Behavioral alterations and Fos protein immunoreactivity in brain regions of bile duct-ligated cirrhotic rats

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) encompasses a variety of neuropsychiatric symptoms, including anxiety and psychomotor dysfunction. Although HE is a frequent complication of liver cirrhosis, the neurobiological substrates responsible for its clinical manifestations are largely unclear. In the present study, male Wistar rats were bile duct-ligated (BDL), a procedure which induces liver cirrhosis, and on the 21st day after surgery tested in the elevated plus-maze (EPM) and in an open field for anxiety and locomotor activity measurements. Analysis of Fos protein immunoreactivity (Fos-ir) was used to better understand the neurobiological alterations present in BDL animals. Plasma levels of ammonia were quantified and histopathological analysis of the livers was performed. BDL rats showed a significant decrease in the percentage of entries and time spent in the open arms of the EPM, an anxiogenic effect. These animals also presented significant decreases in Fos-ir in the lateral septal nucleus and medial amygdalar nucleus. Their ammonia plasma levels were significantly higher when compared to the sham group and the diagnosis of cirrhosis was confirmed by histopathological analysis. These results indicate that the BDL model induces anxiogenic results, possibly related to changes in the activation of anxiety-mediating circuitries and to increases in ammonia plasma levels.A Encefalopatia hepática (HE) engloba uma variedade de sintomas neuropsiquiátricos, incluindo ansiedade e disfunção psicomotora. Embora seja uma complicação frequente da cirrose hepática, os substratos neurobiológicos responsáveis por suas manifestações clínicas são em grande parte desconhecidos. No presente estudo, ratos Wistar machos foram submetidos ao procedimento cirúrgico de ligação e secção do ducto biliar (BDL; bile-duct ligation), para indução da cirrose hepática e, no 21º dia após a cirurgia, submetidos aos testes comportamentais no labirinto em cruz elevado (LCE) e campo aberto para avaliação da ansiedade e atividade locomotora. A análise da imunorreatividade à proteína Fos (Fos-ir) foi utilizada para melhor compreender as alterações neurobiológicas presentes nos animais do grupo BDL. Foi realizada a quantificação da concentração de amônia plasmática e análise histopatológica dos fígados. Os ratos do grupo BDL mostraram diminuição significativa na porcentagem de entradas e tempo gasto nos braços abertos do LCE, caracterizando efeito ansiogênico. Estes animais também apresentaram redução significativa na Fos-ir no núcleo septal lateral e núcleo medial da amígdala. A concentração plasmática de amônia foi significativamente mais elevada que a do grupo sham e o diagnóstico de cirrose foi confirmado por análise histopatológica. Estes resultados indicam que o modelo de HE induzido por BDL induz efeito ansiogênico possivelmente relacionado à ativação de circuitos mediadores da ansiedade e à hiperamonemia.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de BiociênciasUniversidade de São Paulo Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Departamento de AnatomiaUNIFESP, Depto. de BiociênciasSciEL

Assembléias de Formicidae da serapilheira como bioindicadores da conservação de remanescentes de Mata Atlântica no extremo sul do Estado da Bahia

In the extreme south of Bahia State, the Atlantic rainforest has been strongly affected by anthropogenic actions for a long time. Ants are seen as good biological indicators because of their abundance and sensitivity to changes of environmental conditions, thus allowing the evaluation of environmental impacts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the environmental quality in four Atlantic Forest remnants through the study of Formicidae assemblages. Four reserves sampled during the experiment were: the school of agriculture EMARC (CEPLAC) in Teixeira de Freitas; Vista Alegre Farm in Alcobaça; FIBRASA Farm in Itamarajú; and Riacho das Pedras Farm in Prado. In each area, 50 units of one square meter of litter were sampled at intervals of 50m and 100m of the border using “Winkler” traps. The most frequent ants in EMARC reserve were: Wasmannia auropunctata (60%) and Solenopsis sp.1 (58%); in FIBRASA farm: W. auropunctata (64%) and Solenopsis sp.1 (46%); in Riacho das Pedras farm: Pyramica eggersi (80%) and Solenopsis sp.1 (64%); in Vista Alegre farm: Pheidole sp.1 (34%), Hypoponera sp.8 (32%) and Pyramica denticulata (24%). The highest value of diversity index (Shannon-Weaver) was observed in FIBRASA farm (3.41), followed by Riacho das Pedras farm (3.31), Vista Alegre farm (3.00), and EMARC reserve (2.33). The largest number of species was observed in FIBRASA and in Riacho das Pedras farms (55 species), followed by Vista Alegre (33) and EMARC (22). The area with the highest estimated diversity is the FIBRASA farm, while the reserve of EMARC had the lowest estimate. There were correlations between the level of human impact, the species found and generic richness, as well as with other ecological variables. All the studied areas had a high occurrence of species typical of degraded lands, showing that urgent conservation measures are needed to the increasingly more rare remnants of forest in the extreme South Bahia State.No extremo sul do Estado da Bahia, a Mata Atlântica tem sido fortemente afetada pelas atividades humanas. As formigas são vistas como indicadores biológicos confiáveis por serem sensíveis às mudanças das condições do ambiente, permitindo uma avaliação do impacto ambiental. O objetivo do presente estudo foi de avaliar a qualidade ambiental em quatro remanescentes de Mata Atlântica através de uma análise da estrutura das assembléias de Formicidae. As quatro reservas estudadas, todas situadas naquela região, foram: reserva da escola agrícola EMARC, Município de Teixeira de Freitas; Fazenda Vista Alegre, Alcobaça; Fazenda FIBRASA, Itamarajú e Fazenda Riacho das Pedras, Prado. Em cada área, foram amostrados 50 pontos de um metro quadrado de serapilheira, com o auxílio de armadilhas de tipo “Winkler”. O maior número de espécies observado foi na Fazenda FIBRASA (55 espécies) e na Fazenda Riacho das Pedras, seguidas pela Fazenda Vista Alegre (33) e a reserva da EMARC (22). A área de maior diversidade de espécies esperada (estimador Chao2) é também a da Fazenda FIBRASA, enquanto a área da EMARC foi também a de menor diversidade esperada. As espécies mais freqüentes na reserva da EMARC foram Wasmannia auropunctata (60% das amostras) e Solenopsis sp1 (58%); na Fazenda FIBRASA, W. auropunctata (64%) e Solenopsis sp.1 (46%); na Fazenda Riacho das Pedras, Pyramica eggersi (80%) e Solenopsis sp.1 (64%); na Fazenda Vista Alegre, Pheidole sp.1 (34%), Hypoponera sp.8 (32%) e Pyramica denticulata (24%). Existem correlações entre o nível de impacto humano e as riquezas específica e genérica, assim como com outras variáveis ecológicas, nas áreas estudadas. Todas essas apresentaram uma ocorrência elevada de espécies típicas de ambientes degradados, como é o caso de W. auropunctata, mostrando a urgência que existe numa política de conservação mais efetiva dos cada vez mais raros remanescentes do extremo sul do Estado da Bahia

Prostatic Artery Embolization as a Primary Treatment for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Preliminary Results in Two Patients

Symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) typically occurs in the sixth and seventh decades, and the most frequent obstructive urinary symptoms are hesitancy, decreased urinary stream, sensation of incomplete emptying, nocturia, frequency, and urgency. Various medications, specifically 5-α-reductase inhibitors and selective α-blockers, can decrease the severity of the symptoms secondary to BPH, but prostatectomy is still considered to be the traditional method of management. We report the preliminary results for two patients with acute urinary retention due to BPH, successfully treated by prostate artery embolization (PAE). The patients were investigated using the International Prostate Symptom Score, by digital rectal examination, urodynamic testing, prostate biopsy, transrectal ultrasound (US), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Uroflowmetry and postvoid residual urine volume complemented the investigation at 30, 90, and 180 days after PAE. The procedure was performed under local anesthesia; embolization of the prostate arteries was performed with a microcatheter and 300- to 500-μm microspheres using complete stasis as the end point. One patient was subjected to bilateral PAE and the other to unilateral PAE; they urinated spontaneously after removal of the urethral catheter, 15 and 10 days after the procedure, respectively. At 6-month follow-up, US and MRI revealed a prostate reduction of 39.7% and 47.8%, respectively, for the bilateral PAE and 25.5 and 27.8%, respectively, for the patient submitted to unilateral PAE. The early results, at 6-month follow-up, for the two patients with BPH show a promising potential alternative for treatment with PAE

Relationship between functional fitness, medication costs and mood in elderly people

Objective: to verify if functional fitness (FF) is associated with the annual cost of medication consumption and mood states (MSt) in elderly people. Methods: a cross-sectional study with 229 elderly people aged 65 years or more at Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Coimbra, Portugal. Seniors with physical and psychological limitations were excluded, as well as those using medication that limits performance on the tests. The Senior Fitness Test was used to evaluate FF, and the Profile of Mood States - Short Form to evaluate the MSt. The statistical analysis was based on Mancova, with adjustment for age, for comparison between men and women, and adjustment for sex, for comparison between cardiorespiratory fitness quintiles. The association between the variables under study was made with partial correlation, controlling for the effects of age, sex and body mass index. Results: an inverse correlation between cardiorespiratory fitness and the annual cost of medication consumption was found (p < 0.01). FF is also inversely associated with MSt (p < 0.05). Comparisons between cardiorespiratory fitness quintiles showed higher medication consumption costs in seniors with lower aerobic endurance, as well as higher deterioration in MSt (p < 0.01). Conclusion: elderly people with better FF and, specifically, better cardiorespiratory fitness present lower medication consumption costs and a more positive MSt

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy of topiramate in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Topiramate might be effective in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because of its antikindling effect and its action in both inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters. Open-label studies and few controlled trials have suggested that this anticonvulsant may have therapeutic potential in PTSD. This 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial will compare the efficacy of topiramate with placebo and study the tolerability of topiramate in the treatment of PTSD.</p> <p>Methods and design</p> <p>Seventy-two adult outpatients with DSM-IV-diagnosed PTSD will be recruited from the violence program of Federal University of São Paulo Hospital (UNIFESP). After informed consent, screening, and a one week period of wash out, subjects will be randomized to either placebo or topiramate for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint will be the change in the Clinician-administered PTSD scale (CAPS) total score from baseline to the final visit at 12 weeks.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The development of treatments for PTSD is challenging due to the complexity of the symptoms and psychiatric comorbidities. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the mainstream treatment for PTSD, but many patients do not have a satisfactory response to antidepressants. Although there are limited clinical studies available to assess the efficacy of topiramate for PTSD, the findings of prior trials suggest this anticonvulsant may be promising in the management of these patients.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>NCT 00725920</p

EpIG‐DB: A database of vascular epiphyte assemblages in the Neotropics

Vascular epiphytes are a diverse and conspicuous component of biodiversity in tropical and subtropical forests. Yet, the patterns and drivers of epiphyte assemblages are poorly studied in comparison with soil‐rooted plants. Current knowledge about diversity patterns of epiphytes mainly stems from local studies or floristic inventories, but this information has not yet been integrated to allow a better understanding of large‐scale distribution patterns. EpIG‐DB, the first database on epiphyte assemblages at the continental scale, resulted from an exhaustive compilation of published and unpublished inventory data from the Neotropics. The current version of EpIG‐DB consists of 463,196 individual epiphytes from 3,005 species, which were collected from a total of 18,148 relevés (host trees and ‘understory’ plots). EpIG‐DB reports the occurrence of ‘true’ epiphytes, hemiepiphytes and nomadic vines, including information on their cover, abundance, frequency and biomass. Most records (97%) correspond to sampled host trees, 76% of them aggregated in forest plots. The data is stored in a TURBOVEG database using the most up‐to‐date checklist of vascular epiphytes. A total of 18 additional fields were created for the standardization of associated data commonly used in epiphyte ecology (e.g. by considering different sampling methods). EpIG‐DB currently covers six major biomes across the whole latitudinal range of epiphytes in the Neotropics but welcomes data globally. This novel database provides, for the first time, unique biodiversity data on epiphytes for the Neotropics and unified guidelines for future collection of epiphyte data. EpIG‐DB will allow exploration of new ways to study the community ecology and biogeography of vascular epiphytes