MAPPING OF FOCUSED LAGUERRE-GAUSS BEAMS: THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN SPIN AND ORBITAL ANGULAR MOMENTUM AND ITS DEPENDENCE ON DETECTOR CHARACTERISTICS

accepted for publication (april 18, 2012) in Physicial Review AInternational audienceWe show that propagating optical fields bearing an axial symmetry are not truly hollow in spite of a null electric field on-axis. The result, obtained by general arguments based upon the vectorial nature of electromagnetic fields, is of particular significance in the situation of an extreme focusing, when the paraxial approximation no longer holds. The rapid spatial variations of fields with a "complicated" spatial structure are extensively analyzed in the general case and for a Laguerre-Gauss beam 2 as well, notably for beams bearing a |l| = 2 orbital angular momentum for which a magnetic field and a gradient of the electric field are present on-axis. We thus analyze the behavior of a atomic size light-detector, sensitive as well to quadrupole electric transitions and to magnetic dipole transitions, and apply it to the case of Laguerre-Gauss beam. We detail how the mapping of such a beam depends on the nature and on the specific orientation of the detector. We show also that the interplay of mixing of polarization and topological charge, respectively associated to spin and orbital momentum when the paraxial approximation holds, modifies the apparent size of the beam in the focal plane. This even leads to a breaking of the cylindrical symmetry in the case of a linearly polarized transverse electric field

Correlation between anxiety and communicative performance

PURPOSE: To investigate the possible existing correlations between trait anxiety, state anxiety, and vocal parameters. METHODS: Participants were 24 adult subjects, 12 men and 12 women, with ages between 19 and 42 years, with no psychiatric history. The score in the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), especially the STAI-Trait, enabled the division of participants into two groups: low anxiety (LA) and high anxiety (HA). Psychological parameters (STAI) and vocal parameters (self-assessment through the vocal signs and symptoms questionnaire and the Voice-Related Quality of Life - V-RQoL protocol; perceptual, auditory and visual assessment of vocal behavior with the description of voice, speech and body parameters; and acoustic analysis). The sustained production o the vowel /a/, counting numbers, and a discourse regarding the subjects' greatest anxiety moments constituted the analyzed material. RESULTS: The higher the trait anxiety indicated by STAI, the greater the evidence of anxiety in connected speech and discourse; the higher the vocal pitch, the greater the impairment in speech articulation, coordination between breathing and speech, body movement and facial expression. The higher the state anxiety, the greater the evidence of anxiety in various parameters of the speech, with imbalance in vocal resonance, alterations in the modulation and articulation of speech and in facial expression. CONCLUSION: The trait and state of anxiety differentiated the communicative behavior of individuals, involving changes in the body, speech and voice.OBJETIVO: Investigar a correlação entre ansiedade-traço, ansiedade-estado e parâmetros vocais. MÉTODOS: Participaram 24 adultos, 12 homens e 12 mulheres, com idades entre 19 e 42 anos e sem antecedentes psiquiátricos. O escore do Inventário de Ansiedade Traço-Estado (IDATE), principalmente o Ansiedade-Traço, possibilitou a divisão dos participantes em dois grupos: baixa ansiedade (BA) e alta ansiedade (AA). Foram avaliados parâmetros psicológicos (IDATE) e vocais (auto-avaliação por questionário de sinais e sintomas vocais, QSSV; protocolo de Qualidade de Vida em Voz - QVV; avaliação perceptivo-auditiva-visual do comportamento vocal com a descrição de parâmetros de voz, fala e corpo; e análise acústica). O material de fala analisado foi a emissão sustentada da vogal /a/, contagem de números e um discurso sobre momentos de maior ansiedade ao longo da vida. RESULTADOS: Quanto maior o traço de ansiedade indicado pelo IDATE, maior a evidência de ansiedade na fala encadeada e no discurso; quanto mais agudo o pitch da voz, maior o comprometimento da articulação da fala, da coordenação pneumofono-articulatória, da movimentação corporal e da expressão facial. Quanto maior o estado de ansiedade, maior a evidência de ansiedade em diversos parâmetros do discurso, com desequilíbrio na ressonância vocal, comprometimento na modulação, na articulação da fala e na expressão facial. CONCLUSÃO: O traço e o estado de ansiedade diferenciaram o comportamento comunicativo dos indivíduos, envolvendo modificações no corpo, na fala e na voz.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Universidade Federal da Paraíba Curso de FonoaudiologiaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Programa de Pós-Graduação de Distúrbios da Comunicação HumanaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de PsicobiologiaUNIFESP, Programa de Pós-Graduação de Distúrbios da Comunicação HumanaUNIFESP, Depto. de PsicobiologiaSciEL

Anxiety disorders and physical exercise

OBJECTIVE: Until the mid 90's, most of the studies on the anxiolytic effects of exercise were carried out through the evaluation of the anxiety state of young individuals. They were college students or athletes who might be considered pre-fit, thus limiting the validity of the conclusions as regards populations with pathological anxiety. The number of studies involving patients with anxiety disorder is increasing nowadays. Therefore, the objective of the study is to review the articles that discuss the influence of physical exercise on anxiety disorders. METHOD: We ran a MEDLINE search between 1966-1995 and 1996-2006 using the keywords anxiety, panic, phobic disorders, exercise, and physical fitness, in addition to the cross-reference of the articles selected and further analyses of bibliographical references on the topic. RESULTS: Our findings showed heterogeneous designs and methodological limitations. The latest publications are promising and point to the use of physical exercise as an aid to traditional therapies in the treatment of anxiety disorders. CONCLUSION: We observed that aerobic exercises below the lactate threshold might be the most adequate. However, they do not clarify the implications of anaerobic exercise, which suggests caution in the prescription of exercise, mainly the anaerobic kind, to individuals with pathologic anxiety.OBJETIVO: A maioria dos estudos sobre os efeitos ansiolíticos do exercício físico, até meados da década de 90, foram realizados avaliando-se estados de ansiedade, com indivíduos jovens, universitários ou atletas, que podem ser considerados pré-condicionados, limitando a validade das conclusões para populações com ansiedade patológica. Na atualidade, o número de estudos envolvendo pacientes com transtorno de ansiedade aumentou. O presente estudo tem por objetivo a revisão de artigos que discutem a influência do exercício físico nos transtornos de ansiedade. MÉTODO: Foi realizada uma pesquisa no Medline, no período de 1966-1995 e 1996-2006, utilizando-se os descritores: anxiety, panic, phobic disorders, exercise, physical fitness, além de referências cruzadas dos artigos selecionados e análise adicional de referências na literatura específica do tema. RESULTADOS: Os achados demonstraram desenhos heterogêneos assim como limitações metodológicas. As publicações mais recentes são promissoras e acenam para a utilização de exercícios físicos aeróbios como auxiliares das terapêuticas tradicionais no tratamento dos transtornos de ansiedade. CONCLUSÃO: Verificou-se que os exercícios aeróbios cuja intensidade não ultrapasse o limiar de lactato podem ser os mais apropriados, mas ainda não esclarecem as implicações dos exercícios anaeróbios, sugerindo cautela na prescrição de exercícios para indivíduos com ansiedade patológica, principalmente em relação aos exercícios anaeróbios.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Associação Fundo de Incentivo à Psicofarmacologia (AFIP)Fundo de Auxílio aos Docentes e Alunos (FADA)Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de PsicobiologiaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Centro de Estudos em Psicobiologia e ExercícioUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de PsicobiologiaUNIFESP, EPM, Centro de Estudos em Psicobiologia e ExercícioSciEL

Medical students, spirituality and religiosity-results from the multicenter study SBRAME

Background: To evaluate the relationship between spirituality/religiosity (S/R) and the attitudes, beliefs and experiences of medical students in Brazil with respect to S/R in their undergraduate training and clinical practice.Methods: SBRAME (Spirituality and Brazilian Medical Education) is a multicenter study involving 12 Brazilian medical schools with 5950 medical students (MS). Participants completed a questionnaire that collected information on socio-demographic data and S/R in their undergraduate training and practice.Results: of all MS, 3630 participated in the survey (61.0%). the sample was 53.8% women and the mean age was 22.5 years. the majority of MS believed that spirituality has an impact on patients' health (71.2%) and that this impact was positive (68.2%). the majority also wanted to address S/R in their clinical practice (58.0%) and considered it relevant (75.3%), although nearly one-half (48.7%) felt unprepared to do so. Concerning their training, most MS reported that they had never participated in a spirituality and health activity (81.0%) and that their medical instructors had never or rarely addressed this issue (78.3%). the majority also believed that they should be prepared to address spiritual issues related to the health of their patients (61.6%) and that this content should be included in the medical curriculum (62.6%).Conclusion: There is a large gap between MS attitudes and expectations and the S/R training that they are receiving during their undergraduate training. the majority of MS surveyed believe that patients should have their beliefs addressed and that these beliefs could have important effects on their health and the doctor-patient relationship. These results should stimulate discussion about the place that S/R training should have in the medical curriculum.Univ Fed Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, BrazilBrazilian Med Spiritist Assoc, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilDuke Univ, Med Ctr, Durham, NC USAKing Abdulaziz Univ, Jeddah 21413, Saudi ArabiaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Cystosarcoma phyllodes na gestação

Um caso de cystosarcoma phyllodes de mama apresentando crescimento rápido durante a gestação é descrito. Achados clinicopatológicos, etiologia, evolução e tratamento são descritos e comparados aos achados de vários autores. São feitas considerações gerais sobre o tumor.A case of cystosarcomaphyllodes in a gestation is reported. Clinicopathologic findings, etiology, clinical course, and treatment are described. General considerations about the tumor are done

Urinary glycosaminoglycans excretion and the effect of dimethyl sulfoxide in an experimental model of non-bacterial cystitis

PURPOSE: We reproduced a non-bacterial experimental model to assess bladder inflammation and urinary glycosaminoglycans (GAG) excretion and examined the effect of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female rats were instilled with either protamine sulfate (PS groups) or sterile saline (control groups). At different days after the procedure, 24 h urine and bladder samples were obtained. Urinary levels of hyaluronic acid (HA) and sulfated glycosaminoglycans (S-GAG) were determined. Also to evaluate the effect of DMSO animals were instilled with either 50% DMSO or saline 6 hours after PS instillation. To evaluate the effect of DMSO in healthy bladders, rats were instilled with 50% DMSO and controls with saline. RESULTS: In the PS groups, bladder inflammation was observed, with polymorphonuclear cells during the first days and lymphomononuclear in the last days. HA and S-GAG had 2 peaks of urinary excretion, at the 1st and 7th day after PS injection. DMSO significantly reduced bladder inflammation. In contrast, in healthy bladders, DMSO produced mild inflammation and an increase in urinary HA levels after 1 and 7 days and an increase of S-GAG level in 7 days. Animals instilled with PS and treated with DMSO had significantly reduced levels of urinary HA only at the 1st day. Urinary S-GAG/Cr levels were similar in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: Increased urinary levels of GAG were associated with bladder inflammation in a PS-induced cystitis model. DMSO significantly reduced the inflammatory process after urothelial injury. Conversely, this drug provoked mild inflammation in normal mucosa. DMSO treatment was shown to influence urinary HA excretion

The brain decade in debate: II. Panic or anxiety? From animal models to a neurobiological basis

This article is a transcription of an electronic symposium sponsored by the Brazilian Society of Neuroscience and Behavior (SBNeC). Invited researchers from the European Union, North America and Brazil discussed two issues on anxiety, namely whether panic is a very intense anxiety or something else, and what aspects of clinical anxiety are reproduced by animal models. Concerning the first issue, most participants agreed that generalized anxiety and panic disorder are different on the basis of clinical manifestations, drug response and animal models. Also, underlying brain structures, neurotransmitter modulation and hormonal changes seem to involve important differences. It is also common knowledge that existing animal models generate different types of fear/anxiety. A challenge for future research is to establish a good correlation between animal models and nosological classification.Universidade Federal do Paraná Departamento de Farmacologia Laboratório de Fisiologia e Farmacologia do Sistema Nervoso CentralUniversity of Hawaii Department of NeurobiologyUniversity of Hawaii Department of PsychologyUniversidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto Departamento de PsicobiologiaUniversidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto Departamento de FisiologiaUniversidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto Departamento de NeuropsiquiatriaUniversidade Federal de Santa Catarina Departamento de FarmacologiaCentral Nervous System Research Department Sanofi SynthelaboAston University Institute of Pharmaceutical SciencesHoffmann-La Roche Ltd.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de PsicologiaUniversity of Leeds Department of Psychology Ethopharmacology LaboratoryUniversidade Federal do Espírito Santo Centro de Biomedicina Departamento de Ciências FisiológicasUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de PsicologiaSciEL