CARACTERIZAÇÃO GEOAMBIENTAL DOS SERTÕES DO SERIDÓ POTIGUAR COMO SUBSÍDIO PARA O PLANEJAMENTO AMBIENTAL

A caracterização geoambiental é uma ferramenta de fundamental importância para a elaboração de um planejamento ambiental eficaz, principalmente quando se tratar de áreas bastante degradadas como núcleos de desertificação. Esse artigo apresenta a caracterização geoambiental do Geocomplexo dos Sertões do Seridó Potiguar. A área faz parte de um dos quatro núcleos de desertificação mais graves do Brasil e apresenta grandes diferenças fisiográficas quando comparada às áreas adjacentes

Perturbation theory vs. simulation for tadpole improvement factors in pure gauge theories

We calculate the mean link in Landau gauge for Wilson and improved SU(3) anisotropic gauge actions, using two loop perturbation theory and Monte Carlo simulation employing an accelerated Langevin algorithm. Twisted boundary conditions are employed, with a twist in all four lattice directions considerably improving the (Fourier accelerated) convergence to an improved lattice Landau gauge. Two loop perturbation theory is seen to predict the mean link extremely well even into the region of commonly simulated gauge couplings and so can be used remove the need for numerical tuning of self-consistent tadpole improvement factors. A three loop perturbative coefficient is inferred from the simulations and is found to be small. We show that finite size effects are small and argue likewise for (lattice) Gribov copies and double Dirac sheets.Comment: 13 pages of revtex

O impacto da revascularização carotídea sobre a função cognitiva

The concept that carotid disease may compromise cognitive function was initially proposed by Fisher in 1951, based on an autopsy case. However, some topics involving cognitive function remain controversial, such as its correlation with carotid obstructive disease. So, the authors of this review evaluate the impact of carotid revascularization on cognitive function and the repercussions of the revascularization technique (carotid stenting vs. endarterectomy) chosen. It was clear from the literature reviewed that carotid stenosis is related to a decline in cognitive function over time. However, controversy still remains over the impact of carotid revascularization on cognitive function. With elation to the technique employed (carotid stenting vs. endarterectomy), the majority of studies found no difference between the two techniques in terms of overall cognitive outcome.The concept that carotid disease may compromise cognitive function was initially proposed by Fisher in 1951, based on an autopsy case. However, some topics involving cognitive function remain controversial, such as its correlation with carotid obstructive132116122sem informaçãosem informaçãoLal, B.K., Cognitive function after carotid artery revascularization (2007) Vasc Endovasc Surg, 41 (1), pp. 5-13. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1538574406297253, PMid:17277237Fisher, C., Senile dementia - A new explanation of its causation (1951) Arch Neurol, 65, pp. 1-7Carrea, R., Molins, M., Murphy, G., Surgery of spontaneous thrombosis of internal carotid in the neckcarotid-carotid anastomosiscase report and analysis of the literature on surgical cases (1955) Medicina (B. Aires), 15, pp. 20-29Debakey, M.E., Successful carotid endarterectomy for cerebrovascular insufficiency. Nineteen-year follow-up (1975) JAMA, 233, pp. 1083-1085. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1975.03260100053020, PMid:1174155Eastcott, H.H., Pickering, G.W., Rob, C.G., Reconstruction of internal carotid artery in a patient with intermittent attacks of hemiplegia (1954) Lancet, 267, pp. 994-996. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(54)90544-9Feliziani, F.T., Polidori, M.C., De Rango, P., Cognitive performance in elderly patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy or carotid artery stenting: A twelve-month follow-up study (2010) Cerebrovasc Dis, 30, pp. 244-251. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000319066, PMid:20664257Seshadri, S., Beiser, A., Kelly-Hayes, M., The lifetime risk of stroke: Estimates from the Framingham study (2006) Stroke, 37, pp. 345-350. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/01.STR.0000199613.38911.b2, PMid:16397184Hachinski, V., The 2005 Thomas Willis lecture: Stroke and vascular cognitive impairment - A transdisciplinary, translational and transactional approach (2007) Stroke, 38, p. 1396. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/01.STR.0000260101.08944.e9, PMid:17347469Desmond, D.W., Moroney, J.T., Sano, M., Stern, Y., Incidence of dementia after ischemic stroke: Results of a longitudinal study (2002) Stroke, 33, pp. 2254-2260. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/01.STR.0000028235.91778.95, PMid:12215596Rao, S.M., Leo, G.J., Ellington, L., Nauertz, T., Bernardin, L., Unverzagt, F., Cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis. II. Impact on employment and social functioning (1991) Neurology, 41, pp. 692-696. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/WNL.41.5.692, PMid:1823781Chaytor, N., Schmitter-Edgecombe, M., The ecological validity of neuropsychological tests: A review of the literature on everyday cognitive skills (2003) Neuropsychol Rev, 13, pp. 181-197. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/B:NERV.0000009483.91468.fb, PMid:15000225Hachinski, V., Iadecola, C., Petersen, R.C., National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke-Canadian Stroke Network vascular cognitive impairment harmonization standards (2006) Stroke, 37, pp. 2220-2241. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/01.STR.0000237236.88823.47, PMid:16917086Rasmussen, L.S., Postoperative cognitive dysfunction: Incidence and prevention (2006) Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol, 20, pp. 315-330. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bpa.2005.10.011, PMid:16850780Vermeer, S.E., Prins, N.D., Den Heijer, T., Hofman, A., Koudstaal, P.J., Breteler, M.B., Silent brain infarcts and the risk of dementia and cognitive decline (2003) N Engl J Med, 348, pp. 1215-1222. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa022066, PMid:12660385Mosley, T.H., Jr., Knopman, D.S., Catellier, D.J., Cerebral MRI findings and cognitive functioning: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (2005) Neurology, 64, pp. 2056-2062. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/01.WNL.0000165985.97397.88, PMid:15985571Longstreth, W.T., Jr., Bernick, C., Manolio, T.A., Bryan, N., Jungreis, C.A., Price, T.R., Lacunar infarcts defined by magnetic resonance imaging of 3660 elderly people: The Cardiovascular Health Study (1998) Arch Neurol, 55, pp. 1217-1225. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archneur.55.9.1217Capoccia, L., Sbarigia, E., Rizzo, A., Mansour, W., Speziale, F., Silent stroke and cognitive decline in asymptomatic carotid stenosis revascularization (2012) Vascular, 20 (4), pp. 181-187. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1258/vasc.2011.oa0342, PMid:22734086Braekken, S.K., Russell, D., Brucher, R., Abdelnoor, M., Svennevig, J.L., Cerebral microembolic signals during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Frequency, time of occurrence, and association with patient and surgical characteristics (1997) Stroke, 28, pp. 1988-1992. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/01.STR.28.10.1988, PMid:9341708Braekken, S.K., Endresen, K., Russell, D., Brucher, R., Kjekshus, J., Influence of guidewire and catheter type on the frequency of cerebral microembolic signals during left heart catheterization (1998) Am J Cardiol, 82, pp. 632-637. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9149(98)00407-XBraekken, S.K., Reinvang, I., Russell, D., Brucher, R., Svennevig, J.L., Association between intraoperative cerebral microembolic signals and postoperative neuropsychological deficit: Comparison between patients with cardiac valve replacement and patients with coronary artery bypass grafting (1998) J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 65, pp. 573-576. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.65.4.573, PMid:9771790Sylivris, S., Levi, C., Matalanis, G., Pattern and significance of cerebral microemboli during coronary artery bypass grafting (1998) Ann Thorac Surg, 66, pp. 1674-1678. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0003-4975(98)00891-1Laza, C., Popescu, B.O., Popa, M., Microemboli detection in patients with carotid artery stenting--a potential marker for future cognitive impairment? (2013) J Neurol Sci, 326 (1-2), pp. 96-99. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2013.01.025, PMid:23403326Crawley, F., Stygall, J., Lunn, S., Harrison, M., Brown, M.M., Newman, S., Comparison of microembolism detected by transcranial Doppler and neuropsychological sequelae of carotid surgery and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (2000) Stroke, 31, pp. 1329-1334. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/01.STR.31.6.1329, PMid:10835452Jordan, W.D., Jr., Voellinger, D.C., Doblar, D.D., Plyushcheva, N.P., Fisher, W.S., McDowell, H.A., Microemboli detected by transcranial Doppler monitoring in patients during carotid angioplasty versus carotid endarterectomy (1999) Cardiovasc Surg, 7, pp. 33-38. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0967-2109(98)00097-0Wolf, O., Heider, P., Heinz, M., Microembolic signals detected by transcranial doppler sonography during carotid endarterectomy and correlation with serial diffusionweighted imaging (2004) Stroke, 35, pp. e373-e375. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/01.STR.0000143184.69343.ec, PMid:15388901Ghogawala, Z., Westerveld, M., Amin-Hanjani, S., Cognitive outcomes after carotid revascularization: The role of cerebral emboli and hypoperfusion (2008) Neurosurg, pp. 385-395. , PMid:18382316Ringelstein, E.B., Droste, D.W., Babikian, V.L., Consensus on microembolus detection by TCD. International Consensus Group on Microembolus Detection (1998) Stroke, 29, pp. 725-729. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/01.STR.29.3.725, PMid:9506619Gaunt, M.E., Smith, J.L., Bell, P.R., Martin, P.J., Naylor, A.R., Microembolism and hemodynamic changes in the brain during carotid endarterectomy (1994) Stroke, 25, pp. 2504-2505. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/01.STR.25.12.2504, PMid:7974598Chen, C.I., Iguchi, Y., Garami, Z., Analysis of emboli during carotid stenting with distal protection device (2006) Cerebrovasc Dis, 21, pp. 223-228. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000091218, PMid:16446534Gupta, N., Corriere, M.A., Dodson, T.F., The incidence of microemboli to the brain is less with endarterectomy than percutaneous revascularization with distal filters or flow reversal (2011) J Vasc Surg, 53, pp. 316-322. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvs.2010.08.063, PMid:21129899Capoccia, L., Speziale, F., Gazzetti, M., Comparative study on carotid revascularization(endarterectomy vs stenting) using markers of cellular brain injury, neuropychometric tests, and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (2010) J Vasc Surg, 51, pp. 584-592. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvs.2009.10.079, PMid:20045614Roh, H.G., Byun, H.S., Ryoo, J.W., Prospective analysis of cerebral infarction after carotid endarterectomy and carotid artery stent placement by using diffusion-weighted imaging (2005) Am J Neuroradiol, 26, pp. 376-384. , PMid:15709140Rapp, J.H., Wakil, L., Sawhney, R., Subclinical embolization after carotid artery stenting:New lesions on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging occur postprocedure (2007) J Vasc Surg, 45, pp. 867-874. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvs.2006.12.058, PMid:17376643Hauth, E.A., Jansen, C., Drescher, R., MR and clinical follow-up of diffusion-weighted cerebral lesions after carotid artery stenting (2005) Am J Neuroradiol, 26, pp. 2336-2344. , PMid:16219842Fearn, S.J., Pole, R., Wesnes, K., Faragher, E.B., Hooper, T.L., McCollum, C.N., Cerebral injury during cardiopulmonary bypass: Emboli impair memory (2001) J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 121, pp. 1150-1160. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1067/mtc.2001.114099, PMid:11385383Sasoh, M., Ogasawara, K., Kuroda, K., Effects of EC-IC bypass surgery on cognitive impairment in patients with hemodynamic cerebral ischemia (2003) Surg Neurol, 59, pp. 455-460. , discussion 460-453Younkin, D., Hungerbuhler, J.P., O’connor, M., Superficial temporal-middle cerebral artery anastomosis: Effects on vascular, neurologic, and neuropsychological functions (1985) Neurology, 35, pp. 462-469. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/WNL.35.4.462, PMid:3982632Marshall, R.S., Lazar, R.M., Pile-Spellman, J., Recovery of brain function during induced cerebral hypoperfusion (2001) Brain, 124, pp. 1208-1217. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/brain/124.6.1208, PMid:11353736Borroni, B., Tiberio, G., Bonardelli, S., Is mild vascular cognitive impairment reversible? Evidence from a study on the effect of carotid endarterectomy (2004) Neurol Res, 26, pp. 594-597. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/016164104225016245, PMid:15265280Costin, M., Rampersad, A., Solomon, R.A., Connolly, E.S., Heyer, E.J., Cerebral injury predicted by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography but not electroencephalography during carotid endarterectomy (2002) J Neurosurg Anesthesiol, 14, pp. 287-292. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00008506-200210000-00003, PMid:12357085 PMCid:PMC2435244Heyer, E.J., Adams, D.C., Solomon, R.A., Neuropsychometric changes in patients after carotid endarterectomy (1998) Stroke, 29, pp. 1110-1115. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/01.STR.29.6.1110, PMid:9626280 PMCid:PMC2435204Ogasawara, K., Inoue, T., Kobayashi, M., Cognitive impairment associated with intraoperative and postoperative hypoperfusion without neurologic deficits in a patient undergoing carotid endarterectomy (2006) Surg Neurol, 65, pp. 577-581. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.surneu.2005.07.011, PMid:16720178Lund, C., Hol, P.K., Lundblad, R., Comparison of cerebral embolization during off-pump and on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (2003) Ann Thorac Surg, 76, pp. 765-770. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0003-4975(03)00679-9, discussion 770Sundt, T.M., Sharbrough, F.W., Piepgras, D.G., Kearns, T.P., Messick, J.M., O’Fallon, W.M., Correlation of cerebral blood flow and electroencephalographic changes during carotid endarterectomy: With results of surgery and hemodynamics of cerebral ischemia (1981) Mayo Clin Proc, 56, pp. 533-543. , PMid:7266064Halsey, J.H., Risks and benefits of shunting in carotid endarterectomy. The International Transcranial Doppler Collaborators (1992) Stroke, 23, pp. 1583-1587. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/01.STR.23.11.1583Lawrence, P.F., Alves, J.C., Jicha, D., Bhirangi, K., Dobrin, P.B., Incidence, timing, and causes of cerebral ischemia during carotid endarterectomy with regional anesthesia (1998) J Vasc Surg, 27, pp. 329-337. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0741-5214(98)70363-5Calderon-Arnulphi, M., Alaraj, A., Amin-Hanjani, S., Detection of cerebral ischemia in neurovascular surgery using quantitative frequency-domain near-infrared spectroscopy (2007) J Neurosurg, 106, pp. 283-290. , http://dx.doi.org/10.3171/jns.2007.106.2.283, PMid:17410713White, P.F., Use of cerebral monitoring during anaesthesia. Effect on recovery profile (2006) Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol, 20, pp. 181-189. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bpa.2005.08.001, PMid:16634424Mendelsohn, F.O., Weissman, N.J., Lederman, R.J., Acute hemodynamic changes during carotid artery stenting (1998) Am J Cardiol, 82, pp. 1077-1081. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9149(98)00562-1Trocciola, S.M., Chaer, R.A., Lin, S.C., Analysis of parameters associated with hypotension requiring vasopressor support after carotid angioplasty and stenting (2006) J Vasc Surg, 43, p. 714. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvs.2005.12.008, PMid:16616226Gupta, R., Abou-Chebl, A., Bajzer, C.T., Schumacher, H.C., Yadav, J.S., Rate, predictors, and consequences of hemodynamic depression after carotid artery stenting (2006) J Am Coll Cardiol, 47, pp. 1538-1543. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2005.08.079, PMid:16630988Park, B., Shapiro, D., Dahn, M., Arici, M., Carotid artery angioplasty with stenting and postprocedure hypotension (2005) Am J Surg, 190, pp. 691-695. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2005.07.004, PMid:16226941Connolly, E.S., Winfree, C.J., Rampersad, A., Serum S100B protein levels are correlated with subclinical neurocognitive declines after carotid endarterectomy (2001) Neurosurg, 49, pp. 1076-1083Lunn, S., Crawley, F., Harrison, M.J., Brown, M.M., Newman, S.P., Impact of carotid endarterectomy upon cognitive functioning. A systematic review of the literature (1999) Cerebrovasc Dis, 9, pp. 74-81. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000015901, PMid:9973649Irvine, C.D., Gardner, F.V., Davies, A.H., Lamont, P.M., Cognitive testing in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (1998) Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg, 15, pp. 195-204. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1078-5884(98)80176-7Heyer, E.J., Sharma, R., Rampersad, A., A controlled prospective study of neuropsychological dysfunction following carotid endarterectomy (2002) Arch Neurol, 59, pp. 217-222. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archneur.59.2.217, PMid:11843692 PMCid:PMC2435245Hobson, R.W., Update on the Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy versus Stent Trial (CREST) protocol (2002) J Am Coll Surg, 194 (1), pp. S9-14. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1072-7515(01)01078-XXu, G., Liu, X., Meyer, J.S., Yin, Q., Zhang, R., Cognitive performance after carotid angioplasty and stenting with brain protection devices (2007) Neurol Res, 29, pp. 251-255. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/016164107X159216, PMid:17178010Endovascular versus surgical treatment in patients with carotid stenosis in the Carotid and Vertebral Artery Transluminal Angioplasty Study (CAVATAS):A randomised trial (2001) Lancet, 357, pp. 1729-1737. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(00)04893-5, No authors listedGrunwald, I., Suppurian, T., Struffert, T., Falkai, P., Krick, C., Politi, M., Cognitive Changes after Carotid Artery Stenting (2006) Neuroradiology, 48, pp. 319-323. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00234-006-0064-5, PMid:16703361Mlekusch, W., Mlekusch, I., Haumer, M., Kopp, C.W., Lehrner, J., Ahmadi, R., Improvement of neurocognitive function after protected carotid artery stenting (2008) Catheter Cardiovasc Interv, 71 (1), pp. 114-119. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ccd.21407, PMid:18098213Gaudet, J.G., Meyers, P.M., McKinsey, J.F., Incidence of moderate to severe cognitive dysfunction in patients treated with carotid artery stenting (2009) Neurosurgery, 65 (2), pp. 325-329. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1227/01.NEU.0000349920.69637.78, discussion 329-30, PMid:19625912 PMCid:PMC2716040Lal, B.K., Younes, M., Cruz, G., Kapadia, I., Jamil, Z., Pappas, P.J., Cognitive changes after surgery vs stenting for carotid artery stenosis (2011) J Vasc Surg, 54 (3), pp. 691-698. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvs.2011.03.253, PMid:21700413Takaiwa, A., Hayashi, N., Kuwayama, N., Akioka, N., Kubo, M., Endo, S., Changes in cognitive function during the 1-year period following endarterectomy and stenting of patients with high-grade carotid artery stenosis (2009) Acta Neurochir, 151, pp. 1593-1600. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00701-009-0420-4, PMid:19533017Zhou, W., Hitchner, E., Gillis, K., Prospective neurocognitive evaluation of patients undergoing carotid interventions (2012) J Vasc Surg, 56 (6), pp. 1571-1578. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvs.2012.05.092, PMid:22889720 PMCid:PMC3508143Altinbas, A., Van Zandvoort, M.J., Van Den Berg, E., Cognition after carotid endarterectomy or stenting: A randomized comparison (2011) Neurology, 77 (11), pp. 1084-1090. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0b013e31822e55b9, PMid:21880992Witt, K., Börsch, K., Daniels, C., Neuropsychological consequences of endarterectomy and endovascular angioplasty with stent placement for treatment of symptomatic carotid stenosis: A prospective randomised study (2007) J Neurol, 254 (11), pp. 1524-1532. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00415-007-0576-x, PMid:17657403A noção de que a doença carotídea pode comprometer a função cognitiva foi proposta inicialmente por Fisher, em 1951, baseado em um caso de necropsia. Porém, alguns tópicos envolvendo a função cognitiva permanecem controversos, tais como sua correlação

Hypothalamic Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Of Overtrained Mice After Recovery

knowing the relationship between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and inflammation and based on the fact that downhill running-based overtraining (OT) model increases hypothalamus levels of some pro-inflammatory cytokines, we verified the effects of three OT protocols on the levels of BiP, pIRE-1 (Ser734), pPERK (Thr981), pelF2alpha (Ser52), ATF-6 and GRP-94 proteins in the mouse hypothalamus after two weeks of recovery. Methods: the mice were randomized into control (CT), overtrained by downhill running (OTR/down), overtrained by uphill running (OTR/up) and overtrained by running without inclination (OTR) groups. After 2-week total recovery period (i.e., week 10), hypothalamus was removed and used for immunoblotting. Results: The OTR/down group exhibited high levels of BiP and ATF6. The other OT protocols showed higher levels of pPERK (Th981) and pelf-2alpha (Ser52) when compared with the CT group. Conclusion: The current results suggest that after a 2-week total recovery period, the overtrained groups increased partially their ER stress protein levels, but without hypothalamic inflammation, which characterizes a physiological condition related to an adaptation mechanism.2

Lipidomic profile as a non-invasive tool to predict endometrial receptivity in freeze-all cycles

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A Rare Disease Patient Manager

ABSTRACT publicado: 6th International Conference on Practical Applications of Computational Biology & Bioinformatics (PACBB. Salamanca, 28-30 Março 2012The personal health implications behind rare diseases are seldom considered in widespread medical care. The low incidence rate and complex treatment process makes rare disease research an underrated field in the life sciences. However, it is in these particular conditions that the strongest relations between genotypes and phenotypes are identified. The rare disease patient manager, detailed in this manuscript, presents an innovative perspective for a patient-centric portal integrating genetic and medical data. With this strategy, patient’s digital records are transparently integrated and connected to wet-lab genetics research in a seamless working environment. The resulting knowledge base offers multiple data views, geared towards medical staff, with patient treatment and monitoring data; genetics researchers, through a custom locus-specific database; and patients, who for once play an active role in their treatment and rare diseases research

Skin diseases in cetaceans. Scientific Committee document SC/60/DW8, International Whaling Commission, June 2008, Santiago, Chile

Micro-organisms that are known or suspected to cause skin diseases in cetaceans are briefly reviewed. Viruses belonging to four families i.e. Caliciviridae, Herpesviridae, Papillomaviridae and Poxviridae were detected by electron microscopy, histology and molecular techniques in vesicular skin lesions, black dots perceptible by the touch, warts and tattoos in several species of odontocetes and mysticetes. Herpesviruses, poxviruses and likely a cutaneous papillomavirus are cetacean specific. Among bacteria, Dermatophilus spp., Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, Mycobacterium marinum, Pseudomonas spp., Streptococcus iniae and Vibrio spp. were isolated from ulcerative dermatitis, pyogranulomatous dermatitis and panniculitis, diamond skin disease and slow-healing ulcers and abscesses. Aeremonas spp., Mycobacterium marinum, Pseudomonas spp. and Vibrio spp. are normally present in the marine environment while Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae and Streptococcus iniae are fish pathogens that may also infect captive dolphins. Most seem to be opportunistic pathogens, exploiting some break-down in the host’s defenses to initiate an infection. Selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria through the prophylactic use of antibiotics in aquaculture is suggested to be a growing problem in South America and may account for the emergence of unusual cutaneous conditions. At least four groups of fungi i.e. Candida albicans, Fusarium spp., Trichophyton spp. and Lacazia loboi cause skin diseases. Candidiasis occurs predominantly in captive odontocetes. The lesions are often localized around the body orifices and may become extensive, granulating and ulcerated. Fusariosis is characterized by firm, erythematous, cutaneous nodules. Trichophyton spp. was isolated from widespread superficial nodules in an Atlantic T. truncates kept in captivity in Japan. Lobomycosis or lacaziosis is distinguished by grayish, whitish to slightly pink, verrucuous lesions, often in pronounced relief that may ulcerate. While initially described only in Tursiops truncates and Sotalia guianensis from the Americas, lobomycosis seems to be expanding to other continents. The role of ballast water in transporting fungi worldwide should be investigated. Finally, ciliated protozoans, likely Kyaroikeus cetarius, caused invasive dermatitis in small cetaceans from the USA and Korea. The aquatic environment of cetaceans is naturally home to bacteria and fungi but cetacean skin has several mechanisms to impede invasion. Chemical contaminants may affect natural skin barriers and depress the immune system. Wounds and specific viral infection (poxvirus, herpesvirus) may provide routes of entry