The Estimates of Retinal Ganglion Cell Counts Performed Better than Isolated Structure and Functional Tests for Glaucoma Diagnosis

Purpose. To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) counts as estimated by combining data from standard automated perimetry (SAP) and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Methods. Healthy individuals and glaucoma patients were included in this cross-sectional study. All eyes underwent 24-2 SITA SAP and structural imaging tests. RGC count estimates were obtained using a previously described algorithm, which combines estimates of RGC numbers from SAP sensitivity thresholds and SD-OCT retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) average thickness. Results. A total of 119 eyes were evaluated, including 75 eyes of 48 healthy individuals and 44 eyes of 29 glaucoma patients. RGC count estimates performed better than data derived from SD-OCT RNFL average thickness or SAP mean deviation alone (area under ROC curves: 0.98, 0.92, and 0.79; P<0.001) for discriminating healthy from glaucomatous eyes, even in a subgroup of eyes with mild disease (0.97, 0.88, and 0.75; P<0.001). There was a strong and significant correlation between estimates of RGC numbers derived from SAP and SD-OCT (R2=0.74; P<0.001). Conclusion. RGC count estimates obtained by combined structural and functional data showed excellent diagnostic accuracy for discriminating the healthy from the glaucomatous eyes and performed better than isolated structural and functional parameters

A comunicação nas práticas de jovens professores de Matemática

Este artigo visa conhecer o modo como jovens professores, de diversos níveis de ensino, recém diplomados por instituições de formação inicial, orientam a comunicação nas suas aulas, a que aspectos tendem a dar atenção, que dificuldades sentem. Na sua base está um trabalho colectivo realizado por formadores de instituições de ensino superior em Portugal, preocupados em melhorar a qualidade da formação inicial dos professores em especial no que se refere à Didáctica da Matemática. A metodologia, de natureza qualitativa e interpretativa, envolveu a realização de 12 estudos de caso. Os resultados mostram que a comunicação é vista pelos jovens professores como um suporte de um ambiente geral que poderá favorecer, em termos globais a aprendizagem. No entanto, são relativamente poucos aqueles que identificam a comunicação como um objectivo curricular importante da disciplina de Matemática e que apontam estratégias consistentes para a promover, tanto na sua vertente oral como na sua vertente escrita. São ainda menos os apontam a comunicação como um processo fundamental para o desenvolvimento de significados matemáticos por parte dos alunos. Estes resultados sugerem que as instituiçõesThis article aims to know the way how new teachers, at several teaching levels, recently graduated by pre-service teacher education institutions view and conduct communication in their classrooms, to which aspects they tend to pay attention and which difficulties they feel. The paper is based on a collective work carried out by teacher educators of teacher education institutions in Portugal that are concerned in improving the quality of the preservice teacher education, especially in what refers to mathematics education. The methodology is qualitative and interpretative and involved the realization of 12 case studies. The results show that communication is seen by the new teachers as a support of a general environment that must favour learning. However, only relatively few teachers point out communication as an important curriculum objective in the discipline of mathematics and indicate consistent strategies to promote it, both in oral and written forms. There are still less teachers who view communication as a basic process for the development of mathematical meanings by students. These results suggest that teacher education institutions may have interest in reflecting about their teaching practices in this regard

Effects of simvastatin/ezetimibe on microparticles, endothelial progenitor cells and platelet aggregation in subjects with coronary heart disease under antiplatelet therapy

It is not known whether the addition of ezetimibe to statins adds cardiovascular protection beyond the expected changes in lipid levels. Subjects with coronary heart disease were treated with four consecutive 1-week courses of therapy (T) and evaluations. The courses were: T1, 100 mg aspirin alone; T2, 100 mg aspirin and 40 mg simvastatin/10 mg ezetimibe; T3, 40 mg simvastatin/10 mg ezetimibe, and 75 mg clopidogrel (300 mg initial loading dose); T4, 75 mg clopidogrel alone. Platelet aggregation was examined in whole blood. Endothelial microparticles (CD51), platelet microparticles (CD42/CD31), and endothelial progenitor cells (CD34/CD133; CDKDR/CD133, or CD34/KDR) were quantified by flow cytometry. Endothelial function was examined by flow-mediated dilation. Comparisons between therapies revealed differences in lipids (T2 and T3T1 and T4, P=0.001). Decreased platelet aggregation was observed after aspirin (arachidonic acid, T1<T3 and T4, P=0.034) and clopidogrel (adenosine, T3 and T4<T1 and T2, P<0.0001) therapy. Simvastatin/ezetimibe diphosphate did not change platelet aggregation, the amount of circulating endothelial and platelet microparticles, or endothelial progenitor cells. Cardiovascular protection following therapy with simvastatin/ezetimibe seems restricted to lipid changes and improvement of endothelial function not affecting the release of microparticles, mobilization of endothelial progenitor cells or decreased platelet aggregation.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de MedicinaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de MedicinaSciEL

Clinical relevance of galectin-1 and galectin-3 in rheumatoid arthritis patients: Differential regulation and correlation with disease activity

Galectins, a family of animal lectins, play central roles in immune system regulation, shaping both innate and adaptive responses in physiological and pathological processes. These include rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic multifactorial autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory responses that affects both articular and extra-articular tissues. Galectins have been reported to play central roles in RA and its experimental animal models. In this perspective article we present new data highlighting the regulated expression of galectin-1 (Gal-1) and galectin-3 (Gal-3) in sera from RA patients under disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and/or corticoid treatment in the context of a more comprehensive discussion that summarizes the roles of galectins in joint inflammation. We found that Gal-1 levels markedly increase in sera from RA patients and positively correlate with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ERS) and disease activity score 28 (DAS-28) parameters. On the other hand, Gal-3 is downregulated in RA patients, but positively correlates with health assessment questionnaire parameter (HAQ). Finally, by generating receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curves, we found that Gal-1 and Gal-3 serum levels constitute good parameters to discriminate patients with RA from healthy individuals. Our findings uncover a differential regulation of Gal-1 and Gal-3 which might contribute to the anti-inflammatory effects elicited by DMARDs and corticoid treatment in RA patients.Fil: Mendez Huergo, Santiago Patricio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Hockl, Pablo Francisco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Stupirski, Juan Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Maller, Sebastian Matias. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Morosi, Luciano Gastón. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Pinto, Nicolás Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Berón, Ana M.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Musuruana, Jorge L.. Provincia de Santa Fe. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital J. B. Iturraspe; ArgentinaFil: Nasswetter, Gustavo Guillermo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Cavallasca, Javier A.. Provincia de Santa Fe. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital J. B. Iturraspe; ArgentinaFil: Rabinovich, Gabriel Adrián. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; Argentin

Projeto Educação para a Sustentabilidade Socioambiental: Jogo Planetarium

Este relato é o resultado prático do desenvolvimento do ‘Jogo Planetarium: guia para pilotos da espaçonave Terra’ desenvolvido no âmbito do Projeto “Educação para a Sustentabilidade”, temática pertinente à formação em gestão social. Planetarium é um jogo de tabuleiro que pretende sensibilizar seus participantes através da prática de ações socioculturais concretas e cooperativas. O jogo permite aos alunos vivenciar experiências reais do cotidiano nas dimensões econômica, social e ambiental. Para o desenvolvimento dessa metodologia em especial, nos baseamos na interdisciplinaridade, considerando que a intersecção entre as disciplinas é característica fundamental capaz de promover a integração entre a educação, a sustentabilidade e o ser humano. Neste sentido, cabe-nos dizer que este jogo foi desenvolvido a partir da base teórica dos quatros princípios norteados pela Carta da Terra, documento que prioriza objetivos e valores universais em torno de paradigmas civilizatórios que disseminem a cultura em educação, a fim de nos tornarmos uma sociedade global mais justa, sustentável e pacífica: (I) respeitar e cuidar da comunidade de vida; (II) integridade ecológica; (III) justiça social e econômica; e (IV) democracia, não-violência e cultura de paz. O jogo tem sido aplicado em universidades, empresas e fundações privadas e associações sem fins lucrativos

Genetic and phenotypic variation of the malaria vector Anopheles atroparvus in southern Europe

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is a growing concern that global climate change will affect the potential for pathogen transmission by insect species that are vectors of human diseases. One of these species is the former European malaria vector, <it>Anopheles atroparvus</it>. Levels of population differentiation of <it>An. atroparvus </it>from southern Europe were characterized as a first attempt to elucidate patterns of population structure of this former malaria vector. Results are discussed in light of a hypothetical situation of re-establishment of malaria transmission.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Genetic and phenotypic variation was analysed in nine mosquito samples collected from five European countries, using eight microsatellite loci and geometric morphometrics on 21 wing landmarks.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Levels of genetic diversity were comparable to those reported for tropical malaria vectors. Low levels of genetic (0.004 <<it>F</it>_{<it>ST </it>}<0.086) and phenotypic differentiation were detected among <it>An. atroparvus </it>populations spanning over 3,000 km distance. Genetic differentiation (0.202 <<it>F</it>_{<it>ST </it>}<0.299) was higher between the sibling species <it>An. atroparvus </it>and <it>Anopheles maculipennis </it>s.s. Differentiation between sibling species was not so evident at the phenotype level.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Levels of population differentiation within <it>An. atroparvus </it>were low and not correlated with geographic distance or with putative physical barriers to gene flow (Alps and Pyrenées). While these results may suggest considerable levels of gene flow, other explanations such as the effect of historical population perturbations can also be hypothesized.</p

Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) foraging at Arvoredo Island in Southern Brazil: Genetic characterization and mixed stock analysis through mtDNA control region haplotypes

We analyzed mtDNA control region sequences of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) from Arvoredo Island, a foraging ground in southern Brazil, and identified eight haplotypes. Of these, CM-A8 (64%) and CM-A5 (22%) were dominant, the remainder presenting low frequencies (< 5%). Haplotype (h) and nucleotide (π) diversities were 0.5570 ± 0.0697 and 0.0021 ± 0.0016, respectively. Exact tests of differentiation and AMOVA ΦST pairwise values between the study area and eight other Atlantic foraging grounds revealed significant differences in most areas, except Ubatuba and Rocas/Noronha, in Brazil (p > 0.05). Mixed Stock Analysis, incorporating eleven Atlantic and one Mediterranean rookery as possible sources of individuals, indicated Ascension and Aves islands as the main contributing stocks to the Arvoredo aggregation (68.01% and 22.96%, respectively). These results demonstrate the extensive relationships between Arvoredo Island and other Atlantic foraging and breeding areas. Such an understanding provides a framework for establishing adequate management and conservation strategies for this endangered species

Survival and Factors Associated with Failure of Pulpectomies Performed in Primary Teeth by Dental Students

Abstract Although endodontic treatment is widely recommended for compromised dental pulp, there is no information regarding the factors associated with failures in primary teeth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the survival and factors associated with failure of pulpectomies performed in primary teeth by dental students. The sample comprised patients treated at a University Dental Service and required endodontic treatment in primary teeth. The study investigated treatment-related variables and patient factors potentially associated with treatment failure. Pulpectomy survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier estimator followed by log-rank test (p<0.05). The analysis included 81 pulpectomies performed in 62 children (5.6±1.5 years). The survival reached 62.9% up to 12 months follow-up. Most failures occurred in the first 3 months (p<0.001). Teeth with carious lesions at the start of treatment presented more failures than those with restorations or history of trauma (p=0.002). The survival of endodontically treated teeth restored with composite was higher than the ones filled with GIC (p=0.006). Pulpectomy performed in two or more sessions resulted in more failures (p=0.028). Patients presenting gingivitis had more failures in the endodontic treatment (p=0.022). The failures of root canal treatment in primary teeth were more prone to occur in a short time and when the treatment was performed in teeth presenting carious lesions. The use of composite instead of GIC increased the survival of pulpectomies. Repeated sessions for endodontic treatment and lack of oral hygiene habits had a negative effect on the results