Transmission potential, skin inflammatory response, and parasitism of symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs with visceral leishmaniasis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil is caused by the protozoan <it>Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi </it>and it is transmitted by sandfly of the genus <it>Lutzomyia</it>. Dogs are an important domestic reservoir, and control of the transmission of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) to humans includes the elimination of infected dogs. However, though dogs are considered to be an important element in the transmission cycle of <it>Leishmania</it>, the identification of infected dogs representing an immediate risk for transmission has not been properly evaluated. Since it is not possible to treat infected dogs, they are sacrificed when a diagnosis of VL is established, a measure that is difficult to accomplish in highly endemic areas. In such areas, parameters that allow for easy identification of reservoirs that represents an immediate risk for transmission is of great importance for the control of VL transmission. In this study we aimed to identify clinical parameters, reinforced by pathological parameters that characterize dogs with potential to transmit the parasite to the vector.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The major clinical manifestations of visceral leishmaniasis in dogs from an endemic area were onicogriphosis, skin lesions, conjunctivitis, lymphadenopathy, and weight loss. The transmission potential of these dogs was assessed by xenodiagnosis using <it>Lutzomyia longipalpis</it>. Six of nine symptomatic dogs were infective to <it>Lutzomyia longipalpis </it>while none of the five asymptomatic dogs were infective to the sandfly. <it>Leishmania </it>amastigotes were present in the skin of all clinically symptomatic dogs, but absent in asymptomatic dogs. Higher parasite loads were observed in the ear and ungueal region, and lower in abdomen. The inflammatory infiltrate was more intense in the ears and ungueal regions of both symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs. In clinically affected dogs in which few or none <it>Leishmania </it>amastigotes were observed, the inflammatory infiltrate was constituted mainly of lymphocytes and macrophages. When many parasites were present, the infiltrate was also comprised of lymphocytes and macrophages, as well as a larger quantity of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Dogs that represent an immediate risk for transmission of <it>Leishmania </it>in endemic areas present clinical manifestations that include onicogriphosis, skin lesions, conjunctivitis, lymphadenopathy, and weight loss. Lymphadenopathy in particular was a positive clinical hallmark since it was closely related to the positive xenodiagnosis.</p

Familial aggregation of maxillary lateral incisor agenesis

In spite of recent developments, data regarding the genes responsible for the less severe forms of hypodontia are still scarce and controversial. This study addressed the hypothesis that agenesis of maxillary lateral incisors (MLIA) is a distinct type of hypodontia, by evaluating its familial aggregation and the occurrence of other types of ageneses or microdontia in probands' relatives. Sixty-two probands with MLIA were identified, and information was collected on 142 first-degree relatives. Relative risk (RR) was calculated and compared by re-assessment of data previously published for the Swedish, Utah, and Israeli populations, for the same trait. A RR of 15 was obtained in the Portuguese, 16 in the Swedish, 12 in Utah, and 5 in the Israeli population. Our results support a significant familial aggregation of MLIA, show that MLIA almost never segregates with other forms of agenesis, and suggest that microdontia of maxillary lateral incisors is part of the same phenotype.The individuals who took part in this study are acknowledged. Carolina Lemos was the recipient of a PhD scholarship (FCT - SFRH/BD/17761/2004) and Teresa Pinho of a PhD scholarship from Instituto Superior de Ciencias da Saude Norte/CESPU. The other authors received no funding from any institution, department, or sponsor, other than salaries from the institutions with which they are affiliated

Short-Term Red Wine Consumption Promotes Differential Effects on Plasma Levels of High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol, Sympathetic Activity, and Endothelial Function in Hypercholesterolemic, Hypertensive, and Healthy Subjects

OBJECTIVES: To compare the metabolic, hemodynamic, autonomic, and endothelial responses to short-term red wine consumption in subjects with hypercholesterolemia or arterial hypertension, and healthy controls. METHODS: Subjects with hypercholesterolemia (n=10) or arterial hypertension (n=9), or healthy controls (n=7) were given red wine (250 mL/night) for 15 days. Analyses were performed before and after red wine intake. RESULTS: Red wine significantly increased the plasma levels of HDL-cholesterol in the controls, but not in the other groups. The effects on hemodynamic measurements were mild, non-significantly more prominent in healthy subjects, and exhibited high interindividual variability. Across all participants, mean blood pressure decreased 7 mmHg (p <0.01) and systemic vascular resistance decreased 7% (p = 0.05). Heart rate and cardiac output did not significantly change in any group. Red wine enhanced muscle sympathetic fibular nerve activity in hypercholesterolemic and hypertensive patients, but not in controls. At baseline, brachial artery flow-mediated dilation was impaired in patients with hypercholesterolemia and arterial hypertension; red wine restored the dilation in the hypercholesterolemic group but not in the hypertensive group. CONCLUSIONS: Red wine elicits different metabolic, autonomic, and endothelial responses among individuals with hypercholesterolemia or arterial hypertension and healthy controls. Our findings highlight the need to consider patient characteristics when evaluating the response to red wine.(FAPESP) São Paulo Research Foundatio

Comparação do equilíbrio postural entre adolescentes do sexo feminino e masculino

A adolescência compreende a fase entre os 10 e 19 anos de idade, a qual se caracteriza por uma aceleração no crescimento e desenvolvimento dos indivíduos. No entanto, essas mudanças não ocorrem no mesmo ritmo para ambos os sexos, o que pode trazer diferenças no equilíbrio postural. Este estudo tem como objetivo comparar o equilíbrio postural entre adolescentes dos sexos masculino e feminino. O grupo de estudo foi composto por 11 adolescentes do sexo feminino e 19 do sexo masculino. A análise da altura do centro de gravidade foi obtida com o uso de uma prancha de reação, e o equilíbrio postural por meio de uma plataforma de força Advanced Mechanical Technologies, Inc. modelo OR6-6. As variáveis avaliadas foram calculadas a partir do Centro de Pressão (COP): amplitude de deslocamento ântero-posterior do COP (COPap), amplitude de deslocamento médio-lateral do COP (COPml) e velocidade média de deslocamento do COP (COPvel). Os adolescentes do sexo feminino apresentaram amplitude de deslocamento do COPap (p=0,011) e COPml (p=0,003) significativamente menor na condição de olhos abertos que o sexo masculino, e na condição de olhos fechados nas três variáveis avaliadas, COPap (p=0,001), COPml (p=0,001) e COPvel p=0,004, sugerindo menor oscilação postural para as adolescentes deste estudo. Acredita-se que os resultados encontrados podem ser advindos das diferenças nas características antropométricas entre os sexos. Conclui-se que os adolescentes do sexo feminino apresentaram melhor equilíbrio postural quando comparados aos do sexo masculino

El recien nacido con dolor: el papel del equipo de enfermeria

It's a quantitative, descriptive and cross study conducted with the nurse team working in the field of neonatology at the three hospitals, Alfenas-MG. Aimed to describe the forms of pain assessment of the newborn used by nurse team and analyze the practice of nursing as pain management of neonates. Data were collected through a semi-structured formulary, from August to September 2008, of 42 nurses working. The analyze was performed using SPSS software using descriptive statistics and correlation test. It was observed that the respondents recognize that the newborn is capable of feeling pain and evaluated by physiological and behavioral changes and that there isn't pain assessment scales standardized in the institutions. For the management, carry out pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions. There is need to train professionals contributing to the assessment and management of pain, promoting of holistic care of the neonate.Estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo y transversal realizado con profesionales de Enfermería que actúan en el área de Neonatología en los tres hospitales de Alfenas, Minas Gerais. Se objetivó describir las formas de evaluación del dolor del recién nacido utilizados por el personal de enfermería y analizar la práctica de la enfermería como el manejo del dolor del neonato. La recolección de datos fue hecha por medio de un formulario semiestructurado, entre agosto y septiembre de 2008, con 42 profesionales. El análisis fue hecho con el software SPSS, utilizando la estadística descriptiva y la prueba de correlación. Los entrevistados reconocen que el neonato es capaz de sentir dolor y esto se evalúa a través de alteraciones fisiológicas y de comportamiento, no hay utilización de escalas de evaluación del dolor estandarizadas en las instituciones. Para el manejo, realizan intervenciones farmacológicas y no farmacológicas. Hay necesidad de capacitar profesionales contribuyendo para la evaluación y manejo del dolor, para la promoción del cuidado integral al neonato.Estudo quantitativo, descritivo e transversal realizado com profissionais de enfermagem que atuam em neonatologia nos três hospitais de Alfenas-MG. Objetivou descrever as formas de avaliação de dor do recém-nascido utilizadas pela equipe de enfermagem e analisar a prática da enfermagem quanto ao manejo da dor do neonato. A coleta de dados foi feita por meio de formulário semiestruturado, de agosto a setembro de 2008, com 42 profissionais. A análise foi feita pelo software SPSS utilizando estatística descritiva e teste de correlação. Os entrevistados acreditam que o recém-nascido é capaz de sentir dor e a avaliam por meio de alterações fisiológicas e comportamentais, e que não há utilização de escalas de avaliação álgica padronizadas nas instituições. Para o manejo, realizam intervenções farmacológicas e não farmacológicas. Há necessidade de capacitar os profissionais, contribuindo para a avaliação e o manejo da dor, e promovendo o cuidado integral ao neonato.Universidade de São Paulo Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirao Preto Departamento de Enfermagem Materno-infantil e Saude PublicaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Enfermagem Pediatrica Escola Paulista de EnfermagemUniversidade Federal de Alfenas Escola de Enfermagem Programa de Pos-graduacao em EnfermagemUniversidade de São Paulo Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirao Preto Departamento de Enfermagem Geral e EspecializadaUniversidade Federal de Alfenas Escola de EnfermagemPrograma de Pos-graduacao em Enfermagem Programa de Pos-graduacao em EnfermagemEscola de Enfermagem Escola de EnfermagemUniversidade de São PauloUNIFESP, Depto. de Enfermagem Pediatrica Escola Paulista de Enfermagem (EPE)SciEL

Physical fitness profile in elite beach handball players of different age categories

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Edizioni Minerva Medica in Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, available online: https://www.minervamedica.it/en/journals/sports-med-physical-fitness/article.php?cod=R40Y2020N12A1536# The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to compare anthropometric and fitness variables of high-level beach handball players across under-19 (u-19), under-21 (u-21) and senior male categories, and between male and female senior players; and to test the correlations among those measures. MeThodS: a total of 70 high-level players (53 male of different ages) were evaluated for 5-m acceleration, 15-m sprint, horizontal jump, handgrip strength, specific beach handball throwing velocities, and anthropometric variables. Differences between age groups were tested using anoVa. independent t-test was used to compare fitness variables between male and female elite athletes, and Pearson partial correlation coefficients were calculated between each of the fitness variables using BMI and age as covariates. SPSS Software was used, and the level of significance was set at 95%. reSulTS: The u-21 athletes better performed on horizontal jump and 6-m throw than the u-19 athletes. Senior athletes showed better performance on horizontal jump than U-19 athletes (P≤0.05). Positive correlation was seen for handgrip on dominant and non-dominant hands and 6-m throwing speed, and for handgrip on dominant hand and inflight velocity (P≤0.05). Negative correlations were observed between horizontal jump and 5-m acceleration, and 15-m sprint (P≤0.01 and P≤0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Male athletes better performed than women in all the fitness tests. The study, for the first time, showed physical fitness comparisons between beach handball elite male athletes of different ages and between genders. These are key steps for coaches and athletes and may support future beach handball studies and practice.Published versio

The social and scientific values that shape national climate scenarios: a comparison of the Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK

This paper seeks to understand why climate information is produced differently from country to country. To do this, we critically examined and compared the social and scientific values that shaped the production of three national climate scenarios in the Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK. A comparative analysis of documentary materials and expert interviews linked to the climate scenarios was performed. Our findings reveal a new typology of use-inspired research in climate science for decision-making: (i) innovators, where the advancement of science is the main objective; (ii) consolidators, where knowledge exchanges and networks are prioritised; and (iii) collaborators, where the needs of users are put first and foremost. These different values over what constitutes ‘good’ science for decision-making are mirrored in the way users were involved in the production process: (i) elicitation, where scientists have privileged decision-making power; (ii) representation, where multiple organisations mediate on behalf of individual users; and (iii) participation, where a multitude of users interact with scientists in an equal partnership. These differences help explain why climate knowledge gains its credibility and legitimacy differently even when the information itself might not be judged as salient and usable. If the push to deliberately co-produce climate knowledge is not sensitive to the national civic epistemology at play in each country, scientist–user interactions may fail to deliver more ‘usable’ climate information