Evaluation of sensitivity, motor and pain thresholds across the menstrual cycle through medium-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify variations in nervous thresholds in different phases of the menstrual cycle in eumenorrheic women and users of oral contraceptives. METHOD: An observational study was performed including 56 volunteers, consisting of 30 eumenorrheic women who were non-users of oral contraceptives and 26 users of oral contraceptives. An electrical stimulator was employed to assess their nervous thresholds, with pulses applied at a fixed frequency of 2,500 Hz, modulated at 50 Hz, with phase variances of 20 μs, 50 μs and 100 μs. Sensitivity, motor and pain thresholds were evaluated during five menstrual cycle phases: phase 1 - menstrual, phase 2 - follicular, phase 3 - ovulatory, phase 4 - luteal and phase 5 - premenstrual. RESULTS: The results indicated low sensitivity thresholds of 100 μs for non-users of oral contraceptives and 50 μs for oral contraceptive users in phase 5. Low motor thresholds of 20 μs, 50 μs and 100 μs were observed for non-users of oral contraceptives in phase 5, while that of oral contraceptive users was 100 μs. Finally, a low pain threshold of 100 μs was observed in phase 5, but only in the oral contraceptive group. CONCLUSION: Nervous thresholds vary systematically across the phases of the menstrual cycle, with or without the use of oral contraceptives. These variations should be taken into account during research performed in women

Autophagy in Preeclampsia

Autophagy may be involved in gestation complicated by preeclampsia (PE) due to the presence of placental lesions caused by hypoxia at fetomaternal interphase. Autophagy is a lysosomal degradation pathway, removing protein aggregates and organelles damaged and thereby maintaining cell integrity. In preeclampsia, deficient myometrial penetration by extravillous cytotrophoblast occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy, leading to placental insufficiency. Several placental functions, like nutrient and oxygen input to the fetus during pregnancy, might benefit or even rely on autophagy and related material recycling within the cell. Deficiency in autophagy mechanism has been correlated to inflammatory responses. Autophagy is regulated during placentation and appears to be a possible factor in the development of preeclampsia. In this chapter, we intend to discuss evidence on autophagy pathway in pregnancy and the crosstalk between autophagy and inflammation in preeclampsia

Desenvolvimento de aplicativo para construção automática de diagramas de reflexões de ondas viajantes

Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso (graduação)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Tecnologia, Departamento de Engenharia Elétrica, 2017.Nos últimos anos, algoritmos baseados na teoria das ondas viajantes (OVs) vêm ganhando importância em diversas aplicações relacionadas ao diagnóstico de distúrbios em linhas de transmissão (LTs), a exemplo de algoritmos de proteção e localização de faltas, os quais fre- quentemente requerem a análise de diagramas de reexões. Como consequência, metodologias capazes de viabilizar um melhor entendimento dos transitórios decorrentes da propagação de OVs em sistemas de transmissão têm despertado o interesse de concessionárias e pesquisado- res. Nesse sentido, apresenta-se neste trabalho um aplicativo capaz de construir diagramas de reexões de OVs em LTs com circuito simples, duplo ou com linhas adjacentes de forma auto- mática e intuitiva por meio de arquivos de simulação obtidos no software Alternative Transients Program (ATP). Para tanto, a metodologia apresentada faz uso de conceitos e técnicas de l- tragem consolidadas na análise de OVs em LTs, a exemplo da Transformada de Clarke e do ltro Dierentiator-Smoother (ltro DS). Os resultados revelam simplicidade e versatilidade do aplicativo proposto, denominado LAPPICE, o qual demonstra ser uma ferramenta útil durante a análise de transitórios em LTs.In recent decades, algorithms based on traveling waves theory have gained importance in transmission line disturbance diagnosis applications, such as protection and fault location algorithms. These applications often require the analysis of reection diagrams of traveling waves (TWs). Consequently, methodologies that provide a better understanding of transients caused by TWs propagation in transmission systems have aroused the interest of utilities and researchers. Therefore, this work presents an app which is able to automatically build reection diagrams of TWs in transmission lines (TLs) considering single circuit lines, double circuit lines or circuits with adjacents lines in a very intuitive manner through simulation les provided by the software Alternative Transients Program (ATP). The proposed methodology is based on consolidated concepts and ltering techniques widely used in the analysis of TWs, such as the Clarke's Transformation and the Dierentiator-Smoother lter (DS lter). The results reveal simplicity and versatility of the proposed app, called LAPPICE, which has shown to be a useful tool for transients analysis in TLs

Um estudo sobre crenças no contexto de aprendizagem de alemão como língua adicional

A crença é um termo muito amplo, empregado em diferentes áreas do conhecimento, tais comoa história, a antropologia, a sociologia, entre outras. Nos anos 1980, aparece no âmbito do ensinode línguas, a partir de investigações que apresentavam como foco, principalmente, as crenças sobreaprendizagem e aspectos como autonomia, motivação e estratégias utilizadas pelos aprendizes emseu processo de aprendizagem. O presente artigo tem por objetivo apresentar (1) uma breve revisãoteórica sobre os estudos sobre crenças, (2) uma investigação a respeito das percepções de estudantesde graduação de um curso de Letras Português-Alemão sobre as suas diferentes formas de estudar eaprender o idioma, apresentando e discutindo os principais objetivos de aprendizagem e as estratégiascitadas pelos mesmos

a mixed-methods study protocol

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Relationship between muscle strength and motor function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Measuring muscle strength and motor function is part of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) assessment. However, the relationship between these variables is controversial. Objective: To investigate the relationship between muscle strength and motor function and between these variables and age. Method: Muscle strength was measured by Medical Research Council (MRC) scale and motor function, by Motor Function Measure (MFM), in 40 non-ambulatory patients. Spearman tests investigated the relationships between muscle strength, motor function and age. Results: Total MRC and MFM scores were strongly related to each other (r = 0.94p 0.05). Strong and moderate relationships between partial muscle strength and motor function scores were found. Higher correlation coefficients were found between total scores and Dimensions 2 (axial/ proximal control) and 3 (distal control) of MFM. Conclusion: Muscle strength and motor function are strongly correlated and seem to decrease proportionally in DMD.Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Dept Fisioterapia Fonoaudiol & Terapia Ocupac, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Dept Neurol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Dept Neurol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

O uso das TICs na formação continuada: iniciativas e experiências presentes na produção acadêmica brasileira

O presente trabalho versa sobre a produção bibliográfica acerca do tema Tecnologia da Informação e Comunicação (tic) e Formação Continuada, presente em onze periódicos nacionais da área da Educação. Conscientes dos esforços do Estado para inserir as chamadas tics na realidade escolar, por meio de programas e políticas educacionais, essa pesquisa busca avaliar a produção acadêmica sobre o assunto, na tentativa de refletir como essa temática está sendo debatida no interior das universidades e dos grupos de pesquisa. Selecionaram-se onze publicações vinculadas a distintas universidades no período de 1991 a 2013, a fim de reunir artigos que apresentassem experiências e iniciativas que coadunassem a formação continuada de professores com o uso de tecnologias direcionadas às práticas de ensino e aprendizagem. Observamos que parte do corpus analisado incide na teorização do uso das tecnologias sem interface com o cotidiano escolar, sendo assim, constata-se a carência de estudos e investigações acerca do uso das tics na formação continuada

Resolubilidade na estratégia saúde da família de um município baiano: o olhar dos usuários

Objetivou-se com este estudo compreender o(s) significado(s) da resolubilidade na assistência à saúde na perspectiva dos usuários da Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) de um município baiano e identificar a(s) possíveis dificuldade(s) e/ou facilidade(s) encontrada(s) pelos mesmos, para a resolubilidade do problema de saúde que apresenta. Esta é uma pesquisa qualitativa, que foi realizada com 10 usuários. As técnicas de coleta de dados foram a entrevista semiestruturada e a observação sistemática, sendo os dados analisados com o método de Análise de Conteúdo. Os resultados demonstraram que o significado de resolubilidade para os usuários está relacionado às necessidades, vivências e expectativas que estes apresentam. Além disso, a promoção de ações resolutivas perpassa por dificuldades e facilidades que caracterizam este processo. Concluiu-se que a compreensão do significado de resolubilidade na percepção dos usuários, bem como das dificuldades e/ ou facilidades que permeiam a sua garantia é de suma importância para a promoção da qualidade dos serviços de saúde

Primary Gallbladder Adenocarcinoma in a Cat

Background: Biliary tumors have low incidence in cats and are more common in elderly animals. Hepatobiliary tumors have different classifications and their etiology is difficult to interpret. In most cases, the diagnosis is only possible in advanced stages, which clouds the precursor factors. The late diagnosis is explained by the absence or specificity of clinical manifestations and laboratory changes. The majority of hepatobiliary neoplasms in cats are incidental findings in surgeries or necropsies. This study aimed to report clinical, laboratory, pathological and immunohistochemical results in a feline case of gall bladder adenocarcinoma.Case: A cat, male, neutered, mixed breed, 4 years, was admitted at a veterinary clinic with a history of polyuria / polydipsia, anorexia, apathy, jaundice and emesis for 60 days. The animal had been treated in another clinic with silymarin, famotidine and cyanocobalamin, and fed by esophageal tube based on the presumptive clinical diagnosis of cholangitis. The clinical examination revealed jaundice, abdominal pain, weight loss, enlargement of the liver and gallbladder and the presence of a structure in the epigastric region. Based on clinical signs, blood tests (complete blood count and liver enzymes), abdominal ultrasound and thoracic radiography were requested. In the exam results, eosinophilia, bilirubinemia and increased alkaline phosphatase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase and gamma glutamyl transferase were observed, in addition to the presence of icteric and hemolyzed serum. Ultrasound exam revealed thickened and dilated cystic and common ducts, large and thick gallbladder, bile with bile mud, hypoechogenic liver, thickening in the duodenal papilla and enlarged pancreatic and duodenal lymph nodes. There were no alterations in thoracic radiography. Based on the findings, the diagnosis of extrahepatic biliary obstruction was suggested. In celiotomy, dilated gallbladder with a thick blackened wall was observed. Bile puncture was performed for analysis, and total cholecystectomy and removal of obstructive content was performed. The patient suffered cardiorespiratory arrest after the procedure. A fragment of gallbladder and liver were sent to evaluation with histopathology and immunohistochemistry, and results were compatible with gallbladder adenocarcinoma.Discussion: Hepatobiliary neoplasms in cats are uncommon, apart from lymphoma. The incidence is higher in elderly cats and in males, which did not match the animal in this case. The clinical presentation of the condition is quite nonspecific, corroborating with other reports, in which changes are often only evident in advanced stages of the disease. Laboratory and imaging findings pointed to a biliary tree disorder, and cholangitis was suggested. However, the lack of clinical improvement and examination findings of exams lead to an exploratory laparotomy for better inspection of the organs and identification of possible causes. One of the differential diagnoses that should be considered in cats with extrahepatic biliary obstruction is gallbladder adenocarcinoma, especially in animals with an unsatisfactory response in clinical treatment. Tests such as histopathology and immunohistochemistry are essential for the definitive diagnosis of this neoplasm. Surgical resection is indicated in cases of malignant masses, providing longevity and better quality of life. Hypotension is a common complication in hepatobiliary surgeries, which can result in death