The experience of pregnancy resulting from ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) treatment : a qualitative Brazilian study

Background: Pregnancies achieved through medical treatments following a period of infertility may demand extra emotional and practical investment from women. Aim: This paper aims at understanding the experience of pregnancy after Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), and exploring whether this experience is affected by previous failed infertility treatments. Methods: This paper uses a qualitative approach. Participants were nineteen expectant first-time mothers from Brazil who conceived through ART treatment. During the third trimester of gestation, a semi-structured interview was administered to assess perceptions of and feelings about treatment and pregnancy. Interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis, and the sample was divided into two groups according to whether it was the participant’s first treatment (FT) or not (NFT). Findings: Themes identified include: Tolerance of the demands of treatment and pregnancy, Consideration of the mechanics of treatment and pregnancy, and Emotionally painful aspects of treatment and pregnancy. Pregnancy itself was regarded as a reward or compensation for the difficulties undergone. Perspectives differed according to whether pregnancy followed the first ART treatment; those who had undergone previously unsuccessful treatments focused less on the mechanical aspects of the process but were more concerned about possible physical problems. Conclusion: The similarities and differences found according to number of treatments attempted should be taken into consideration when providing psychological support for expectant ART mothers

Semeadura direta de soja sobre diferentes plantas de cobertura e manejos de palhada, na região norte fluminense.

Com o objetivo de avaliar as características agronômicas da cultura da soja em rotação a plantas de cobertura com dois manejos dos resíduos, foi realizado um experímento em campo na região norte fluminense. O delineamento utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições em esquema de parcelas subdivididas. As parcelas foram constituídas dos manejos (roçado e não-roçado) e as subparcelas constaram das plantas de cobertura (aveia-preta, milheto, sorgo, teosinto, nabo-forrageiro, mucuna-anã, tremoço-branco, guandu-anão e vegetação espontânea com predomínio de capim-colchão). No manejo não roçado a produtividade média de soja nas sucessões com aveia preta e vegetação espontânea foi 50% superior à das sucessões com mucuna-anã, milheto, guandu-anão e sorgo. Já no manejo com roçada, a produtividade média nas sucessões com milheto, teosinto e vegetação espontânea foi 79% superior às sucessões com tremoço-branco e mucuna-anã. Além disso, o manejo mecânico do milheto resultou em acréscimo de 1.154 kg ha' de soja, comparado à ausência da roçada

Variações na fórmula dentária de Otaria byronia Blainville (Pinnipedia, Otariidae) no Pacífico: registro de um novo tipo de anomalia

Fourteen South American sea lion specimens from the Pacific population (Chile and Peru) containing dental anomalies are presented from a total sample of 296 specimens. Postcanine agenesis, especially in the upper PC6, is the most frequent anomaly related to the natural instability of this tooth in this species. Although its occurrence is treated as a taxic atavism, we speculate that its presence in other otariid species may be regarded as a vestigial or rudimentary structure. Lower post-canine extra teeth at the PC6 position, corroborates the spontaneous atavism hypothesis back in time to the beginning of the Pinnipedimorpha evolution at Oligo/Miocene. The first case of multiple agenesis for Otaria byronia is here presented. The upper PC2 and PC3 and the lower PC4 are absent on both sides characterizing an oligodonty, a dental anomaly common in other mammal species, such as dogs and humans. The study of dental anomalies can furnish important amounts of information concerning dental evolution of Pinnipedia and contribute to the elucidation of their phylogenetic relationships among the Carnivora Arctoidea. Key words: agenesis, atavisms, supernumeraries, oligodonty.São apresentados 14 espécimes da população pacífica (Chile e Peru) do leão-marinho-sul- americano [Otaria byronia (Blainville, 1820)] contendo anomalias dentárias. Agêneses de pós-caninos, especialmente do PC6 superior, são as anomalias mais frequentes relacionadas com a instabilidade natural desses dentes. Enquanto sua ocorrência é considerada um atavismo táxico, especula-se que a ocorrência deste dente em outras espécies de otarídeos possa ser considerada como uma estrutura ora vestigial, ora rudimentar. Dentes pós-caninos extranumerários mandibulares na posição do PC6 corroboram a hipótese dos atavismos espontâneos, remontando aos primórdios da evolução dos Pinnipedimorpha no Oligo/Mioceno. O primeiro caso de agênese múltipla para Otaria byronia é apresentado, onde estão ausentes, simetricamente, os PC2 e 3 superiores e os PC4 inferiores, caracterizando uma oligodontia, comum em outras espécies de mamíferos tais como os cães e os humanos. O estudo das anomalias dentárias pode fornecer um suporte apreciável de informação no que diz respeito à evolução dentária dos pinipédios em geral, e contribuir na elucidação das relações filogenéticas entre os Carnivora Arctoidea. Palavras-chave: agênese, atavismos, extranumerários, oligodontia

Kinin B1 receptors mediate depression-like behavior response in stressed mice treated with systemic E. coli lipopolysaccharide

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Kinin B₁receptors are inducible molecules up-regulated after inflammatory stimuli. This study evaluated the relevance of kinin B₁receptors in a mouse depression behavior model.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Mice were exposed to a 5-min swimming session, and 30 min later they were injected with <it>E. coli </it>lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Depression-like behavior was assessed by determining immobility time in a tail suspension test. Different brain structures were collected for molecular and immunohistochemical studies. Anhedonia was assessed by means of a sucrose intake test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our protocol elicited an increase in depression-like behavior in CF1 mice, as assessed by the tail-suspension test, at 24 h. This behavior was significantly reduced by treatment with the selective B₁receptor antagonists R-715 and SSR240612. Administration of SSR240612 also prevented an increase in number of activated microglial cells in mouse hippocampus, but did not affect a reduction in expression of mRNA for brain-derived neurotrophic factor. The increased immobility time following LPS treatment was preceded by an enhancement of hippocampal and cortical B₁receptor mRNA expression (which were maximal at 1 h), and a marked production of TNFα in serum, brain and cerebrospinal fluid (between 1 and 6 h). The depression-like behavior was virtually abolished in TNF<it>α </it>p55 receptor-knockout mice, and increased B₁receptor mRNA expression was completely absent in this mouse strain. Furthermore, treatment with SSR240612 was also effective in preventing anhedonia in LPS-treated mice, as assessed using a sucrose preference test.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our data show, for the first time, involvement of kinin B₁receptors in depressive behavioral responses, in a process likely associated with microglial activation and TNFα production. Thus, selective and orally active B₁receptor antagonists might well represent promising pharmacological tools for depression therapy.</p

Daily activities are sufficient to induce dynamic pulmonary hyperinflation and dyspnea in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to measure dynamic lung hyperinflation and its influence on dyspnea perception in moderate and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients after performing activities of daily living. METHODS: We measured inspiratory capacity, sensation of dyspnea, peripheral oxygen saturation, heart rate and respiratory rate in 19 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. These measurements were taken at rest and after performing activities of daily living (e.g., going up and down a set of stairs, going up and down a ramp and sweeping and mopping a room). RESULT: The inspiratory capacity of patients at rest was significantly decreased compared to the capacity of patients after performing activities. The change in inspiratory capacity was -0.67 L after going up and down a ramp, -0.46 L after sweeping and mopping a room, and -0.55 L after climbing up and down a set of stairs. Dyspnea perception increased significantly between rest, sweeping and mopping, and going up and down a set of stairs. Dyspnea perception correlated positively with inspiratory capacity variation (r = 0.85) and respiratory rate (r = 0.37) and negatively with peripheral oxygen saturation (r = -0.28). CONCLUSION: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients exhibited reductions in inspiratory capacity and increases in dyspnea perception during commonly performed activities of daily living, which may limit physical performance in these patients

Daily activities are sufficient to induce dynamic pulmonary hyperinflation and dyspnea in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to measure dynamic lung hyperinflation and its influence on dyspnea perception in moderate and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients after performing activities of daily living. METHODS: We measured inspiratory capacity, sensation of dyspnea, peripheral oxygen saturation, heart rate and respiratory rate in 19 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. These measurements were taken at rest and after performing activities of daily living (e.g., going up and down a set of stairs, going up and down a ramp and sweeping and mopping a room). RESULT: The inspiratory capacity of patients at rest was significantly decreased compared to the capacity of patients after performing activities. The change in inspiratory capacity was -0.67 L after going up and down a ramp, -0.46 L after sweeping and mopping a room, and -0.55 L after climbing up and down a set of stairs. Dyspnea perception increased significantly between rest, sweeping and mopping, and going up and down a set of stairs. Dyspnea perception correlated positively with inspiratory capacity variation (r = 0.85) and respiratory rate (r = 0.37) and negatively with peripheral oxygen saturation (r = -0.28). CONCLUSION: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients exhibited reductions in inspiratory capacity and increases in dyspnea perception during commonly performed activities of daily living, which may limit physical performance in these patients

Mitochondrial echoes of first settlement and genetic continuity in El Salvador

Background: From Paleo-Indian times to recent historical episodes, the Mesoamerican isthmus played an important role in the distribution and patterns of variability all around the double American continent. However, the amount of genetic information currently available on Central American continental populations is very scarce. In order to shed light on the role of Mesoamerica in the peopling of the New World, the present study focuses on the analysis of the mtDNA variation in a population sample from El Salvador. Methodology/Principal Findings: We have carried out DNA sequencing of the entire control region of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genome in 90 individuals from El Salvador. We have also compiled more than 3,985 control region profiles from the public domain and the literature in order to carry out inter-population comparisons. The results reveal a predominant Native American component in this region: by far, the most prevalent mtDNA haplogroup in this country (at ~90%) is A2, in contrast with other North, Meso- and South American populations. Haplogroup A2 shows a star-like phylogeny and is very diverse with a substantial proportion of mtDNAs (45%; sequence range 16090–16365) still unobserved in other American populations. Two different Bayesian approaches used to estimate admixture proportions in El Salvador shows that the majority of the mtDNAs observed come from North America. A preliminary founder analysis indicates that the settlement of El Salvador occurred about 13,400±5,200 Y.B.P.. The founder age of A2 in El Salvador is close to the overall age of A2 in America, which suggests that the colonization of this region occurred within a few thousand years of the initial expansion into the Americas. Conclusions/Significance: As a whole, the results are compatible with the hypothesis that today's A2 variability in El Salvador represents to a large extent the indigenous component of the region. Concordant with this hypothesis is also the observation of a very limited contribution from European and African women (~5%). This implies that the Atlantic slave trade had a very small demographic impact in El Salvador in contrast to its transformation of the gene pool in neighbouring populations from the Caribbean facade

Efeito da sacarose sobre o enraizamento e desenvolvimento “in vitro” de Syngonanthus mucugensis Giul.

The study sought to evaluate the effect of sucrose on the rooting and in vitro development of Syngonantghus mucugensis Giul., endemic plant of Chapada Diamantina/BA. Five different sucrose concentrations were tested in the culture medium MS/2, solidified with 0.8% of agar, and pH adjusted for 5.7 prior to autoclaving. The plant material used consisted of 60 day-old seedlings from the cultivation in vitro with approximately 2 cm in lenght. The seedlings were inoculated in laminar flow in ‘mayonnaise’ type flasks, and mantained in the growth room under photosynthetic active radiation of 9 μmol.m-2.s-1 and temperature of 25 ± 2ºC, for 60 days. The experimental design was entirely randomized with three replicates, in that each consisted of 10 flasks, with inoculated five seedlings per flask. The evaluated parameters were: number of roots, dry weight of the root, total fresh weight and number of leaves produced. The results showed that the sucrose levels had a significant effect on the characteristics analyzed. The reduction of 30 g.L-1 for 15 g.L-1 produced an increment in the number of roots per plant and in the weight of the fresh matter total. The study showed a positive effect of the reduction of the sucrose on the rooting of S. mucugensis, with the concentration of 15 g.L-1 in the culture medium MS/2 bieng the most suitable for the establishment in vitro of this species. Support: IMSEAR/CNPq.O trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o efeito da sacarose no enraizamento e desenvolvimento in vitro de Syngonanthus mucugensis Giul., planta endêmica da Chapada Diamantina/BA. Foram testadas cinco concentrações de sacarose no meio MS/2, solidificado com 0,8% de ágar, com pH ajustado para 5,7. O material vegetal utilizado consistiu de plantas com 60 dias de idade, com aproximadamente 2 cm de altura obtidas da germinação in vitro das sementes. As plantas foram inoculadas em câmara de fluxo laminar em frascos “tipo maionese” e mantidas em sala de crescimento sob radiação fotossintética ativa de 9 μmol.m-2.s-1 e temperatura de 25 ± 2ºC, durante 60 dias. O delineamento estatístico utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado com três repetições, em que cada repetição consistiu de 10 frascos, sendo inoculadas cinco plantas por frasco. As variáveis avaliadas foram: número de raízes formadas, matéria seca da raiz, matéria fresca total e número de folhas emitidas. Os resultados mostraram que a sacarose determinou um efeito significativo sobre as características analisadas. Com a redução de 30 g.L-1 para 15 g.L-1, houve um acréscimo no número de raízes por planta e no peso da matéria fresca total. O estudo mostrou um efeito positivo da redução da sacarose para o enraizamento de S. mucugensis, sendo a concentração de 15 g.L-1 no meio MS/2 a mais indicada para o estabelecimento in vitro dessa espécie. Apoio: IMSEAR/CNPq

Beija-flores da estação experimental Cascata - Embrapa Clima Temperado.

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