalarial chemical components from Amazonian plants that may be potential drug leads against malaria

Longitudinal evaluation the pulmonary function of the pre and postoperative periods in the coronary artery bypass graft surgery of patients treated with a physiotherapy protocol

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD) seeks to reduce or prevent its complications and decrease morbidity and mortality. For certain subgroups of patients, coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) may accomplish these goals. The objective of this study was to assess the pulmonary function in the CABG postoperative period of patients treated with a physiotherapy protocol.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Forty-two volunteers with an average age of 63 ± 2 years were included and separated into three groups: healthy volunteers (n = 09), patients with CAD (n = 9) and patients who underwent CABG (n = 20). Patients from the CABG group received preoperative and postoperative evaluations on days 3, 6, 15 and 30. Patients from the CAD group had evaluations on days 1 and 30 of the study, and the healthy volunteers were evaluated on day 1. Pulmonary function was evaluated by measuring forced vital capacity (FVC), maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) and Maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After CABG, there was a significant decrease in pulmonary function (p < 0.05), which was the worst on postoperative day 3 and returned to the preoperative baseline on postoperative day 30.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Pulmonary function decreased after CABG. Pulmonary function was the worst on postoperative day 3 and began to improve on postoperative day 15. Pulmonary function returned to the preoperative baseline on postoperative day 30.</p