Laboratory Animal Models for Brucellosis Research

Brucellosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by Brucella spp., a Gram-negative facultative intracellular pathogen that affects humans and animals, leading to significant impact on public health and animal industry. Human brucellosis is considered the most prevalent bacterial zoonosis in the world and is characterized by fever, weight loss, depression, hepato/splenomegaly, osteoarticular, and genital infections. Relevant aspects of Brucella pathogenesis have been intensively investigated in culture cells and animal models. The mouse is the animal model more commonly used to study chronic infection caused by Brucella. This model is most frequently used to investigate specific pathogenic factors of Brucella spp., to characterize the host immune response, and to evaluate therapeutics and vaccines. Other animal species have been used as models for brucellosis including rats, guinea pigs, and monkeys. This paper discusses the murine and other laboratory animal models for human and animal brucellosis

Late recognition and illness severity are determinants of early death in severe septic patients

OBJECTIVE: To identify the independent variables associated with death within 4 days after the first sepsis-induced organ dysfunction. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, severe sepsis and septic shock patients were classified into 3 groups: Group 1, survivors; Group 2, late non-survivors; and Group 3, early non-survivors. Early death was defined as death occurring within 4 days after the first sepsis-induced organ dysfunction. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected and submitted to univariate and multinomial analyses. RESULTS: The study included 414 patients: 218 (52.7%) in Group 1, 165 (39.8%) in Group 2, and 31 (7.5%) in Group 3. A multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that age, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment score after the first 24 hours, nosocomial infection, hepatic dysfunction, and the time elapsed between the onset of organ dysfunction and the sepsis diagnosis were associated with early mortality. In contrast, Black race and a source of infection other than the urinary tract were associated with late death. Among the non-survivors, early death was associated with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, chronic renal failure, hepatic dysfunction Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment score after 24 hours, and the duration of organ dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Factors related to patients' intrinsic characteristics and disease severity as well as the promptness of sepsis recognition are associated with early death among severe septic patients.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao PauloFederal University of São Paulo Department of Anesthesiology Pain and Critical CareLatin American Sepsis InstituteFederal University of São Paulo Department of Infectious DiseasesSírio Libanês Hospital Intensive Care UnitHospital Israelita Albert Einstein Intensive Care UnitUNIFESP, Department of Anesthesiology Pain and Critical CareUNIFESP, Department of Infectious DiseasesSciEL

Late recognition and illness severity are determinants of early death in severe septic patients

OBJECTIVE: To identify the independent variables associated with death within 4 days after the first sepsis-induced organ dysfunction. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, severe sepsis and septic shock patients were classified into 3 groups: Group 1, survivors; Group 2, late non-survivors; and Group 3, early non-survivors. Early death was defined as death occurring within 4 days after the first sepsis-induced organ dysfunction. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected and submitted to univariate and multinomial analyses. RESULTS: The study included 414 patients: 218 (52.7%) in Group 1, 165 (39.8%) in Group 2, and 31 (7.5%) in Group 3. A multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that age, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment score after the first 24 hours, nosocomial infection, hepatic dysfunction, and the time elapsed between the onset of organ dysfunction and the sepsis diagnosis were associated with early mortality. In contrast, Black race and a source of infection other than the urinary tract were associated with late death. Among the non-survivors, early death was associated with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, chronic renal failure, hepatic dysfunction Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment score after 24 hours, and the duration of organ dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Factors related to patients' intrinsic characteristics and disease severity as well as the promptness of sepsis recognition are associated with early death among severe septic patients

OS MEIOS DE COMUNICAÇÃO PRESENTE NOS PROCESSOS DA TUTORIA DE UM CURSO A DISTÂNCIA

A transformação tecnológica está pautada à aplicação de recursos educacionais na educação a distância (EAD) como veículo para alcançar novos públicos e desenvolver novas metodologias de ensino que possam ser aproveitadas como mecanismo complementar ou integrante do ensino presencial. A partir de uma ampla revisão bibliográfica, abrangendo autores contemporâneos e tradicionais no campo da literatura de EAD, como Belloni (2003), Aretio (2002), Moore e Kearsley (1996), este ensaio teórico busca demonstrar quais os meios de comunicação presente nos processos de tutoria de um curso a distância. Foram utilizados de dois tipos de pesquisa: a bibliográfica e a descritiva. Ao término do estudo, foi traçado a forma e a diversidade desses processos aplicadas à educação a distância

New Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Therapeutic Strategies Based on the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/Angiotensin-(1–7)/Mas Receptor Axis

Angiotensin (Ang)-(1–7) is now recognized as a biologically active component of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). The discovery of the angiotensin-converting enzyme homologue ACE2 revealed important metabolic pathways involved in the Ang-(1–7) synthesis. This enzyme can form Ang-(1–7) from Ang II or less efficiently through hydrolysis of Ang I to Ang-(1–9) with subsequent Ang-(1–7) formation. Additionally, it is well established that the G protein-coupled receptor Mas is a functional ligand site for Ang-(1–7). The axis formed by ACE2/Ang-(1–7)/Mas represents an endogenous counter regulatory pathway within the RAS whose actions are opposite to the vasoconstrictor/proliferative arm of the RAS constituted by ACE/Ang II/AT1 receptor. In this review we will discuss recent findings concerning the biological role of the ACE2/Ang-(1–7)/Mas arm in the cardiovascular and pulmonary system. Also, we will highlight the initiatives to develop potential therapeutic strategies based on this axis

Food restriction in Nile tilapia juveniles (Oreochromis niloticus)

Aim of study: To evaluate if dietary restriction influence muscle and intestinal morphology as well as the production performance of juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).Area of study: State University of Western Paraná (Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná – Unioeste), Toledo Campus, Brazil.Material and methods: The experimental design was completely randomized with four treatments and five replicates. The treatments were: 7:0 (fed daily; control); 6:1 (fed 6 consecutive days followed by 1 day of fasting); 5:2 (fed 5 consecutive days followed by 2 days of fasting); and 1:1 (fed 1 day followed by 1 day of fasting). A commercial ration with 33.70% crude protein and 4.60% lipid was used, and fish were fed four times daily until apparent satiety for 60 days.Main results: The following parameters were found to have differences among treatments (p<0.05): final weight, weight gain, final length, hepatosomatic index, visceral fat, intestinal quotient, protein efficiency rate, protein retention, ash, and frequency of muscle fiber diameters within the classes of<20 μm and between 20 and 50 μm. The intestinal villi height and hepatic glycogen content did not differ (p>0.05) among treatments. The cost of food and partial net revenue were higher in the 7:0 treatment compared to the experimental treatments.Research highlights: Dietary restriction for Nile tilapia in the juvenile phase negatively influences productive performance, centesimal composition, and muscle growth, which demonstrates that this practice is economically unfeasible for commercial production

Low bone mineral density among HIV-infected patients in Brazil

Decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) has been a complication among people living with HIV/AIDS. To investigate the prevalence of osteopenia/osteoporosis among HIV-infected people living in São Paulo city, we studied 108 HIV-infected patients (79 men and 29 women). We extracted data from patients’ medical records and BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Median age of participants was 42 years (interquartile range [IQR] 36-48 years), and the median time since HIV diagnosis was 4.01 years (IQR 2-11 years). Patients had acquired HIV primarily by the sexual route (men who have sex with men 44%, heterosexual 49%). Median age, duration of HIV infection, duration of ART and CD4 nadir were similar for men and women. Plasma viral load was undetectable for 53 patients (49%). Median CD4 T cell count was 399 cells/µL (IQR 247 - 568). Twenty five patients (23%) had LBMD, and there was no statistically significant difference between men and women

Distributions and phylogeographic data of rheophilic freshwater fishes provide evidences on the geographic extension of a central-brazilian amazonian palaeoplateau in the area of the present day Pantanal Wetland

The analysis of the distribution patterns presented by examples of freshwater fishes restricted to headwater habitat: the anostomid Leporinus octomaculatus, the characins Jubiaba acanthogaster, Oligosarcus perdido, Moenkhausia cosmops, Knodus chapadae, Planaltina sp., the loricariid Hypostomus cochliodon, and the auchenipterid Centromochlus sp. provided evidences of a relatively recent shared history between the highlands of the upper rio Paraguay and adjoining upland drainage basins. Restricted to headwater of the uplands in the upper rio Paraguay and adjoining basins, these species provide biological evidence of the former extension of the central Brazilian plateau before the origin of the Pantanal Wetland. Disjunction took place due to an ecological barrier to these rheophilic taxa represented tectonic subsidence related to the origin of the Pantanal Wetland. Molecular analysis of Jubiaba acanthogaster revealed that the sample from the upper rio Xingu basin are the sister-group of a clade that includes samples from the upper rio Arinos (upper rio Tapajós) plus the upper rio Paraguay basin, supporting the assumption that the origin of the upper rio Paraguay basin causing vicariance between this basin and the upper rio Tapajós is the least vicariant event in the evolutionary history of the group.A análise do padrão de distribuição apresentado por exemplos de peixes de água doce neotropicais restritos à habitats reofílicos de cabeceira: o anostomídeo Leporinus octomaculatus, os caracídeos Jubiaba acanthogaster, Oligosarcus perdido, Moenkhausia cosmops, Knodus chapadae, Planaltina sp., o loricariídeo Hypostomus cochliodon e o auquenipterídeo Centromochlus sp. fornecem evidências de uma história compartilhada relativamente recente entre as terras altas do alto rio Paraguai e bacias de terras altas vizinhas. Restritas às cabeceiras das áreas altas nas bacias do alto rio Paraguai e bacias vizinhas, estas espécies fornecem evidências biológicas da pretérita extensão do Planalto Central Brasileiro anteriormente a origem tectônica da planície alagável do Pantanal. Disjunções ocorreram devido a barreira ecológica para estes taxons reofílicos representada pela subsidência tectônica associada à origem do Pantanal. A análise molecular de Jupiaba acanthogaster revelou que amostras da bacia do alto rio Xingu consistem no grupo-irmão de um clado mais inclusivo que inclui amostras do alto rio Arinos (alto rio Tapajós) mais o alto rio Paraguai, suportando a suposição de que a origem do alto rio Paraguai causou vicariância entre esta bacia e o alto rio Tapajós no último evento vicariante na história evolutiva do grupo.31932

Bulas de medicamentos e a informação adequada ao paciente

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the adequacy of the content and format of the patient information section in package inserts of commonly prescribed drugs at the internal medicine service of a school hospital. METHODS: Forty eight package inserts were collected from six pharmacies of the city of Porto Alegre in June 1998. The presence of mandatory notification and other information required by Brazilian laws that regulate inserts content was examined. RESULTS: No one package inserts contained all the notification required by law. Warnings about medication storage and expiration date were the most frequently information found in package inserts analyzed. CONCLUSION: Important information for the drug user was not presented in package inserts analyzed, limiting the purpose of inserts as an instrument for patient education.OBJETIVO: Avaliar a adequação da forma e conteúdo da seção de "informações ao paciente" das bulas de medicamentos, freqüentemente prescritos no ambulatório de medicina interna de um hospital universitário. MÉTODOS: Foram selecionadas 48 bulas disponíveis em três redes de farmácia e três farmácias de pequeno porte de Porto Alegre, em junho de 1998. Por meio de um formulário, foi verificada a presença de frases de formato padronizado e outras informações exigidas pela Portaria 110, que regulamenta o conteúdo das bulas de medicamentos. RESULTADOS: Em nenhuma das bulas analisadas foi verificada a presença de todas as frases e demais informações exigidas pela legislação. Cuidados com o armazenamento e com o prazo de validade dos medicamentos foram as informações mais freqüentemente apresentadas nas bulas analisadas. CONCLUSÕES: Ausência de informações importantes para o usuário, sobre o medicamento nas bulas, reduz o seu valor enquanto material educativo para o paciente