Bartter Syndrome. A New Therapeutic Approach

A Síndrome de Bartter é uma tubulopatia hereditária perdedora de sal, rara (cerca de 1,2 novos casos por 100 000 nados vivos por ano1), caracterizada por alcalose metabólica, hipocaliémia, hiperreninémia e hiperaldosterolémia de gravidade variável. A indometacina e elevadas doses de potássio oral têm sido até hoje as estratégias terapêuticas usadas, com elevado risco de lesão gastrointestinal. Desde Abril de 2009, o aliscireno – inibidor da renina – tem sido utilizado em casos pontuais de Síndrome de Bartter no adulto, desconhecendo-se a sua utilização em Pediatria. Os autores apresentam o caso clínico de uma criança de oito anos com Síndrome de Bartter, medicada com cloreto de potássio e indometacina oral, a quem foi diagnosticada uma úlcera gástrica gigante. De modo a permitir a redução da quantidade de potássio administrado, optou-se por iniciar o aliscireno

Ultra-short solitons and kinetic effects in nonlinear metamaterials

We present a stability analysis of a modified nonlinear Schroedinger equation describing the propagation of ultra-short pulses in negative refractive index media. Moreover, using methods of quantum statistics, we derive a kinetic equation for the pulses, making it possible to analyze and describe partial coherence in metamaterials. It is shown that a novel short pulse soliton, which is found analytically, can propagate in the medium.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Neutrino magnetohydrodynamics

A new neutrino magnetohydrodynamics (NMHD) model is formulated, where the effects of the charged weak current on the electron-ion magnetohydrodynamic fluid are taken into account. The model incorporates in a systematic way the role of the Fermi neutrino weak force in magnetized plasmas. A fast neutrino-driven short wavelengths instability associated with the magnetosonic wave is derived. Such an instability should play a central role in strongly magnetized plasma as occurs in supernovae, where dense neutrino beams also exist. In addition, in the case of nonlinear or high frequency waves, the neutrino coupling is shown to be responsible for breaking the frozen-in magnetic field lines condition even in infinite conductivity plasmas. Simplified and ideal NMHD assumptions were adopted and analyzed in detail

Wrist Ultrasound Analysis Of Patients With Early Rheumatoid Arthritis.

In the present study, we evaluated 42 wrists using the semi-quantitative scales power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS) and gray scale ultrasound (GSUS) with scores ranging from 0 to 3 and correlated the results with clinical, laboratory and radiographic data. Twenty-one patients (17 women and 4 men) with rheumatoid arthritis according to criteria of the American College of Rheumatology were enrolled in the study from September 2008 to July 2009 at Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). The average disease duration was 14 months. The patients were 66.6% Caucasians and 33.3% non-Caucasians, with a mean age of 42 and 41 years, respectively. A dorsal longitudinal scan was performed by ultrasound on the radiocarpal and midcarpal joints using GE LOGIQ XP-linear ultrasound and a high frequency (8-10 MHz) transducer. All patients were X-rayed, and the Larsen score was determined for the joints, with grades ranging from 0 to V. This study showed significant correlations between clinical, sonographic and laboratory data: GSUS and swollen right wrist (r = 0.546), GSUS of right wrist and swelling of left wrist (r = 0.511), PDUS of right wrist and pain in left wrist (r = 0.436), PDUS of right wrist and C-reactive protein (r = 0.466). Ultrasound can be considered a useful tool in the diagnosis of synovitis in early rheumatoid arthritis mainly when the anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide and rheumatoid factor are negative, and can lead to an early change in the therapeutic decision.4411-

Detecção de ovino sororreagente para Maedi-Visna no estado de Sergipe.

Resumo - O vírus da Maedi-Visna pertence à família Retroviridae, gênero Lentivírus e afeta ovinos criados especialmente de forma intensiva. Apesar de variável patogenicidade, é responsável por manifestação clínica crônica e debilitante. Amplamente distribuído pelo mundo, é relacionado a subestimado impacto econômico na ovinocultura, porém com dados imprecisos no Brasil. O presente trabalho objetivou a obtenção da prevalência da Maedi-Visna no município de Lagarto/Sergipe. Foram analisadas 151 amostras séricas de ovinos Santa Inês, oriundas de nove propriedades rurais, identificadas quanto ao sexo e idade dos animais. Utilizou-se o teste de Imunodifusão em Gel de Ágar através da técnica de microaglutinação. A prevalência obtida foi de 0,66%, o que representa o primeiro relato da Maedi-Visna em Sergipe e que pode estar correlacionado ao íntimo contato entre ovinos e caprinos ou a submissão dos animais às exposições agropecuárias, inclusive extra-estaduais, onde há a aproximação de animais infectados e sadios promovida de forma inconsciente pelos produtores, ou ainda à transmissão a partir de animais exóticos inseridos em rebanho para melhoramento genético. Devido ao sistema de criação ao qual os animais são mantidos, confinamento de reprodutores e regime semi-intensivo aos demais, a doença pode não ter conseguido condições propicias para disseminar-se. O resultado indica riscos à ovinocultura desenvolvida no estado e as relações comerciais com os demais, e sugere a necessidade de estudos mais amplos para melhor caracterizar o perfil do estado em relação à ocorrência de Lentiviroses de Pequenos Ruminantes e implantação de medidas de controle e prevenção da disseminação desta enfermidade. Detection of sheep sororeaction for maedi-visna in State of Sergipe. Abstract - The virus of Maedi Visna belongs to Retroviridae family, gender Lentivirus affects raise of sheep especially at intensive way. Despite variable pathogenicity, is responsible for chronic and debilitating clinical. Widely distributed throughout the world, is linked underestimated the economic impact in raise of sheep, but with inaccurate data in Brazil. This study aimed to obtain the prevalence of Maedi Visna in the municipality of Lagarto / Sergipe. It were analyzed 151 samples of serum taken from sheep of Santa Ines breed, from nine farms, identified as to sex and age of animals. It was used in the test of Imunodifusion in Agar Gel whith microaglutination technique. The prevalence obtained was 0.66%, which represents the first report of Maedi Visna in Sergipe and can be correlated to the close contact between sheep and goats or the submission of animals for agricultural exhibitions where there is the nearest of infected and healthy animals unconscious promoted by producers or the transmission from exotic animals entered in farms for breeding herd. Because the system of creation which animals are kept, confinement of males and semi-intensive system to the others, the disease may not have achieved favorable conditions to spread itself. The results indicates the risk in raised of sheep developed in the state and trade relations with the others, and suggests the need for more extensive studies to better characterize the profile of the state in relation to the occurrence of Lentiviroses of Small Ruminants and implementation of measures for control and prevention spread of this disease

Fertilidade do solo em sistemas agroflorestais.

Discussão sobre o tema desenvolvimento sustentável ocupa grande espaço na sociedade devido ao declínio na qualidade de vida no meio rural e urbano. A perda de qualidade de vida associa-se à intensa degradação dos recursos naturais atrelada à modernização da agricultura e ao aumento populacional das cidades. A agricultura é função da interação de fatores socioambientais e naturais, englobando dimensões sociais, culturais, políticas e econômicas. O desafio para uma agricultura sustentável passa pelo ajuste das relações socioeconômicas que governam o que é produzido, como é produzido e para quem é produzido. Isto necessita de uma abordagem que integra os princípios agronômicos, ecológicos e socioeconômicos à compreensão e avaliação do efeito das tecnologias sobre os sistemas agrícolas e a sociedade como um todo.Palestra

The impact of reading and writing skills on a visuo-motor integration task: A comparison between illiterate and literate subjects

Previous studies have shown a significant association between reading skills and the performance on visuo-motor tasks. In order to clarify whether reading and writing skills modulate non-linguistic domains, we investigated the performance of two literacy groups on a visuo-motor integration task with non-linguistic stimuli. Twenty-one illiterate participants and twenty matched literate controls were included in the experiment. Subjects were instructed to use the right or the left index finger to point to and touch a randomly presented target on the right or left side of a touch screen. The results showed that the literate subjects were significantly faster in detecting and touching targets on the left compared to the right side of the screen. In contrast, the presentation side did not affect the performance of the illiterate group. These results lend support to the idea that having acquired reading and writing skills, and thus a preferred left-to-right reading direction, influences visual scanning. (JINS, 2007, 13, 359–36

How do diversity and functional nestedness of bird communities respond to changes in the landscape caused by eucalyptus plantations?

Studies of functional diversity can help to understand processes that determine the presence of species in different habitats. Measurement of functional diversity in silviculture areas is important because different functional traits can show different responses to this landscape alteration, and therefore ecological functions can be affected. This study evaluated functional and taxonomic differences in bird assemblages in a native forest and eucalyptus plantations, and also assessed the functional nestedness of the bird species. We censused birds in eucalyptus plantations of four different ages, and also in a native forest. The results showed higher functional and taxonomic diversity of birds in the native forest than in plantations and higher similarity of functional traits between plantations of different ages. The high functional diversity in the native forest indicates a greater variety of functional traits, resulting in greater functional complementarity than in plantations. The association of some traits with the native forest, such as nectarivory and foraging in air, indicates the importance of native habitats in maintaining species and functions related to such traits. Already, species traits in eucalyptus plantations represent a subset of those that were recorded in the native forest, indicating that some functions are maintained in plantations. Our results demonstrate that the species occurrence in the plantations and native forest is determined by species traits. Thus, the maintenance of some functions in plantations is provided, although there is a higher functional diversity in native forest

Escaras de Inoculação e Febre: Um Caso de Febre da Carraça Africana

African tick bite fever is caused by the intracellular bacteria Rickettsia africae. This bacterium is transmitted through the bite of the Amblyomma tick, which carries a high rate of R. africae infection. African tick bite fever is the second most frequent cause of fever in travelers returning from sub-Saharan Africa.We present the case of a 58-year-old man, returning from South Africa, with a three-day history of fever, generalized headache and cervical myalgia. On physical examination multiple inoculation eschars and tender inguinal lymph nodes were documented.Histological examination of a skin lesion was compatible with spotted fever and the diagnosis of R. africae infection was confirmed through polymerase chain reaction analysis.The global increase in international tourism, particularly to remote areas, predisposes to tick bites. In febrile tourists returning from endemic areas and after a thorough clinical examination, the diagnosis of African tick bite fever should be born in mind.A febre da carraça africana é causada pela bactéria intracelular Rickettsia africae. Esta bactéria é transmitida através da picada da carraça do género Amblyomma, com uma elevada taxa de infeção por R. africae. A febre da carraça africana é já a segunda causa mais frequente de febre em viajantes que regressam da África Subsariana. Apresentamos o caso de um homem de 58 anos, em regresso da África do Sul, com história de febre, cefaleia generalizada e mialgias cervicais. Ao exame objetivo foram documentadas múltiplas escaras de inoculação e adenomegalias inguinais dolorosas.A histopatologia da biópsia cutânea foi compatível com rickettsiose e o diagnóstico de infeção por R. africae foi confirmado por reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR).O aumento global do turismo internacional, particularmente para áreas remotas, predispõe à picada de carraças. A febre da carraça africana deve ser considerada no diagnóstico diferencial de doentes febris com história de viagem recente a zonas endémicas