Characterization and degradation state of the trails in Caparaó National Park

A large increase in visitation has recently been observed in Brazilian protected areas. The presence of visitors can cause changes in the environment, generating certain unwanted impacts. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess the visitation at Caparaó National Park, map the main trails open to the public, and determine their degree of degradation. To define the most relevant trails for this study, the following criteria were used: visitation demand, impact intensity, and zoning. The elevation profile and other physical attributes of the selected trails were obtained by GPS. Erosion was established as the predominant impact, and the length of eroded stretches on each trail was evaluated. The trail to Pico da Bandeira through Casa Queimada has a greater declivity, and, although it sees fewer visitors than the trail to Pico da Bandeira through Tronqueira, it shows a higher erosion rate. This result indicates that, in certain cases, the declivity can contribute more significantly to the increase in erosion than the number of visitors

A vitamina A e o olho: uma velha história em tempos modernos

Clinical presentations associated with vitamin A deficiency persist in poor regions globally with the same clinical features as those described centuries ago. However, new forms of vitamin A deficiency affecting the eyes, which have become widespread, as a result of modern societal habits are of increasing concern. Ophthalmic conditions related to vitamin A deficiency require the combined attention of ophthalmologists, pediatricians, internists, dermatologists, and nutritionists due to their potential severity and the diversity of causes. As the eyes and their adnexa are particularly sensitive to vitamin A deficiency and excess, ocular disturbances are often early indicators of vitamin A imbalance. The present review describes the clinical manifestations of hypovitaminosis A with an emphasis on so-called modern dietary disorders and multidisciplinary treatment approaches. The present review also discusses the relationship between retinoic acid therapy and dry eye disease7915661CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPSem informaçãoSem informaçãoSem informaçãoAs apresentações clínicas associadas à deficiência de vitamina A persistem em regiões pobres ao redor do mundo com os mesmos achados clínicos descritos há séculos. No entanto, novas formas de problemas causados pela vitamina A afetam os olhos, estão associados com os hábitos da sociedade moderna e tem causado preocupação. Eles exigem a atenção dos oftalmologistas, pediatras, internistas, dermatologistas e nutricionistas, devido à sua gravidade e diversidade de causas. Uma vez que os olhos e seus anexos são órgãos muito sensíveis à deficiência e excesso de vitamina A, manifestações oculares podem ser indicadores precoces do desequilíbrio de vitamina A. Essa revisão traz as manifestações clínicas de hipovitaminose A enfatizando os chamados distúrbios dietéticos modernos e formas de abordagem multidisciplinar. E também traz evidências sobre a relação entre a terapia com ácido retinóico e doença do olho sec

A utilização do Método de Rorschach no diagnóstico diferencial da Esquizofrenia e Transtorno Dissociativo de Identidade

The aim of this article was to investigate the prevalence of the Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) in ten patients diagnosed with schizophrenia with paranoid characteristic, based on the Rorschach approach. Psychological symptoms that characterize the differential diagnosis of these patients were registered, specific clinical differences were analyzed and the framework of the data obtained with the application of the Rorschach approach. For purposes of differential diagnosis, it was observed that two patients had differential symptoms to schizophrenia, one of which showed dissociative symptoms, not confirmed the prevalence of DID among schizophrenics. In the case of schizophrenia and DID due to exhibit similar characteristics, multidisciplinary evaluations are set to make a differential diagnosis between them.O objetivo deste artigo foi investigar a prevalência do Transtorno Dissociativo de Identidade (TDI) em dez pacientes diagnosticados com esquizofrenia com característica paranóide, com base no Método de Rorschach. Foram registrados indicadores ou sintomas psicológicos que caracterizaram o diagnóstico diferencial desses pacientes, analisadas diferenças clínicas específicas e verificado o enquadramento dos dados obtidos, com a aplicação da Técnica de Rorschach. Para fins de diagnóstico diferencial, observou-se que dois pacientes apresentaram sintomas diferenciais aos da esquizofrenia, sendo que um deles apresentou sintomas dissociativos, não sendo confirmada a prevalência do TDI entre os esquizofrênicos. No caso da esquizofrenia e do TDI, devido às características similares que apresentam, avaliações multidisciplinares são indicadas para se fazer o diagnóstico diferencial entre eles

Using the Rorschach method in the differential diagnosis of Schizophrenia and Dissociative Identity Disorder

O objetivo deste artigo foi investigar a prevalência do Transtorno Dissociativo de Identidade (TDI) em dez pacientes diagnosticados com esquizofrenia com característica paranóide, com base no Método de Rorschach. Foram registrados indicadores ou sintomas psicológicos que caracterizaram o diagnóstico diferencial desses pacientes, analisadas diferenças clínicas específicas e verificado o enquadramento dos dados obtidos, com a aplicação da Técnica de Rorschach. Para fins de diagnóstico diferencial, observou-se que dois pacientes apresentaram sintomas diferenciais aos da esquizofrenia, sendo que um deles apresentou sintomas dissociativos, não sendo confirmada a prevalência do TDI entre os esquizofrênicos. No caso da esquizofrenia e do TDI, devido às características similares que apresentam, avaliações multidisciplinares são indicadas para se fazer o diagnóstico diferencial entre eles.The aim of this article was to investigate the prevalence of the Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) in ten patients diagnosed with schizophrenia with paranoid characteristic, based on the Rorschach approach. Psychological symptoms that characterize the differential diagnosis of these patients were registered, specific clinical differences were analyzed and the framework of the data obtained with the application of the Rorschach approach. For purposes of differential diagnosis, it was observed that two patients had differential symptoms to schizophrenia, one of which showed dissociative symptoms, not confirmed the prevalence of DID among schizophrenics. In the case of schizophrenia and DID due to exhibit similar characteristics, multidisciplinary evaluations are set to make a differential diagnosis between them

Unbalanced relationships: insights into the interaction between gut microbiota, geohelminths, and schistosomiasis

Hosts and their microbiota and parasites have co-evolved in an adaptative relationship since ancient times. The interaction between parasites and intestinal bacteria in terms of the hosts’ health is currently a subject of great research interest. Therapeutic interventions can include manipulations of the structure of the intestinal microbiota, which have immunological interactions important for modulating the host’s immune system and for reducing inflammation. Most helminths are intestinal parasites; the intestinal environment provides complex interactions with other microorganisms in which internal and external factors can influence the composition of the intestinal microbiota. Moreover, helminths and intestinal microorganisms can modulate the host’s immune system either beneficially or harmfully. The immune response can be reduced due to co-infection, and bacteria from the intestinal microbiota can translocate to other organs. In this way, the treatment can be compromised, which, together with drug resistance by the parasites makes healing even more difficult. Thus, this work aimed to understand interactions between the microbiota and parasitic diseases caused by the most important geohelminths and schistosomiasis and the consequences of these associations

Usefulness of Environmental DNA for Surveillance and Control of Schistosomiasis: Detection and Tracking Schistosoma mansoni and Its Intermediate Host Biomphalaria glabrata in Low Endemic Areas of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Poster Session

Inquérito sorológico sôbre leptospiroses realizado no Vale do Cariri, Estado do Ceará, pela III Bandeira Científica do Centro Acadêmico Oswaldo Cruz da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo

Agglutination-tests for leptospirosis were performed in 376 sera. The following sero-types of Leptospira were used: L. icterohemorrhagiae, L. canicola, L. grippo-typhosa, L. pomona, L. bataviae, L. australis B, L. sejroe, L. pyrogenes and L. suis. Six sera (1.59%) were positive for L. icterohemorrhagiae. From the whole group two people were born in this region, what makes possible the conclusion that the disease exists in the region.Com o propósito de estudar o problema das leptospiroses no Vale do Cariri, Ceará, foram examinados 376 soros colhidos entre moradores da região. Foram feitas provas de sôro-aglutinação usando-se os seguintes sôro-tipos de Leptospira: L. icterohemorrhagiae, L. canícola, L. grippo-typhosa, L. pomona, L. bataviae, L. australis B, L. sejroe, L. pyrogenes e L. suis. Seis soros reagiram positivamente frente à L. icterohemorrhagiae, o que dá percentual de 1,59%. Dois dos indivíduos haviam nascido e vivido no Vale, donde foi possível concluir que a leptospirose existe, autóctone, na região

Cooperation between Apoptotic and Viable Metacyclics Enhances the Pathogenesis of Leishmaniasis

Mimicking mammalian apoptotic cells by exposing phosphatidylserine (PS) is a strategy used by virus and parasitic protozoa to escape host protective inflammatory responses. With Leishmania amazonensis (La), apoptotic mimicry is a prerogative of the intramacrophagic amastigote form of the parasite and is modulated by the host. Now we show that differently from what happens with amastigotes, promastigotes exposing PS are non-viable, non-infective cells, undergoing apoptotic death. As part of the normal metacyclogenic process occurring in axenic cultures and in the gut of sand fly vectors, a sub-population of metacyclic promastigotes exposes PS. Apoptotic death of the purified PS-positive (PSPOS) sub-population was confirmed by TUNEL staining and DNA laddering. Transmission electron microscopy revealed morphological alterations in PSPOS metacyclics such as DNA condensation, cytoplasm degradation and mitochondrion and kinetoplast destruction, both in in vitro cultures and in sand fly guts. TUNELPOS promastigotes were detected only in the anterior midgut to foregut boundary of infected sand flies. Interestingly, caspase inhibitors modulated parasite death and PS exposure, when added to parasite cultures in a specific time window. Efficient in vitro macrophage infections and in vivo lesions only occur when PSPOS and PS-negative (PSNEG) parasites were simultaneously added to the cell culture or inoculated in the mammalian host. The viable PSNEG promastigote was the infective form, as shown by following the fate of fluorescently labeled parasites, while the PSPOS apoptotic sub-population inhibited host macrophage inflammatory response. PS exposure and macrophage inhibition by a subpopulation of promastigotes is a different mechanism than the one previously described with amastigotes, where the entire population exposes PS. Both mechanisms co-exist and play a role in the transmission and development of the disease in case of infection by La. Since both processes confer selective advantages to the infective microorganism they justify the occurrence of apoptotic features in a unicellular pathogen