Os padrões urbanodemográficos da capital paulista

O trabalho identifica e analisa as características dos setores censitários na capital do estado de São Paulo, Brasil, reunindo-os em agrupamentos mutuamente exclusivos. Desse modo, foram selecionadas variáveis sensíveis a condições e alterações populacionais, ambientais, criminais, habitacionais, de mobilidade e de expansão urbana para separar o território paulistano em parcelas que apresentassem homogeneidade intra-agrupamentos. Cada uma dessas parcelas representa um perfil demográfico e um padrão urbano distintos. Assim, identificando grupos semelhantes (diminuindo a variância intragrupos e maximizando a variância intergrupos), é possível obter um melhor discernimento das singularidades da cidade. Além disso, em uma perspectiva inter e transdisciplinar, este trabalho assinala a possibilidade de adequação tanto de estratégias de amostragem, coleta e estimação estatística como de identificação, descrição, significação e estudo do contexto paulistano.This work identifies and analyzes characteristics of the census sections of São Paulo’s capital, grouping them in eight different patterns. In order to separate these areas into clusters (segments) representing intragroup homogeneity, variables were selected that take into account the conditions and changes of the population, environment, crime rates, housing, mobility and urban expansion. Each of these clusters (segments) portrays a different demographic profile and urban pattern. Thus, it is proposed that clustering these similar groups (i.e., reducing intragroup variance/variation and maximizing the intergroup variance/variation) enables a better understanding of the city’s singularities and of what these singularities entail. Furthermore, an inter- and transdisciplinary perspective highlights the need to adjust the sampling, data collection and valuation strategies, as well as the identification, description, and study of São Paulo’s capital

Evaluation and Validation of a Method for Determining Platelet Catecholamine in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Arterial Hypertension

Background: Measurements of plasma and urinary catecholamine are susceptible to confounding factors that influence the results, complicating the interpretation of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity in the Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and arterial hypertension (HYP) conditions.Objective: in this study, we validated a test for platelet catecholamine and compared the catecholamine levels (adrenaline and noradrenaline) in urine, plasma and platelets in patients with OSA and HYP compared with controls.Methods: in the validation, 30 healthy, nonsmoking volunteers who were not currently undergoing treatment or medication were selected as the control group. One hundred fifty-four individuals (114 OSA, 40 non-OSA) were consecutively selected from the outpatient clinic of the Sleep Institute and underwent clinical, polysomnographic and laboratory evaluation, including the urinary, plasma and platelet levels of adrenaline (AD) and noradrenaline (NA). Patients were then allocated to groups according to the presence of OSA and/or hypertension.Results: A logistic regression model, controlled for age and BMI, showed that urinary AD and urinary NA were risk factors in the OSA+HYP group and the HYP group; however, the model showed higher levels of platelet NA for OSA without HYP. After 1 year of CPAP (continuous upper airway pressure) treatment, patients (n = 9) presented lower levels of urinary NA (p = 0.04) and platelet NA (p = 0.05).Conclusion: Urinary NA and AD levels were significantly associated with the condition of hypertension with and without OSA, whereas platelet NA with OSA without comorbidity. These findings suggest that platelet catecholamine levels might reflect nocturnal sympathetic activation in OSA patients without hypertension.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Associacao Fundo de Pesquisa a Psicobiologia (AFIP), BrazilConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psychobiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Cardiol, São Paulo, BrazilAssoc Fundo Incent & Pesquisa, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psychobiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Cardiol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Early Trauma Inventory (ETI): cross-cultural adaptation and internal consistency

Early life stress is a strong predictor of future psychopathology during adulthood. The Early Trauma Inventory (ETI) was developed to detect the presence and impact of traumatic experiences that occurred up to 18 years of age. The ETI was translated and cross-culturally adapted and had its consistency evaluated. Victims of violence that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were submitted to SCID-I and ETI. Ninety-one patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were included. Cronbach's alpha in the different domains varied from 0.595 to 0.793, and the total score was 0.878. Except for emotional abuse, most of the various domains displayed inter-item correlation rates of 0.51 to 0.99. The adapted version was useful for clinical and research purposes and showed good internal consistency and inter-item correlation. The ETI is a valid instrument with good consistency for evaluating history of childhood and adolescent trauma in adults.As experiências traumáticas precoces são um fator de risco preditivo de problemas psicopatológicos futuros. O Early Trauma Inventory (ETI) é um instrumento que avalia em indivíduos adultos experiências traumáticas ocorridas antes dos 18 anos de idade. Tal instrumento foi traduzido, transculturalmente adaptado e sua consistência interna foi avaliada. Vítimas de violência que preencheram os critérios de inclusão e exclusão foram submetidas a uma entrevista diagnóstica (SCID-I) e ao ETI. Foram incluídos 91 pacientes com o transtorno do estresse pós-traumático (TEPT). O alfa de Cronbach nos diferentes domínios variou de 0,595-0,793, e o escore total foi de 0,878. A maior parte dos itens nos vários domínios, com exceção do abuso emocional, apresentou índices de correlação interitem entre 0,51-0,99. A versão adaptada foi útil tanto na clínica quanto na pesquisa. Apresentou boa consistência interna e na correlação interitem. O ETI é um instrumento válido, com boa consistência para se avaliar a presença de história de traumas precoces em indivíduos adultos.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Universidade de São Paulo Instituto de PsicologiaUNIFESPSciEL

Homicídios dolosos na cidade de São Paulo: fatores associados à queda entre 2000 e 2010

Este artigo tem por objetivo analisar a relação entre a variabilidade espaço-temporal dos homicídios doloso e as características locais, no que diz respeito aos fatores etário, educacional, econômico, de infraestrutura, renda e gênero, bem como aos indícios de atividade criminosa organizada. Para tanto, foi feito um estudo quantitativo longitudinal, para o período 2000-2010, baseado em registros policiais de 2000 a 2008 e informações dos Censos de 1991, 2000 e 2010. Na perspectiva intraurbana, são utilizadas técnicas estatísticas bivariadas e multivariadas (Correlação Canônica) para identificar condicionantes da dinâmica dos homicídios dolosos no Município de São Paulo (MSP). Assim, indica-se que existem fatores que são associados com taxas de mortalidade por homicídio doloso (TMHD) e percebe-se que tais associações estão conectadas ao nível das taxas, sendo que alguns fatores são significativos em mais altos níveis de homicídios, mas perdem a sua significância à medida que as taxas caem, sendo esses fatores substituídos por outros quando as taxas alcançam um patamar específico, mais baixo - tornando adequado estabelecer análises em dois períodos, 2000 a 2004 e 2005 a 2010. Ademais, nota-se que em um contexto de TMHD mais baixas as variáveis sociodemográficas ganham importância e confirma-se a importância de analisar a dinâmica dos homicídios dolosos em função da heterogeneidade espacial paulistana (os padrões de distribuição territorial dos Setores Censitários) e de observações repetidas, ou seja, em um período relativamente extenso. Essa heterogeneidade, vista sob uma perspectiva longitudinal, evidencia os fatores associados à variabilidade das taxas de homicídios e o grau de influência dos fatores intraurbanos nas TMHD

The thickness of posterior cortical areas is related to executive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease

OBJECTIVE: To establish whether alterations of brain structures in Alzheimer's disease are associated with executive dysfunction. METHODS: Nineteen patients with Alzheimer's disease and 22 older control subjects underwent a comprehensive evaluation. The clock drawing test, digit span test, executive motor function test, Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome battery (Rule Shift Cards test), and Stroop test were used to evaluate executive dysfunction. A multiparametric approach using the FreeSurfer image analysis suite provided a description of volumetric and geometric features of the gray matter structures. RESULTS: The cortical thickness maps showed a negative correlation between the Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome battery (Rule Shift Cards test) and the right middle frontal gyrus; a positive correlation between the executive motor function test and the left superior parietal gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, bilateral supramarginal gyri, right middle frontal gyrus, and right precuneus; a negative correlation between the Stroop test (part III) and the right superior parietal gyrus; and a negative correlation between the Stroop test (part III) and the right middle temporal gyrus. CONCLUSION: Executive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease is correlated with alterations not only in the frontal areas but also within many temporal and parietal regions.Associacao Fundo de Incentivo a Pesquisa (AFIP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico ( CNPq)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Psychobiology DepartmentUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Laboratorio Interdisciplinar de Neurociencias Clinicas (LiNC) Psychiatry DepartmentFaculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo Hospital das Clinicas, Cognitive Neurology and Behavior GroupUNIFESP, Psychobiology DepartmentUNIFESP, Laboratorio Interdisciplinar de Neurociencias Clinicas (LiNC) Psychiatry Department2008/11282-9SciEL

The thickness of posterior cortical areas is related to executive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease

OBJECTIVE: To establish whether alterations of brain structures in Alzheimer's disease are associated with executive dysfunction. METHODS: Nineteen patients with Alzheimer's disease and 22 older control subjects underwent a comprehensive evaluation. The clock drawing test, digit span test, executive motor function test, Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome battery (Rule Shift Cards test), and Stroop test were used to evaluate executive dysfunction. A multiparametric approach using the FreeSurfer image analysis suite provided a description of volumetric and geometric features of the gray matter structures. RESULTS: The cortical thickness maps showed a negative correlation between the Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome battery (Rule Shift Cards test) and the right middle frontal gyrus; a positive correlation between the executive motor function test and the left superior parietal gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, bilateral supramarginal gyri, right middle frontal gyrus, and right precuneus; a negative correlation between the Stroop test (part III) and the right superior parietal gyrus; and a negative correlation between the Stroop test (part III) and the right middle temporal gyrus. CONCLUSION: Executive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease is correlated with alterations not only in the frontal areas but also within many temporal and parietal regions

Adenosine Deaminase Polymorphism Affects Sleep EEG Spectral Power in a Large Epidemiological Sample

Slow wave oscillations in the electroencephalogram (EEG) during sleep may reflect both sleep need and intensity, which are implied in homeostatic regulation. Adenosine is strongly implicated in sleep homeostasis, and a single nucleotide polymorphism in the adenosine deaminase gene (ADA G22A) has been associated with deeper and more efficient sleep. the present study verified the association between the ADA G22A polymorphism and changes in sleep EEG spectral power (from C3-A2, C4-A1, O1-A2, and O2-A1 derivations) in the Epidemiologic Sleep Study (EPISONO) sample from São Paulo, Brazil. Eight-hundred individuals were subjected to full-night polysomnography and ADA G22A genotyping. Spectral analysis of the EEG was carried out in all individuals using fast Fourier transformation of the signals from each EEG electrode. the genotype groups were compared in the whole sample and in a subsample of 120 individuals matched according to ADA genotype for age, gender, body mass index, caffeine intake status, presence of sleep disturbance, and sleep-disturbing medication. When compared with homozygous GG genotype carriers, A allele carriers showed higher delta spectral power in Stage 1 and Stages 3+4 of sleep, and increased theta spectral power in Stages 1, 2 and REM sleep. These changes were seen both in the whole sample and in the matched subset. the higher EEG spectral power indicates that the sleep of individuals carrying the A allele may be more intense. Therefore, this polymorphism may be an important source of variation in sleep homeostasis in humans, through modulation of specific components of the sleep EEG.Associacao Fundo de Incentivo a Psicofarmacologia (AFIP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psicobiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psiquiatria, Lab Neurociencias Clin LiNC, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed ABC, Ctr Matemat Comp & Cognicao, Santo Andre, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psicobiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psiquiatria, Lab Neurociencias Clin LiNC, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 98/14303-3Web of Scienc

Acerca de uma leitura geopolítica das relações entre Portugal e o Atlântico

O artigo pretende traçar uma breve perspectiva geopolítica da relação entre Portugal e o oceano Atlântico. Essa relação, embora sempre presente e importante, variou ao longo da nossa histó- ria. O autor, depois de tentar sumariamente caracterizar essas variações, analisa simplificadamente aquela relação no actual contexto do sistema global das relações internacionais. Dessa análise retira argumentos para afirmar que na ligação com o Atlântico poderão de novo ser encontradas as soluções mais adequadas para os nossos actuais problemas do desenvolvimento e da afirmação internacional, através da possível e desejável futura assumpção por Portugal de um papel de entreposto de importantes fluxos nas relações transatlânticas, em que as luso-brasileiras e as com a CPLP deverão desempenhar um papel centra

Functional versus nonfunctional rehabilitation in chronic ischemic stroke: evidences from a randomized functional mri study

Motor rehabilitation of stroke survivors may include functional and/or nonfunctional strategy. The present study aimed to compare the effect of these two rehabilitation strategies by means of clinical scales and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). Twelve hemiparetic chronic stroke patients were selected. Patients were randomly assigned a nonfunctional (NFS) or functional (FS) rehabilitation scheme. Clinical scales (Fugl-Meyer, ARA test, and modified Barthel) and fMRI were applied at four moments: before rehabilitation (P1) and immediately after (P2), 1 month after (P3), and three months after (P4) the end of rehabilitation. The NFS group improved significantly and exclusively their Fugl-Meyer scores at P2, P3, and P4, when compared to P1. On the other hand, the FS group increased significantly in Fugl-Meyer at P2, when compared to P1, and also in their ARA and Barthel scores. fMRI inspection at the individual level revealed that both rehabilitation schemes most often led to decreased activation sparseness, decreased activity of contralesional M1, increased asymmetry of M1 activity to the ipsilesional side, decreased perilesional activity, and decreased SMA activity. Increased M1 asymmetry with rehabilitation was also confirmed by Lateralization Indexes. Our clinical analysis revealed subtle differences between FS and NFS.CNPqCAPESRadiology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirao Preto School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, 14049-900 Ribeirao Preto, SP, BrazilBrain Institute/Onofre Lopes University Hospital, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, 59153-155 Natal, RN, BrazilDepartment of Psychobiology, Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilDepartment of Neuroscience and Behavior, Ribeirao Preto School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, 14049-900 Ribeirao Preto, SP, BrazilDepartment of Psychobiology, Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc