West Nile Virus: Characteristics of an African Virus Adapting to the Third Millennium World

The emergence and spread of West Nile Virus (WNV) from North through South America during the last decade, and the recent outbreaks of disease in both humans and horses in Europe suggest that the epidemiology of this infection is evolving. WNV is now considered among the emerging threats for both human and veterinary public health in areas like Europe where it was previously regarded to as an exotic agent. Further knowledge has built up from studies investigating the characteristics of the virus and its genome evolution capacity, the adaptation to new avian host species, the changes in vector competence and biology, and the host-pathogen interactions, including the immune response. Also, the new needs for preparedness to future major outbursts of disease have stimulated research on virus detection and characterization, filling the gaps in both specialized diagnostic technology and the need for field rapid assays. This review will present an overview of WNV virology, remarking the impact of virus diversity and evolution on theoretical and practical aspects involved in both risk definition, detection and control of infection

Effectiveness of psycho-educational intervention to promote mental health focused on emotional intelligence in middle-school

Purpose. The specific “outcome-oriented” pattern of the emotional intelligence (EI) should be considered of capital importance for teenagers in order to promote mental health. Nevertheless it is rarely evaluated because a specific tool, useful for routinely use, is not available. In this paper the authors describe the effectiveness of a new approach of public health to improve the EI “outcome-oriented”, by a specific index.Design. A comparison of two samples: experimental (i.e. applying the program) vs control group, without randomization.Setting. 12 classes belonging to 3 different schools.Subjects. A sample of 276 students, 146 (53%) belonging to the experimental classes. Intervention. A program of 20 meetings, once a week, based on the handbook Intervento psicoeducativo per la promozione del benessere psicologico e dell’intelligenza emotiva nelle scuole (Psycho-educational intervention for promoting psychological well-being and emotional intelligence at school) in order to stimulate a “peer to peer student approach”.Measures. Index of emotional intelligence (15 items), inventory idea questionnaire (19 items), learning ability questionnaire (6 items).Analysis. Nonparametric tests were used.Results. The authors found significant statistical differences at the conclusion of the study for all considered measures.Conclusion. The results show a remarkable and positive impact of the approach above all on the “outcome-oriented” EI. Significant results were also observed about the indicator concerning irrational beliefs. The same significant results were found about learning abilities (goal definition, problem-solving and communication skills). The main limit is the study design (lack of randomization). Further evaluation is needed

Measurement of serum lactate values in domestic cats (Felis catus) submitted to physical and chemical restraint

The use of serum lactate has become increasingly common in Veterinary Medicine, since it is an excellent marker of tissue oxygenation, elevated in situations of tissue hypoxia, where anaerobic glycolysis is used as an energy source. Studies point out its use in dogs as a prognostic factor in several affections; however it is not commonly used in domestic felines due to the high stress threshold of the species, which may interfere with their values. The aim of the present study was to evaluate serum lactate values in domestic cats during physical restraint and after chemical restraint using the combination of 8mg/kg ketamine-S, 0.4 mg/kg midazolam, and 2 mg/kg Tramadol. To this end, 20 clinically healthy female cats without defined race, from six months to five years of age, were divided into two groups, GPR (n = 10) represented by felines that had only physical restraint and the GCR (n = 10) by felines that underwent physical restraint (TPR) and after 30 hours by chemical restraint (TCR). It was observed that in both groups (GPR and CPR) during physical restraint presented hyperlactatemia (GPR = 6.23 ± 0.9 mmol/L – GCR – Tpr = 6.66 ± 1.59 mmol/L) and mean values of 4.42 ± 1.28 mmol/L during chemical restraint (GCR – Tcr). It was concluded that physical restraint interferes with serum lactate values, with the reduction of such values with the use of chemical restraint in the feline species.A utilização do lactato sérico é cada vez mais comum na Medicina Veterinária, por ser um excelente marcador de oxigenação tecidual, elevando-se em situações de hipóxia tecidual e realizando a glicólise anaeróbica como fonte de energia. Pesquisas científicas em cães o apontam como fator prognóstico em diversas afecções, sendo pouco utilizado em felinos domésticos devido ao elevado limiar de estresse da espécie, podendo interferir em seus valores. Assim, este trabalho avaliou os valores de lactato sérico em felinos domésticos durante contenção física e após contenção química, utilizando a associação de 8 mg/kg de cetamina-S, 0,4 mg/kg de midazolam e 2 mg/kg de cloridrato de tramadol. Foram estudados 20 felinos, fêmeas, sem raça definida,  de seis meses a cinco anos de idade, clinicamente saudáveis, divididos em dois grupos, com GPR (n = 10) representado por felinos que passaram apenas por contenção física e com GCR por felinos que passaram por contenção física (TPR) e após 30 horas por contenção química (TCR). Foi observado em ambos os grupos (GPR e GCR) e durante a contenção física a hiperlactatemia sérica (GPR = 6.23 ± 0.9 mmol / L – GCR – TPR = 6.66 ± 1.59 mmol / L) com valores médios de 4,42 ± 1,28 mmol/L durante a contenção química (GCR – TCR). Conclui-se que a contenção física interfere nos valores do lactato sérico, com redução dos valores na utilização da contenção química na espécie felina

CONFLITOS SÓCIO-AMBIENTAIS NA ÁREA DE INFLUÊNCIA DO COMPLEXO COSTA DO SAUÍPE: PROPOSTA DE UMA GRADE ANALÍTICA

El presente artículo tiene por objetivo construir una grade analítica para estudiar las relaciones de conflicto existentes en la área de influencia del Complejo Turístico-Hotelero Costa do Sauípe, a partir de la elección del referencial institucionalista y de la identificación de situaciones-problema socioambientales. Para alcanzar este objetivo, el trabajo se utiliza de una investigación exploratoria y de los seguientes instrumentos de colecta de datos: análisis de documentos, entrevistas semiestructuradas y observación no participante. Los productos asociados a este trabajo de investigación incluyen: a) tres situaciones problema identificadas: descarte de los efluentes líquidos produzidos por el Complejo de Costa do Sauípe, acceso de la comunidad de Porto de Sauípe a la playa de la Barra y de las poblaciones tradicionales a las reservas naturales de Mata Atlântica; b) una grade analítica construida para subsidiar la investigación del proceso de construcció de mecanismos político-institucionales de coordenación entre actores envolvidos con la cuestión socioambiental, particularmente en lo que tange a la gestión de Áreas de Protección Ambiental.O presente artigo tem por objetivo construir uma grade analítica para estudar as relações de conflito existentes na área de influência do Complexo Turístico-Hoteleiro Costa do Sauípe, a partir da escolha do referencial institucionalista e da identificação de situações-problema sócio-ambientais. Para alcançar este objetivo, o trabalho utiliza-se de uma pesquisa exploratória e dos seguintes instrumentos de coleta de dados: análise de documentos, entrevistas semi-estruturadas e observação não-participante. Os produtos associados a este trabalho de pesquisa incluem: a) três situações-problema identificadas: descarte dos efluentes líquidos produzidos pelo Complexo de Costa do Sauípe, acesso da comunidade de Porto de Sauípe à praia da Barra e das populações tradicionais às reservas naturais de Mata Atlântica; b) uma grade analítica construída para subsidiar a investigação do processo de construção de mecanismos político-institucionais de coordenação entre atores envolvidos com a questão sócio-ambiental, particularmente no que tange à gestão de Áreas de Proteção Ambiental

Linking the composition of bacterial and archaeal communities to characteristics of soil and flora composition in the Atlantic rainforest

The description of microbiomes as intrinsic fractions of any given ecosystem is an important issue, for instance, by linking their compositions and functions with other biotic and abiotic components of natural systems and hosts. Here we describe the archaeal and bacterial communities from soils of the Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil. Based on the comparison of three areas located along an altitudinal gradient-namely, Santa Virginia, Picinguaba and Restinga-we detected the most abundant groups of Bacteria (Acidobacteria and Proteobacteria) and Archaea (Thaumarchaeota, Crenarchaeota and Euryarchaeota). The particular composition of such communities in each of these areas was first evidenced by PCR-DGGE patterns [determined for Bacteria, Archaea and ammonia-oxidizing organisms-ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB)]. Moreover, sequence-based analysis provided a better resolution of communities, which indicated distinct frequencies of archaeal phyla and bacterial OTUs across areas. We found, as indicated by the Mantel test and multivariate analyses, a potential effect of the flora composition that outpaces the effect of soil characteristics (either physical and chemical) influencing the assembly of these microbial communities in soils. Our results indicate a collective role of the ecosystem underlying observed differences in microbial communities in these soils. Particularly, we posit that rainforest preservation also needs to take into account the maintenance of the soil biodiversity, as this is prompted to influence major processes that affect ecosystem functioning

Solute Transporter OCTN1/Slc22a4 Affects Disease Severity and Response to Infliximab in Experimental Colitis: Role of Gut Microbiota and Immune Modulation

Background Inflammatory bowel diseases are chronic disabling conditions with a complex and multifactorial etiology, still incompletely understood. OCTN1, an organic cation transporter, could have a role in modulating the inflammatory response, and some genetic polymorphisms of this molecule have been associated with increased risk of inflammatory bowel diseases. Until now, limited information exists on its potential in predicting/modulating patient's response to therapies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of OCTN1 in modifying gut microbiota and mucosal immunity in response to infliximab therapy in murine colitis.Methods A dextran sodium sulphate model of colitis was used to assess the clinical efficacy of infliximab administered intravenously in ocnt1 gene knockout mice and their C57BL/6 controls. Stool, colon, and mesenteric lymph node samples were collected to evaluate differences in gut microbiota composition, histology, and T cell populations, respectively.Results Octn1 -/- influences the microbiota profile and is associated with a worse dysbiosis in mice with colitis. Infliximab treatment attenuates colitis-associated dysbiosis, with an increase of bacterial richness and evenness in both strains. In comparison with wild type, octn1-/- mice have milder disease and a higher baseline percentage of Treg, Tmemory, Th2 and Th17 cells.Conclusions Our data support the murine model to study OCTN1 genetic contribution to inflammatory bowel diseases. This could be the first step towards the recognition of this membrane transporter as a biomarker in inflammatory conditions and a predictor of response to therapies.In this article, we evaluated the role of OCTN1, an organic cation transporter, in modifying gut microbiota and immune T cell populations, as well as its effects on experimental colitis and the response to infliximab treatment

Epidemiology and survival of the five stages of chronic kidney disease in a systolic heart failure population

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102653/1/ejhfhfq077.pd

Anales del III Congreso Internacional de Vivienda y Ciudad "Debate en torno a la nueva agenda urbana"

Acta de congresoEl III Congreso Internacional de Vivienda y Ciudad “Debates en torno a la NUEVa Agenda Urbana”, ha sido una apuesta de alto compromiso por acercar los debates centrales y urgentes que tensionan el pleno ejercicio del derecho a la ciudad. Para ello las instituciones organizadoras (INVIHAB –Instituto de Investigación de Vivienda y Hábitat y MGyDH-Maestría en Gestión y Desarrollo Habitacional-1), hemos convidado un espacio que se concretó con potencia en un debate transdisciplinario. Convocó a intelectuales de prestigio internacional, investigadores, académicos y gestores estatales, y en una metodología de innovación articuló las voces académicas con las de las organizaciones sociales y/o barriales en el Foro de las Organizaciones Sociales que tuvo su espacio propio para dar voz a quienes están trabajando en los desafíos para garantizar los derechos a la vivienda y los bienes urbanos en nuestras ciudades del Siglo XXI

Hemangiosarcoma at the base of the left atrium of a dog with mitral and tricuspid valve degeneration – case report

Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is a malignant neoplasm originating from the vascular endothelium, with high metastatic power and commonly described in the spleen, liver, and right atrium. Thus, the objective of the present study is to report the occurrence of HSA at the base of the left atrium of a male, elderly, Lhasa Apso dog, treated with cyanosis, orthopedic position, cough. In the physical examination, the presence of crackling was observed in pulmonary lobes, murmur in focus of mitral and tricuspid grade IV\VI. The recommended emergency therapy was performed until the clinical improvement of the animal. After echocardiography, mitral and tricuspid valvular degeneration was confirmed, as well as the presence of an irregular, mixed echocardiogram, extra-cardiac, immobile at the base of the left atrium, measuring 2.9 x 1.44 cm in diameter. The clinical therapy established stabilized the clinical picture for 128 days, with recurrence of pulmonary edema and severe hemorrhagic pleural effusion, with the owners opting for euthanasia of the animal and necropsy confirming the definitive diagnosis of extrahepatic SAH at the base of the left atrium.O hemangiossarcoma (HSA) é uma neoplasia maligna originada no endotélio vascular, com alto poder metastático e comumente descrito no baço, fígado e átrio direito. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho é relatar a ocorrência do HSA na base do átrio esquerdo de um cão, macho, idoso, da raça Lhasa Apso, atendido apresentando cianose, posição ortopneica e tosse. No exame físico foi observado presença de crepitação em lobos pulmonares e sopro em foco de mitral e tricúspide grau IV\VI. Foi realizada terapia emergencial preconizada até a melhora clínica do animal, e após a ecocardiografia confirmou-se a degeneração valvular mitral e tricúspide, bem como a presença de uma imagem irregular, de ecogenicidade mista, extracardíaca e imóvel na base do átrio esquerdo, medindo 2,9 x 1,44 cm de diâmetro. A terapia clínica instituída estabilizou o quadro clínico por 128 dias, havendo recidiva do edema pulmonar e efusão pleural hemorrágica grave, com os proprietários optando pela eutanásia do animal e a necropsia, confirmando o diagnóstico definitivo do HSA extracardíaco na base do átrio esquerdo