Do genes and environment meet to regulate cerebrospinal fluid dynamics? Relevance for schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopment disorder in which the interplay of genes and environment contributes to disease onset and establishment. The most consistent pathological feature in schizophrenic patients is an enlargement of the brain ventricles. Yet, so far, no study has related this finding with dysfunction of the choroid plexus (CP), the epithelial cell monolayer located within the brain ventricles that is responsible for the production of most of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Enlarged brain ventricles are already present at the time of disease onset (young adulthood) and, of notice, isolated mild ventriculomegaly detected in utero is associated with subsequent mild neurodevelopmental abnormalities similar to those observed in children at high risk of developing schizophrenia. Here we propose that altered CP/CSF dynamics during neurodevelopment may be considered a risk, causative and/or participating factor for development of schizophrenia.Nadine C. Santos and Fernanda Marques are recipients of postdoctoral fellowships by the Switchbox project (European Commission FP7 initiative grant HEALTH-F2-2010-259772) and the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal), respectively

Estudio de los accidentes en la infancia y registrados en una unidad de urgencias pediátricas

The aim of this study was identify cases of accidents victimizing children assisted at the emergence ward of a general hospital. Data were collected from January to March, 1999 through a protocol with variables related to the identification of the accidents as well as of the children. The sample in the study consisted of 890 children of whom 56.1% were males and 43.9% were females. The most prevalent accident was fall (46.9%), the age with a major incidence was between 7 and 11 years old, the parents were present to 43.4% of the cases. The children were discharged from hospital after being given care in 95.7% of the cases.El objetivo de éste estudio fue el de identificar los accidentes infantiles registrados en una unidad de Urgencias Pediátricas (UUP). Los datos fueron recolectados en el periodo de Enero a Marzo de 1999, utilizando un cuestionario que contenía datos sobre la identificación del niño y del accidente. La población estuvo conformada por 942 niños y la muestra fue reducida para 890. Principales resultados: la faja etárea más afectada fue la de 7 a 11 anos, siendo 56,1% del sexo masculino y 43,9% femenino; el tipo de accidente más frecuente fue la caída (46,9%), los padres estaban presentes en 43,4% de los casos. En 95,7% de las ocurrencias, el niño recibió alta hospitalaria después de ser tendido.O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar os acidentes na infância registrados em um pronto socorro infantil. Os dados foram coletados entre janeiro e março de 1999, através de um questionário contendo dados sobre a identificação da criança e do acidente. A população constou de 942 crianças e a amostra ficou reduzida para 890. Principais resultados: a faixa etária mais atingida foi de 7-11 anos, sendo 56,1% do sexo masculino e 43,9% feminino, o tipo de acidente mais freqüente foi queda (46,9%), os pais estavam presentes em 43,4% dos casos. Em 95,7% das ocorrências a criança recebeu alta hospitalar após o atendimento.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Enfermagem Disciplina de Enfermagem PediátricaUNIFESP, Depto. de Enfermagem Disciplina de Enfermagem PediátricaSciEL

Aspectos odontolegais relacionados ao dano estético nos processos julgados pelo TJ/RS

Objetivo: analisar os valores pagos por danos estéticos, morais e materiais nos processos de responsabilidade civil contra o Cirurgião-dentista julgados no Tribunal de Justiça do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul nos anos de 2007 a 2010, identificar no teor dos julgamentos se foi utilizado pelo perito ou juiz o método descritivo na avaliação da alteração estética, bem como destacar a importância de equipará-lo a uma das categorias ou adjetivos referida em uma escala gradual qualificativa de gravidade crescente.Metodologia:Conclusão:Os processos relacionados à responsabilidade profissional do Cirurgião-dentista mostraram uma tendência dos magistrados deferirem mais indenizações por danos morais do que danos materiais, bem como de valorar num patamar quantitativo alto os pedidos por danos estéticos, sendo esses, na média, maior que os danos materiais e morais. De acordo com os julgamentos analisados, não se identificou na valoração dos danos estéticos uma análise objetiva e comparativa. Os parâmetros indicados no método descritivo sempre deverão ser utilizados para mostrar sua característica e importância nas avaliações das alterações estéticas, necessitando para tal atribuir pontos ou porcentagens com escalas numéricas. Foram analisados julgamentos de processos civis envolvendo Cirurgiões-dentistas, baixadas (download) e impressas, por meio de busca eletrônica no site do Tribunal de Justiça do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul do ano de 2007 até o ano de 2010. Utilizou-se na amostra apenas os textos produzidos pelos magistrados, fazendo a análise do inteiro teor somente nos casos em que foram deferidos danos estéticos. Nesses, verificou-se se fora utilizada algum parâmetro qualificativo ou numérico

Rarity of monodominance in hyperdiverse Amazonian forests.

Tropical forests are known for their high diversity. Yet, forest patches do occur in the tropics where a single tree species is dominant. Such "monodominant" forests are known from all of the main tropical regions. For Amazonia, we sampled the occurrence of monodominance in a massive, basin-wide database of forest-inventory plots from the Amazon Tree Diversity Network (ATDN). Utilizing a simple defining metric of at least half of the trees ≥ 10 cm diameter belonging to one species, we found only a few occurrences of monodominance in Amazonia, and the phenomenon was not significantly linked to previously hypothesized life history traits such wood density, seed mass, ectomycorrhizal associations, or Rhizobium nodulation. In our analysis, coppicing (the formation of sprouts at the base of the tree or on roots) was the only trait significantly linked to monodominance. While at specific locales coppicing or ectomycorrhizal associations may confer a considerable advantage to a tree species and lead to its monodominance, very few species have these traits. Mining of the ATDN dataset suggests that monodominance is quite rare in Amazonia, and may be linked primarily to edaphic factors

Wild dogs at stake: deforestation threatens the only Amazon endemic canid, the short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis)

The persistent high deforestation rate and fragmentation of the Amazon forests are the main threats to their biodiversity. To anticipate and mitigate these threats, it is important to understand and predict how species respond to the rapidly changing landscape. The short-eared dog Atelocynus microtis is the only Amazon-endemic canid and one of the most understudied wild dogs worldwide. We investigated short-eared dog habitat associations on two spatial scales. First, we used the largest record database ever compiled for short-eared dogs in combination with species distribution models to map species habitat suitability, estimate its distribution range and predict shifts in species distribution in response to predicted deforestation across the entire Amazon (regional scale). Second, we used systematic camera trap surveys and occupancy models to investigate how forest cover and forest fragmentation affect the space use of this species in the Southern Brazilian Amazon (local scale). Species distribution models suggested that the short-eared dog potentially occurs over an extensive and continuous area, through most of the Amazon region south of the Amazon River. However, approximately 30% of the short-eared dog's current distribution is expected to be lost or suffer sharp declines in habitat suitability by 2027 (within three generations) due to forest loss. This proportion might reach 40% of the species distribution in unprotected areas and exceed 60% in some interfluves (i.e. portions of land separated by large rivers) of the Amazon basin. Our local-scale analysis indicated that the presence of forest positively affected short-eared dog space use, while the density of forest edges had a negative effect. Beyond shedding light on the ecology of the short-eared dog and refining its distribution range, our results stress that forest loss poses a serious threat to the conservation of the species in a short time frame. Hence, we propose a re-assessment of the short-eared dog's current IUCN Red List status (Near Threatened) based on findings presented here. Our study exemplifies how data can be integrated across sources and modelling procedures to improve our knowledge of relatively understudied species

POTENCIAL ALCALINIZANTE DA SOLUÇÃO DE RINGER COM LACTATO EM OVELHAS SADIAS

The alkalinizing power of Lactated Ringer’s Solution (LRS) was searched in this work. Six crossbred healthy ewes, nonpregnant and nonlactating, weighting approximately 40 kg, received 4 L of LRS by 4 hours continuous intravenous infusion at a rate of  25 mL/kg/h. The venous blood samples were obtained before the infusion (0 hours), during the infusion (2 hours), at the end of the infusion (4 hours), and 2 hours after the end of the infusion (6 hours). Values of pH, pCO2, HCO3-, TCO2, BE, Na+, K+, Cl- and lactate L were determined. The LRS induced mild increase in the alkali reserve confirming its low magnitude alkalinizing power, as a result of the small sodium lactate concentration present in the solution.   KEY WORDS: Sheep, acid-base balance, sodium lactate, intravenous solution

Chemical Structure and Localization of Levan, the Predominant Fructan Type in Underground Systems of Gomphrena marginata (Amaranthaceae)

Gomphrena marginata Seub. (Amaranthaceae) is an endemic species from Brazilian campos rupestres with a fructan accumulating underground reserve system. Analyses of high performance anion exchange chromatography (HPAEC–PAD) revealed the presence of the soluble carbohydrates glucose, fructose, sucrose, 1-kestose, 6-kestose, nystose and fructans with degree of polymerization (DP) up to approximately 40 fructose units. Data of 1H and 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, including Heteronuclear Single-Quantum Correlation (HSQC) and Heteronuclear Multiple-Bonds Correlation (HMBC) showed the presence of β (2,6) linkages, characteristic of the linear molecule of levan-type fructan(2,6). These results confirmed previous studies suggesting that the reserve carbohydrate in the underground system of this species was levan-type fructans, similar to that of G. macrocephala. Structural analyses of the thickened underground system using light microscopy revealed a mixed origin system consisting mainly of a gemmiferous tuberous root with the upper region formed by short branched stems, both presenting vascular cylinders with unusual growth patterns. Fructan spherocrystals were visualized under polarized light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) mostly in the cortex and vascular cylinder in both thickened stem and root. In addition to data reported in the literature concerning the occurrence of fructans in the Amaranthaceae, the results presented here suggest that fructans are a trait in this family while the levan-type fructan prevail in Gomphrena species