Biomechanical study of cervical spine with pathology

O conhecimento da cinemática da coluna cervical é uma ferramenta muito importante, dado que esta região é uma das estruturas mais complexas do esqueleto humano e porque a incidência de incapacidade que pode resultar de traumas ou doenças degenerativas é relativamente elevada. O principal objetivo deste estudo consiste na análise e comparação da fusão cervical anterior e/ou fusão cervical posterior como possíveis tratamentos para uma fratura do tipo C2.2, segundo a classificação da AO spine injury classification system, sendo que este estudo poderá auxiliar os profissionais de saúde na escolha do melhor método de fusão. Para o efeito, foi construído um modelo 3 D de elementos finitos do segmento cervical C4‐C5‐C6. Foram modelados os respetivos discos intervertebrais (IV ) e os seus componentes, nomeadamente o núcleo pulposo, o anel fibroso, as fibras lamelares e as placas cartilaginosas. Os 6 conjuntos de ligamentos (longitudinais anteriores, longitudinais posteriores, interespinhosos, supraespinhosos, amarelos e capsulares) foram também modelados, assim como as articulações intervertebrais. A simulação de uma fratura foi realizada em 3 passos distintos: introdução de uma fratura na zona anterior da vértebra C5, o comprometimento (rompimento) dos ligamentos da região posterior e o deslizamento da vértebra C5. A instrumentação utilizada nos tratamentos em estudo e ainda a substituição dos discos lesados por um enxerto ósseo proveniente do ilíaco foram também modeladas. Com este estudo, concluiu‐se que a fusão cervical anterior e posterior apresenta melhores resultados em comparação com os outros tipos de fusão cervical estudados em termos de deslocamento da unidade funcional.The knowledge of the kinematics of the cervical spine is a very important tool, since this region is one of the more complex structures of the human skeleton and because the incidence of failure that may result from trauma or degenerative diseases is relatively high. The main objective of this study is the analysis and comparison of anterior cervical fusion and/or posterior cervical fusion as possible treatments for a fracture of type C2.2 according to AO spine injury classification system, and this study may assist health professionals in choosing the best fusion technique. To this end we built a 3 D finite element model of the cervical segment C4‐C5‐C6. Their intervertebral discs (IV ) and its components, namely the nucleus pulposus, the annulus fibrosus, the fibers and the lamellar cartilaginous plates were modeled. Six sets of ligaments (anterior longitudinal, posterior longitudinal, interspinous, suprespinous, yellow and capsular) and the facet joints were also modeled. The simulation of the fracture was performed in 3 different steps: introduction of a fracture zone in the previous C5 vertebra, rupture of the ligaments of the posterior region and the sliding of the C5 vertebra. The instrumentation used in the study treatments and even the replacement of the damaged disc by bone graft from the iliac bone, were also modeled. Analyzing the displacements of the functional unit it was concluded that the anterior and posterior cervical fusion provides the best results compared to other types of cervical fusion studied in terms of displacement of the functional unit.Peer Reviewe

Helmintos animais em vestígios arqueológicos humanos: revisão de zoonoses no passado

The authors present a review of records of intestinal parasitic helminths from animals in human archaeological remains, reported since the emergence of paleopathological studies. The objective was to relate paleoparasitological findings to geographic, biotic, and abiotic factors from the environment in which the prehistoric populations lived, and understand some aspects related to the process of human dispersion and biological and cultural evolution. Modification of eating habits and the incorporation of new cultural practices are analyzed from the perspective of zoonoses from prehistory to the present day, especially in Brazilian indigenous populations. Three tables identifying the helminths, their natural hosts, dates, and sites of archaeological findings complete this review. In conclusion, various zoonoses known today have occurred since antiquity, and these data, combined with studies on the emergence and reemergence of diseases, could make possible to compose scenarios for the future.São revistos os registros de ocorrência de helmintos intestinais parasitos de animais em vestígios arqueológicos humanos, relatados desde o surgimento dos estudos paleopatológicos. Busca-se relacionar os achados em paleoparasitologia com fatores geográficos, bióticos e abióticos do ambiente em que as populações pré-históricas viviam, e com aspectos do processo de dispersão e evolução biológica e cultural humana. A modificação de hábitos alimentares e a incorporação de novas práticas culturais são analisadas sob o ponto de vista das zoonoses desde a pré-história até a atualidade, em especial em populações indígenas brasileiras. Três tabelas identificando os helmintos, seus hospedeiros naturais, datações e local dos achados arqueológicos complementam esta revisão. Conclui-se que várias zoonoses conhecidas hoje ocorrem desde a antiguidade e que estes dados, combinados a estudos de emergência e reemergência de doenças, podem auxiliar a compor cenários para o futuro

Sequencing of E2 and NS5A regions of HCV genotype 3a in Brazilian patients with chronic hepatitis

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of liver disease throughout the world. The NS5A and E2 proteins of HCV genotype 1 were reported to inhibit the double-stranded (ds) RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR), which is involved in the cellular antiviral response induced by interferon (IFN). The response to IFN therapy is quite different between genotypes, with response rates among patients infected with types 2 and 3 that are two-three-fold higher than in patients infected with type 1. Interestingly, a significant percentage of HCV genotype 3-infected patients do not respond to treatment at all. The aim of this paper was to analyse the sequences of fragments of the E2 and NS5A regions from 33 outpatients infected with genotype 3a, including patients that have responded (SVR) or not responded (NR) to treatment. HCV RNA was extracted and amplified with specific primers for the NS5A and E2 regions and the PCR products were then sequenced. The sequences obtained covered amino acids (aa) 636-708 in E2 and in NS5A [including the IFN sensitivity determining region (ISDR), PKR-binding domain and extended V3 region)]. In the E2 and NS5A regions, we did observe aa changes among patients, but these changes were not statistically significant between the SVR and NR groups. In conclusion, our results suggest that the ISDR domain is not predictive of treatment success in patients infected with HCV genotype 3a.publishersversionpublishe

Parasitism in Kansas in the 1800s - A glimpse to the past through the analysis of grave sediments from Meadowlark cemetery.

International audienceDuring the excavations of the XIX century Meadowlark cemetery (Manhattan, Kansas, US), samples of sediments were taken from around five skeletons, and analyzed to detect intestinal parasites. No helminth eggs were found, but immunological ELISA tests for Entamoeba histolytica were positive in three samples. The immunological techniques have been successfully used in paleoparasitology to detect protozoan infections. Amoebiasis could have been a severe disease in the past, especially where poor sanitary conditions prevailed, and there is evidence that this cemetery may have been used in a situation where poor sanitary conditions may have prevailed. The presence of this protozoan in US during the late XIX century gives information on the health of the population and provides additional data on the parasite's evolution since its appearance in the New World

Ruminal Degradability Of Agro-industrial Fruit Residues

The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition and ruminal degradability of the dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of fruit residues. Three fistulated sheep were held collectively in a pen, and fed daily with the studied residues in a diet consisting of canarana grass (Echinochloa pyramidalis) and a concentrate of corn and soybeans. The animals were allowed an adjustment period of seven days. The residues were dried in the sun, crushed in a forage machine, sorted using a 4.0-mm sieve, and incubated for 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h using nonwoven bags (weight 60g/m2, 14 ×12 cm2). Chemical analyses of the residues were performed using a randomized block experimental design with split plots. The cherimoya and tamarind residues showed the highest concentrations of CP (12.66% and 11.79%) the ether extract of cherimoya residue was the highest at 22.30%stands out the sour soup residue. The cashew and guava residues showed the highest levels of lignin (22.13 and 18.34%). The effective degradability of DM for the pineapple and tamarind residues to a passage rate of 5%/h were 53.04% and 42.61%, respectively. The guava, cherimoya, and cashew residues showed lower values at 19.16%, 26.86%, and 29.21%, respectively. The cherimoya, guava and pineapple residues showed the highest values of potential degradability for CP at 87%, 81%, 86.02% and 90.94%, respectively, with an average effective degradability of 50.0% at the rate of 5%/h. The pineapple (35.38%) and tamarind residues (34.49%) showed higher values of the effective degradability of NDF at a passage rate of 5%/h. Among the studied residues, the pineapple residue showed the greatest potential for use in animal feed based on chemical composition and rates of degradability.37127929

In vitro dry matter and cell wall fractions of three genotypes of sunflower ensiled with additives

Ensilaram-se três genótipos de girassol (M734, Rumbosol 91 e variedade V2000), enriquecidos no material original com: 0,5% de uréia (U); 0,5% de carbonato de cálcio (CC); 0,5% de uréia mais 0,5% de carbonato de cálcio (U+CC); inoculante bacteriano comercial (IB) comercial e sem aditivo que serviu como silagem testemunha (T). Foram utilizados silos de laboratório de PVC, abertos com 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 28 e 56 dias de ensilados, sendo determinados fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), fibra em detergente ácido (FDA), lignina e digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (DIVMS). As silagens de Rumbosol 91 apresentaram valores superiores aos dos genótipos V2000 e M734 nos dias de abertura para FDN, FDA e lignina. Os aditivos não promoveram alterações nos constituintes da parede celular. A silagem T não apresentou diferenças entre os genótipos quanto à DIVMS no decorrer do processo fermentativo, sendo os valores do último dia de abertura (56) de 51,0%, 49,1% e 48,9% de DIVMS para os genótipos M734, V2000 e Rumbosol 91, respectivamente. Não houve diferença entre as silagens com aditivos e a silagem testemunha com a evolução do processo fermentativo quanto à DIVMS. Os aditivos utilizados não melhoraram as silagens de girassol quanto às características avaliadas e, apesar de os genótipos apresentarem digestibilidade in vitro semelhantes, o Rumbosol 91 apresentou maiores teores de constituintes da parede celular.Three sunflower genotypes (M 734, Rumbosol 91 and V2000 variety) enriched with 0.5% of urea (U); 0.5% of calcium carbonate (CC); 0.5% of urea plus 0.5% of calcium carbonate (U + CC); commercial bacterial inoculate (BI); and without any additive, used as control silage (T) were ensiled in PVC silos and opened after 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 28 and 56 days to determine the neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (FDA), lignin and dry matter in vitro digestibility (DMIVD). The Rumbosol 91 genotype silage showed higher NDF, ADF and lignin than V2000 and M734 genotypes. The additives did not promote changes in the cell wall constituents. No statistical differences among silages of the genotypes for DMIVD were observed during the fermentative process. The DMIVD at 56 days were 51.0, 49.1 and 48.9% for silage of M734, V2000 and Rumbosol 91 genotypes, respectively. No difference between silages with additives and control (T), during the fermentative process for DMIVD was observed. The additives did not improve sunflower silages. The genotypes showed similar in vitro digestibility, and the Rumbosol 91 genotype showed high compound of cell wall constituent