Description of Triangulamyxa psittaca sp. n. (Myxozoa: Myxosporea), a new parasite in the urinary bladder of Colomesus psittacus (Teleostei) from the Amazon River, with emphasis on the ultrastructure of plasmodial stages

A fish-infecting myxosporean was found in the urinary bladder of the teleostean Colomesus psittacus, collected from the Amazon River, Brazil. Specimens were sampled in three different periods: May and June, with water temperature ranging from 18–23ºC; August, with water temperature ranging from 24–28ºC; and November and December, with water temperature ranging from 29–32ºC. Upon observation, several fish displayed abnormal behaviour, consisting of erratic movements, and mortality was recorded among them. Necropsy of all sampled fishes revealed hypertrophy of the urinary bladder only among specimens previously displaying the irregular behaviour. Microscopic analysis of this organ confirmed the parasitic infection, resulting in the observation of spores floating free in the urine, and numerous plasmodia attached to the epithelium of the urinary bladder. Light and ultrastructural studies allowed recognition of the spores and plasmodia morphological characteristics. Coelozoic plasmodia were polysporic with varying organizational structure, according to the sampling period. Spores were equilaterally triangular with rounded ends in valvar view, measuring 8.8 ± 0.4 μm (n = 30) in length and 8.4 ± 0.5 μm (n = 30) in width, and displaying a ridge surface pattern. Two polar capsules were observed in the anterior end of the spores, measuring 3.1–3.2 μm in diameter. The spores were morphologically identified as belonging to the recently described genus Triangulamyxa. Further observation and comparison to the morphological features described for Triangulamyxa amazonica, the only other species within this genus, allowed us to conclude our parasite as a new species, herein named Triangulamyxa psittaca sp. nov. from the Amazon River, Brazil. Also, three different stages were distinguished in the plasmodium evolution, based on the observed morphological features at the three sampling periods. Fish sampled during May and June displayed small plasmodia (up to ~ 15–20 μm long), containing early stages of sporogenic development. Fish sampled during November and December presented larger plasmodia (up to ~ 850 μm long), which appeared flattened against and lining the urinary bladder epithelial cells and contained the later stages of sporogenic development, including some mature spores. Fish sampled during August presented plasmodia displaying intermediate morphological features between those observed in infected fish from the other sampling periods. Several immature and mature spores were among the different developmental stages. The parasite-host interface evolution is described throughout the different observed stages, with emphasis on the formation of septate junctions. Considering several previous reports, as well as the different environmental conditions during the sampling periods, the plasmodium development here described appears to be influenced by environmental factors, namely water temperature

Penicilina na fase avançada da leptospirose: um ensaio clínico randomizado

There is evidence that an early start of penicillin reduces the case-fatality rate of leptospirosis and that chemoprophylaxis is efficacious in persons exposed to the sources of leptospira. The existent data, however, are inconsistent regarding the benefit of introducing penicillin at a late stage of leptospirosis. The present study was developed to assess whether the introduction of penicillin after more than four days of symptoms reduces the in-hospital case-fatality rate of leptospirosis. A total of 253 patients aged 15 to 76 years with advanced leptospirosis, i.e., more than four days of symptoms, admitted to an infectious disease hospital located in Salvador, Brazil, were selected for the study. The patients were randomized to one of two treatment groups: with intravenous penicillin, 6 million units day (one million unit every four hours) for seven days (n = 125) and without (n = 128) penicillin. The main outcome was death during hospitalization. The case-fatality rate was approximately twice as high in the group treated with penicillin (12%; 15/125) than in the comparison group (6.3%; 8/128). This difference pointed in the opposite direction of the study hypothesis, but was not statistically significant (p = 0.112). Length of hospital stay was similar between the treatment groups. According to the results of the present randomized clinical trial initiation of penicillin in patients with severe forms of leptospirosis after at least four days of symptomatic leptospirosis is not beneficial. Therefore, more attention should be directed to prevention and earlier initiation of the treatment of leptospirosis.Existe evidência de que o início precoce do tratamento com penicilina reduz a letalidade da leptospirose e de que a quimioprofilaxia é eficaz em pessoas expostas às fontes de infecção. Os dados existentes, contudo, são inconsistentes quanto ao benefício de iniciar penicilina na fase tardia da leptospirose. O presente estudo foi desenvolvido para avaliar se a introdução de penicilina após mais de quatro dias de sintomas reduz a letalidade da leptospirose. Um total de 253 pacientes entre 15 e 76 anos de idade, com leptospirose avançada, i.e., mais de quatro dias de sintomas, admitidos em um hospital de doenças infecciosas localizado em Salvador, Brasil, foram selecionados para o estudo. Os pacientes foram randomizados para um dos seguintes grupos de tratamento: com penicilina intravenosa, 6 milhões de unidades/dia (um milhão de unidades cada quatro horas) por 7 dias (n = 125) e sem penicilina (n = 128). O evento principal foi morte durante o período de internamento. A letalidade foi aproximadamente duas vezes maior no grupo tratado com penicilina (12%; 15/125) do que no grupo de comparação (6,3%; 8/128). Esta diferença seguiu direção oposta a da hipótese do estudo, porém não alcançou significância estatística (p = 0,112). A duração do internamento foi similar entre os grupos de tratamento. De acordo com os resultados do presente ensaio clínico randomizado o uso de penicilina não é benéfico em paciente com leptospirose quando iniciado com pelo menos quatro dias após o início dos sintomas. Portanto, maior atenção deve ser dada à prevenção e ao inicio mais precoce do tratamento da leptospirose

Ultrastructure of the Plasmodial Development of Myxobolus insignis (Myxozoa), Infecting the Amazonian Fish Semaprochilodus insignis (Prochilodontidae)

This study used light and electron microscopy to describe a myxosporean, polysporic, histozoic plasmodium infecting the gill filaments of the freshwater teleost, Semaprochilodus insignis, specimens of which were collected from the Trombetas River (Central Amazonian Region, Brazil). Ultrastructural analyses of the fish-infecting spores identified the parasite as Myxobolus insignis, an organism that occurs within whitish unequal-sized plasmodia located in the intralamellar epithelium of the gill. Based on the observed morphological and ultrastructural features of the plasmodia in this study three stages in the plasmodial evolution were distinguished, related to the sporogonic stages of Myxobolus insignis. The plasmodium walls were also found to constitute a number of layers of fibroblasts, surrounded by collagen fibres, which displayed different morphological arrangements according to the different phases of evolution. This represents the first time such ultrastructural features have been described in detail for Myxobolus insignis plasmodia and offers potentially significant points of comparison with plasmodia from other species of myxosporea

Ultrastructural Re-description of Henneguya piaractus (Myxozoa), a Parasite of the Freshwater Fish Piaractus mesopotamicus (Teleostei, Characidae) from the Paraguai River, Brazil

Ultrastructural analyses of fish-infecting myxosporean Henneguya piaractus that is found in the gill lamellae of the freshwater teleost Piaractus mesopotamicus (Characidae) and collected from the Paraguai River, Brazil were described. The parasite occurs within large whitish spherical to ellipsoidal polysporic cysts (up to 2.5 mm long) delimited by a layer of fibroblasts generally connected with some capillaries on the gill epithelium. No external morphological signs of disease were visible in the infected fishes. The tailed spores measured 61.5 ± 0.91 (60.2–62.6) μm in total length and ellipsoidal spore body 21.1 ± 0.62 (20.6–21.9) μm long, 6.7 ± 0.40 (6.2–7.3) μm wide and 2.5 ± 0.54 (2.0–3.1) μm thick. The spore wall was about 97 nm of thickness and consisted of a thin electron-dense exospore and a thick electron-lucent endospore with about 85 nm of thickness. The tailed spores were composed of two equal–sized shell valves adhering together along the straight suture line each having in continuity a equal caudal tapering tail measuring 40.5 ± 1.02 (38.7–43.1) μm in length. Two symmetric polar capsules measured 9.8 ± 0.28 (9.3–10.1) μm long and 1.9 ± 0.37 (1.4–2.4) μm wide, each having a polar filament with 10–11 (rarely 12) coil

PRIMING AND GROWTH INHIBITOR IN THE PRODUCTION OF HIGH-QUALITY PEPPER SEEDLINGS

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of nitrate salts and a growth regulator on seed conditioning. Subsequently, the responses of the influence of the leaf application of paclobutrazol (PBZ) and nitrogen on the quality of seedlings of Capsicum frutescens L. were evaluated. Two experiments were carried out. The first experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design to evaluate priming, as follows: T1 – control, T2 – control (water), T3 – 0.2% calcium nitrate, T4 – 0.2% potassium nitrate, T5 – 0.1% calcium nitrate + 0.1% potassium nitrate, T6 – PBZ, and T7 – PBZ + 0.1% calcium nitrate + 0.1% potassium nitrate. The second experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design in a 2×5 factorial scheme consisting of priming (absence and presence of calcium nitrate) and leaf application of growth regulator, as follows: control (water), PBZ, PBZ + 1% nitrogen (calcium nitrate), PBZ + 1% nitrogen (urea), and PBZ + nitrogen (0.5% calcium nitrate + 0.5% urea). Physiological conditioning with a solution of 0.1% calcium nitrate increased the germination and seedling emergence rate and resulted in seedlings with a higher shoot length at 33 days after sowing (DAS), but seedlings at 50 DAS showed no differences in growth with its use. Leaf application of 0.1% paclobutrazol provided pepper (C. frutescens L.) seedlings with better distribution in growth according to the Dickson quality index

OCUPAÇÕES ESPONTÂNEAS, CONJUNTOS HABITACIONAIS E CONDOMÃNIOS DE STATUS: USO DO SOLO E INDICADORES DE QUALIDADE DE VIDA NA BACIA DO MATA FOME EM BELÉM-PA

Este artigo visa analisar o uso do solo e os indicadores de qualidade de vida renda, educação e saneamento na Bacia do Mata Fome em Belém, Pará através de uma comparação entre tais indicadores em três tipologias construtivas: ocupação espontânea, conjunto habitacional popular e condomínio de status. Além disso, foi realizado o mapeamento do uso do solo na área de estudo. Os resultados obtidos a partir da comparação entre os indicadores permitiram concluir que, entre 2000 e 2010 houve melhoria da qualidade de vida nas três tipologias urbanas, mas também foi constatado que há uma grande disparidade na qualidade de vida entre as tipologias construtivas, especialmente na ocupação espontânea onde seus moradores vivem em condições degradantes

Terapia Ocupacional e saúde do idoso na atenção primária à saúde: uma revisão integrativa da literatura/Occupational Therapy and health of the elderly in primary health care: an integrative literature review

Introdução: No atendimento à população idosa na Atenção Primária à Saúde, é preconizada uma atenção humanizada com o auxílio da análise multidimensional do usuário, considerando suas particularidades e características socioculturais, por meio de ações integrais e intersetoriais, visando o bem-estar biopsicossocial do usuário, tendo o terapeuta ocupacional como um dos profissionais indispensáveis na equipe. Objetivos: Buscou-se identificar as principais ações do terapeuta ocupacional nesse nível de atenção, voltado à saúde do idoso. Método: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura, realizada a partir da utilização dos descritores ‘’Terapia Ocupacional’’, ‘’Idoso’’ e ‘’Atenção Primária à Saúde’’. Resultados: Após o levantamento dos dados, identificou-se 337 artigos, contudo, somente 4 estudos integraram esta revisão. Os resultados foram sistematizados em duas categorias: (1) Principais ações desenvolvidas na Atenção Primária à Saúde para a produção da linha de cuidado ao idoso; e (2) Atuação do terapeuta ocupacional na Atenção Primária à Saúde relacionada à saúde da pessoa idosa. Discussão: O terapeuta ocupacional, na produção da linha de cuidado à pessoa idosa, desenvolve ações com a população, equipe multiprofissional e território adscrito, possibilitando a ampliação dos espaços de socialização, valorizando a subjetividade do idoso e oferecendo suporte adequado para a manutenção do envelhecimento ativo e saudável. Conclusão: A atuação do terapeuta ocupacional favorece a integralidade e longitudinalidade, através dos serviços prestados à pessoa idosa na Atenção Primária à Saúde, contudo, notou-se um baixo quantitativo de publicações referentes à temática. Desse modo, este estudo visa incitar discussões acerca das experiências e contribuições deste profissional neste âmbito.Palavras-chave: Terapia Ocupacional. Idoso. Atenção Primária à Saúde Abstract Introduction: Primary Health Care advocates for a humanized care for elderly people through comprehensive and intersectoral actions aimed at the biopsychosocial well-being of the user, with the occupational therapist as a facilitator of the therapeutic process. Objectives: We sought to identify the main actions performed by the occupational therapist at this level of care concerning elderly health. Method: This is an Integrative Literature Review, made by using the key descriptors “Occupational Therapy”, “Aged” and “Primary Health Care”. Results: After collecting the data, 337 articles were identified, but only 4 studies were included in this review. The results were systematized into two categories: (1) Main actions developed in Primary Health Care for the production of the eldery care line and (2) Occupational therapist’s part in performing Primary Health Care for the elderly. Discussion: The occupational therapist in the production line of care for elderly people develops actions with the population, multi-professional team and assigned territory, enabling the expansion of socialization spaces, valuing the user’s subjectivity and offering adequate support for an active and healthy aging process. Conclusion: The work of the occupational therapist favors integrality and longitudinality through the services provided to elderly in primary health care, however, it was noted that there was a low number of publications on the subject. Thus, this study aims to encourage discussions about experiences and professional contributions in this area.Keywords: Occupational Therapy. Aged. Primary Health Care Resumen Introdución: La Atención Primaria de Salud recomienda la atención humanizada a las personas de la tercera edad a través de acciones integrales e intersectoriales dirigidas al bienestar biopsicosocial del usuario, con el terapeuta ocupacional como facilitador del proceso terapéutico. Objetivos: Se buscó identificar las principales acciones del terapeuta ocupacional en este nivel de atención centrado en la salud de las personas de la tercera edad. Metodo: Se trata de una revisión bibliográfica integradora basada en el uso de las palabras clave ''Terapia Ocupacional'', ''Ancianos'' y ''Atención Primaria de Salud''. Resultados: Después de recopilar los datos, se identificaron 337 artículos, pero sólo se incluyeron 4 estudios en esta revisión. Los resultados se sistematizaron en dos categorías: (1) Principales acciones desarrolladas en Atención Primaria para la producción de la línea de atención a personas de la tercera edad y (2) Acciones del terapeuta ocupacional en Atención Primaria enfocadas a la salud de las personas de la tercera edad. Discusión: El terapeuta ocupacional en la producción de la línea de atención a las personas mayores desarrolla acciones con la población, el equipo multiprofesionales y el território adjunto permitiendo la ampliación de los espacios de socialización, valorando la subjetividad del usuario y ofreciendo un apoyo adecuado para el mantenimiento del envejecimiento activo y saludable. Conclusión: El papel del terapeuta ocupacional favorece la integralidad y longitudinalidad a través de los servicios prestados a los ancianos en la atención primaria de salud, sin embargo, se observó un bajo número de publicaciones sobre el tema. Así, este estudio pretende fomentar el debate sobre las experiencias y aportaciones de este profesional en este ámbito.Palabras clave: Terapia Ocupacional. Anciano. Atención Primaria de Salud

Avaliação do Risco de Crédito em Agências de Rating: uma Abordagem em Corporações Brasileiras / Credit Risk Assessment in Rating Agencies: an Approach in Brazilian Corporations

RESUMO A avaliação do risco de crédito se baseia em critérios e metodologias independentes, buscando demonstrar a opinião das agências de ratings sobre a capacidade das corporações em honrar seus compromissos. Dentre uma gama de instrumentos, os indicadores financeiros podem fornecer informações confiáveis sobre a estabilidade da empresa. Esse estudo tem como objetivo avaliar a influência dos indicadores financeiros nas diferentes classificações de ratings das agências Standard & Poor’s (S&P), Fitch e Moody’s. O método se pautou na Análise de Componentes Principais e Fatorial, com base nos indicadores financeiros de 68 empresas brasileiras. Verificou-se que boa parte dos indicadores financeiros apresentaram, alternativamente, resultados satisfatórios nas análises dos componentes. Embora os indicadores financeiros possam auxiliar nas classificações dos ratings, não apresentam, de forma geral, subsídios que permitam explicar sua influência nos mecanismos de classificação utilizados pelas agências.