Ocular experimental leishmaniasis in C57BL/10 and BALB/c mice induced by Leishmania amazonensis infection

AbstractThere are few studies on human ocular leishmaniasis found in the literature. The purpose of this study was to describe experimental ocular leishmaniasis, caused by Leishmania amazonensis evaluating two different infection routes: intravitreal and instillation in C57BL/10 and BALB/c mice. In this work all animals presented low anti-Leishmania IgM and IgG titers regardless of the infection route or mouse strain. The histopathological eye analysis showed that the mice inoculated by the intravitreal route developed more severe lesions, presenting parasites in the anterior region of the eye 60days after infection. The C57BL/10 mice presented cells containing parasitophorous vacuoles associated with pigmented cells and inflammatory infiltrate, which included mast cells. Ninety days after infection no parasites could be found in either mouse strain, which led us to hypothesize that parasites had been eliminated. In this context, we show that both intravitreal and instillation routes were effective in promoting ocular leishmaniasis infections in C57BL/10 and BALB/c mice. There were no differences in the parasite infection between the two mouse models and it mimicked the ocular lesions described in symptomatic dogs in endemic areas of visceral leishmaniasis

Laryngeal Vocal And Endoscopic Alterations After Thyroidectomy Under Local Anesthesia And Hypnosedation

Vocal alterations after thyroidectomy are generally related to laryngeal nerve injury or laryngotracheal mobility disorders caused by postoperative fibrosis or strap muscle lesion. Aim: this study aims to evaluate the frequency of vocal and rima glottidis disorders after thyroidectomy. Materials and method: This is a prospective study based on 35 patients submitted to thyroidectomy under local anesthesia and hypnosedation. All patients underwent voice auditory perception evaluation, voice acoustic tests and videolaryngostroboscopy preoperatively, and at one week and at 30 days postoperatively. Bilateral cricothyroid muscle electromyography was performed on the thirtieth day after surgery to confirm the presence of injury in the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve. Results: 14.3% of the patients presented posterior glottis deviation before surgery and normal electromyography findings. Transient and permanent vocal alteration occurred in 25.7% and 14.2% of the patients respectively. Conclusion: voice disorders evaluated after voice auditory perceptive evaluation and voice acoustic tests were more intense in the group with superior laryngeal nerve external branch injury than in the injury-free dysphonic patient group. Oblique glottis can be present in normal patients; however its onset after thyroidectomy is indicative of superior laryngeal nerve external branch lesion. © Revista Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia. All Rights reserved.754511516Fernandez, F.H., Cervical block anesthesia in thyroidectomy (1984) Int Surg, 69, pp. 309-311Hochman, M., Fee Jr., W.E., Thyroidectomy under local anesthesia (1991) Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 117, pp. 405-407Lo Gerfo, P., Ditkoff, B.A., Chabot, J., Feind, C., Thyroid surgery using monitored anesthesia care: An alternative to general anesthesia (1994) Thyroid, 4, pp. 437-439Sinagra, D.L., Montesinos, M.R., Tacchi, V.A., Moreno, J.C., Falco, J.E., Mezzadri, N.A., Debonis, D.L., Curutchet, H.P., Voice changes after thyroidectomy without recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (2004) Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 199 (4), pp. 556-560. , DOI 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2004.06.020, PII S1072751504009342Vellar, I.D., Thomas Peel Dunhill: Pioneer thyroid surgeon (1990) ANZ J Surg, 69, pp. 375-387Hisham, A., Richard, B., Reeve, T., Delbridge, L., Recognition of the avascular space medial to the upper pole of the thyroid and its surgical implications (2000) J Surg, 23 (1), pp. 86-89Lore, J.M., Kokocharov, S.I., Richmond, A., Kaufman, S., Sundquist, N., Thirty-eight-year evaluation of a surgical technique to protect the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve during thyroidectomy (1998) Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology, 107 (12), pp. 1015-1022Carrara De Angelis, E., Netto, I.P., Fae, A., Vartanian, J.G., Barros, A.P.B., Correia, L.M., Toledo, R.N., Voice and vocal self-assessment after thyroidectomy (2006) Head & Neck, pp. 1106-1114Stojadinovic, A., Shaha, A.R., Orlikoff, R.F., Nissan, A., Kornak, M.-F., Singh, B., Boyle, J.O., Kraus, D.H., Prospective functional voice assessment in patients undergoing thyroid surgery (2002) Annals of Surgery, 236 (6), pp. 823-832. , DOI 10.1097/00000658-200212000-00015Robinson, J.L., Mandel, S., Sataloff, R.T., Objective voice measures in nonsinging patients with unilateral superior laryngeal nerve paresis (2005) Journal of Voice, 19 (4), pp. 665-667. , DOI 10.1016/j.jvoice.2005.04.001, PII S0892199705000408Hong, K.H., Kim, Y.K., Phonatory characteristics of patients undergoing thyroidectomy without laryngeal nerve injury (1997) Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 117, pp. 399-404Arnold, G.E., Physiology and pathology of the cricothyroid muscle (1961) Laryngoscope, 71, pp. 687-753Dedo, H.H., The paralysed larynx: An electromyographic study in dogs and humans (1970) Laryngoscope, 80, pp. 1455-1517Faaborg-Andersen, K., Jensen, A.M., Unilateral paralysis of the superior laryngeal nerve (1964) Acta Otolaryngolol, 57, pp. 155-159Ward, P.H., Berci, G., Calcaterra, T.C., Superior laryngeal nerve paralysis: An often overlooked entity (1977) Transactions of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, 84 (1), pp. ORL-78-89Adour, K.K., Schneider, G.D., Hilsinger, R.L., Acute superior laryngeal nerve palsy: Analysis of 78 cases (1980) Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 88, pp. 418-424Bevan, K., Griffiths, M.V., Morgan, M.H., Cricothyroid muscle paralysis: Its recognition and diagnosis (1989) Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 103 (2), pp. 191-195Jansson, S., Tisell, L.-E., Hagne, I., Sanner, E., Stenborg, R., Svensson, P., Partial superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) lesions before and after thyroid surgery (1988) World Journal of Surgery, 12 (4), pp. 522-527. , DOI 10.1007/BF0165543

Melanoma Ganglionic Metastasis 30 Years After Treatment Of The Primary Tumor--a Case Report.

The recurrence of melanoma in patients is well-documented, and is dependent on a number of factors. We report a case in which a patient had a case of ganglionar metastasis in the neck after a 30-year disease-free interval following primary treatment.11421131113

Impact of the urbanisation process in the availability of ecosystem services in a tropical ecotone area

Urbanisation has been a main cause of land use land cover (LULC) change worldwide, often with irreparable consequences to the provision of ecosystem services. Despite an increase in quantitative assessments of ecosystem services value (ESV) related to LULC changes, data are scarce for ecotones, such as the agreste in northeast Brazil (a transitional area between the Atlantic Forest and the Caatinga biomes). The benefit transfer method was used to quantify changes in ESV between 1989, 2007 and 2014 due to urbanisation in the microwatershed Riacho das Piabas (3,660 ha) in the agreste of Paraíba. Remote sensing techniques and geographic information system were used to quantify LULC changes. Loss of arboreal vegetation (covering 46% of the study area in 1989 and 5% in 2014) was the key factor driving the 73.2% decline in the total ESV (from US$13.7 million to US$ 3.7 million in 2017 values). LULC changes resulted in losses of 89% in the estimated value of eight ecosystem services, including climate regulation, water flow regulation, moderation of disturbance, nutrient cycling and biological control, which are critical locally when considering the regional trend towards aridification and the existing pressures on water resources. Ecosystem functions loss and climate change impacts may lead to a shift in ecotone boundaries favouring the semiarid Caatinga vegetation. These results urge the implementation of ecosystem-based spatial planning, focusing on urban green infrastructure and restoration of natural habitats and their connectivity, to prevent further ecosystem services losses. Local estimates of ESV required to inform the suggested policy actions are identified

Nongenotoxic Effects And A Reduction Of The Dxr-induced Genotoxic Effects Of Helianthus Annuus Linné (sunflower) Seeds Revealed By Micronucleus Assays In Mouse Bone Marrow

Background: This research evaluated the genotoxicity of oil and tincture of H. annuus L. seeds using the micronucleus assay in bone marrow of mice. The interaction between these preparations and the genotoxic effects of doxorubicin (DXR) was also analysed (antigenotoxicity test) .Methods: Experimental groups were evaluated at 24-48 h post treatment with N-Nitroso-N-ethylurea (positive control - NEU), DXR (chemotherapeutic), NaCl (negative control), a sunflower tincture (THALS) and two sources of sunflower oils (POHALS and FOHALS). Antigenotoxic assays were carried out using the sunflower tincture and oils separately and in combination with NUE or DXR. Results: For THALS, analysis of the MNPCEs showed no significant differences between treatment doses (250-2,000 mg.Kg-1) and NaCl. A significant reduction in MNPCE was observed when THALS (2,000 mg.Kg-1) was administered in combination with DXR (5 mg.Kg-1). For POHALS or FOHALS, analysis of the MNPCEs also showed no significant differences between treatment doses (250-2,000 mg.Kg-1) and NaCl. However, the combination DXR + POHALS (2,000 mg.Kg-1) or DXR + FOHALS (2,000 mg.Kg-1) not contributed to the MNPCEs reduction. Conclusions: This research suggests absence of genotoxicity of THALS, dose-, time- and sex-independent, and its combination with DXR can reduce the genotoxic effects of DXR. POHALS and FOHALS also showed absence of genotoxicity, but their association with DXR showed no antigenotoxic effects. © 2014 Boriollo et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.14Sunflowers: Helianthus (Compositae-Heliantheae) (1976) Evolution of Crop Plants, pp. 36-38. , London: Longmans Green, Simmonds NW, Heiser CBEarle, F.R., Vanetten, C.H., Clark, T.F., Wolff, I.A., Compositional data on sunflower seed (1968) J Am Oil Chem Soc, 45, pp. 876-879Salunkhe, D.K., Chavan, J.K., Adsule, R.N., Kadam, S.S., World Oilseeds: Chemistry, Technology and Utilization (1992) Sunflower, , New York: Van Nostrand ReinholdGonzáles-Pérez, S., Vereijken, J.M., Sunflower proteins: Overview of their physicochemical, structural and functional properties (2007) J Sci Food Agric, 87, pp. 2173-2191Warner, K.A., Mounts, T.L., List, G.V.R., Effects of added tocopherols on the flavor stability of purified vegetable oils (1990) Inform, 1, p. 326Ito, T., Tamura, T., Matsumoto, T., Sterol Composition of 19 vegetable oils (1973) J Am Oil Chem Soc, 50, pp. 122-125. , 10.1007/BF02633564, 4707293Trost, V.W., Characterization of corn oil, soybean oil and sunflower oil nonpolar material (1989) J Am Oil Chem Soc, 66, pp. 325-333Dupont, H.L., Sullivan, P., Evans, D.G., Vollet, J.J., Ericsson, C.D., Ackerman, P.B., Tjoa, W.S., Prevention of traveler's diarrhea (emporiatric enteritis). 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(2006) Methods Mol Biol, 343, pp. 291-297Heo, J.C., Woo, S.U.K., Kweon, M.A., Park, J.Y., Lee, H.K., Son, M., Rho, J.R., Lee, S.H., Aqueous extract of the Helianthus annuus seed alleviates asthmatic symptoms in vivo (2008) Int J Mol Med Chem, 21, pp. 57-61Cardoso, C.C., Rodrigues, K.L., Pichara, N.L., Dall'Aglio, R., Fiorini, J.E., Fraschini, F., Diana, G.M., Carvalho, J.C.T., Olio di girasole ozonizzato associate ad acido α-lipoico e a lattobacilli: studio pre-clinico dell'azione antiulcerosa, antinfiammatoria e antibatterica (2004) Farmaci, 28, pp. 97-110Ricardo, G.A., Zullyt, Z.R., Yilian, L., Hernández, F., Menéndez, S., Efecto del OLEOZON® frente a lesiones gástricas inducidas por indometacina en ratas (Effect of OLEOZON® on gastric lesions induced by indomethacin in rats) (2007) Revista electrónica de Veterinaria, 8, pp. 1-6Rodrigues, K.L., Cardoso, C.C., Caputo, L.R., Carvalho, J.C., Fiorini, J.E., Schneedorf, J.M., Cicatrizing and antimicrobial properties of an ozonised oil 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Higher prevalence of major depressive symptoms in Brazilians aged 14 and older

Objective: Depression is a highly prevalent condition and is considered a major public health issue. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in the Brazilian population and establish their sociodemographic correlates. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2005 and April 2006. Data were collected in face-to-face interviews using a standardized questionnaire. The sample consisted of 3,007 interviews with individuals aged 14 years and older and followed a probabilistic design covering the Brazilian national territory. Depressive symptoms were assessed according to the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Results: The observed prevalence of depressive symptoms was 28.3% (13% mild/moderate; 15.3% major/severe; p < 0.01). Increased depressive symptom rates were associated with being a female, being 45 years of age and older, having lower educational attainment, being single, having family income of up to 2.5 times minimum wage, and living in the northern region of Brazil (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The prevalence of depressive symptoms in Brazil is high, with major depressive symptoms being the most frequent form of this symptomatology. Considering the biopsychosocial model of mental disorders, this survey points to the involvement of psychosocial factors in the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Brazil.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Department of PsychiatryUniversidade de São Paulo (USP) Ribeirao Preto Medical School Department of Neuroscience and BehaviorNational Science and Technology Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM)USP Ribeirao Preto Medical School Department of Social MedicineUniversidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) Department of PsychiatryUniversity of Texas School of Public Health Dallas Regional CampusUNIFESP, Department of PsychiatrySciEL

Mudanças espaço temporal da disponibilidade de serviços ecossistêmicos em uma microbacia hidrográfica do nordeste brasileiro. Spatial and temporal changes of the ecosystem services availability in a microwatershed in Northeast Brazil.

A mudança no uso e ocupação da terra altera a dinâmica de ecossistemas e afeta a provisão de serviços ecossistêmicos, que são a base para a manutenção da vida e do bem-estar físico, mental e espiritual humano. Nesse contexto, o estabelecimento humano em países em desenvolvimento ocorreu, de modo geral, de forma desordenada e sem planejamento, ocasionando deterioração ambiental. No nordeste brasileiro, onde o recurso hídrico é escasso, as aglomerações humanas tendem a ocorrer próximas à rede hídrica, elevando a pressão antrópica sobre esse recurso. Este trabalho analisa as alterações na provisão de serviços ecossistêmicos na Microbacia Hidrográfica Riacho das Piabas, Paraíba, Brasil, associadas a mudanças do uso e ocupação da terra entre os anos de 1989, 2007 e 2014. Mudanças no uso e ocupação da terra foram identificadas e quantificadas por meio de técnicas de sensoriamento remoto e sistema de informação geográfica. Os serviços ecossistêmicos foram analisados por meio de média de valor monetário estimado de serviço ecossistêmico (VSE) disponível na literatura, utilizando o método de transferência de benefício. Em 1989, o valor total de serviço ecossistêmico foi estimado em US$7,18 milhões, reduzindo para US$ 3,73 milhões em 2007 e US$ 2,72 milhões em 2014. Houve aumento de 115% de área construída entre 1989 e 2014, resultando em redução de serviços ecossistêmicos de 62% entre os anos de 1989 e 2014. O declínio do VSE reflete o impacto negativo do processo de urbanização na manutenção de serviços ecossistêmicos, sobretudo os ofertados pela vegetação. A categoria vegetação arbórea foi a mais valiosa para a área de estudo, disponibilizando maior número de funções ecossistêmicas com alto VSE. Entretanto, foi a categoria que mais perdeu área ao longo dos anos. Portanto, é fundamental planejar, criar e manter áreas verdes para minorar os impactos do processo de urbanização na provisão de serviços ecossistêmicos

Reversal of chronic stress-induced pain by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in an animal model

AbstractTranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been suggested as a therapeutic tool for pain syndromes. Although initial results in human subjects are encouraging, it still remains unclear whether the effects of tDCS can reverse maladaptive plasticity associated with chronic pain. To investigate this question, we tested whether tDCS can reverse the specific behavioral effects of chronic stress in the pain system, and also those indexed by corticosterone and interleukin-1β levels in serum and TNFα levels in the hippocampus, in a well-controlled rat model of chronic restraint stress (CRS). Forty-one adult male Wistar rats were divided into two groups control and stress. The stress group was exposed to CRS for 11 weeks for the establishment of hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia as shown by the hot plate and von Frey tests, respectively. Rats were then divided into four groups control, stress, stress+sham tDCS and stress+tDCS. Anodal or sham tDCS was applied for 20min/day over 8 days and the tests were repeated. Then, the animals were killed, blood collected and hippocampus removed for ELISA testing. This model of CRS proved effective to induce chronic pain, as the animals exhibited hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia. The hot plate test showed an analgesic effect, and the von Frey test, an anti-allodynic effect after the last tDCS session, and there was a significant decrease in hippocampal TNFα levels. These results support the notion that tDCS reverses the detrimental effects of chronic stress on the pain system and decreases TNFα levels in the hippocampus

Avaliação da depleção linfóide folicular da Bursa de Fabricius: uma metodologia alternativa utilizando análise digital de imagem e redes neurais artificiais

Fifty Bursa of Fabricius (BF) were examined by conventional optical microscopy and digital images were acquired and processed using Matlab® 6.5 software. The Artificial Neuronal Network (ANN) was generated using Neuroshell® Classifier software and the optical and digital data were compared. The ANN was able to make a comparable classification of digital and optical scores. The use of ANN was able to classify correctly the majority of the follicles, reaching sensibility and specificity of 89% and 96%, respectively. When the follicles were scored and grouped in a binary fashion the sensibility increased to 90% and obtained the maximum value for the specificity of 92%. These results demonstrate that the use of digital image analysis and ANN is a useful tool for the pathological classification of the BF lymphoid depletion. In addition it provides objective results that allow measuring the dimension of the error in the diagnosis and classification therefore making comparison between databases feasible.Cinquenta Bursa de Fabrícius (BF) foram examinadas através de microscopia óptica convencional e imagens digitais foram obtidas e processadas através do software Matlab® 6.5. Redes Neurais Artificiais (ANN) foram geradas com a utilização do software Neuroshell® Classifier, e os dados das análises óptica e digital foram comparados. A ANN classificou corretamente a maioria dos folículos, atingindo sensibilidade e especificidade de 89% e 96%, respectivamente. Quando os folículos foram agrupados de forma binária houve um aumento da sensibilidade para 90% e obteve-se um valor máximo para a especificidade de 92%. Estes resultados demonstram que o uso da análise digital de imagem associada à ANNé uma ferramenta bastante útil para a classificação patológica da depleção linfóide da BF. Além disso, fornece resultados objetivos que permitem medir a dimensão do erro classificatório, tornando possível a comparação entre distintos bancos de dados