Leptin Prevents Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Depressive-Like Behaviors in Mice: Involvement of Dopamine Receptors

Depression is a chronic and recurrent disorder, associated with high morbidity and risk of suicide. Leptin was firstly described as an anti-obesity hormone, but several actions of leptin in CNS have been reported. In fact, leptin regulates dopaminergic neurotransmission in mesolimbic areas and has antidepressant-like properties in stress-based models. In the present study, we investigated, for the first time, putative antidepressant-like effects of leptin in an animal model of depressive-like behaviors induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the potential involvement of dopamine receptors as mediators of those behavioral effects. Mice were injected leptin (1.5 mg/kg, IP) or imipramine prior to LPS administration. To evaluate the involvement of dopamine receptors, different experimental groups were pretreated with either the dopaminergic antagonist SCH23390, for D1 receptors or raclopride, for D2/D3 receptors, prior to leptin injection. Twenty-four hours post-LPS, mice were submitted to the forced swimming and sucrose preference tests. In addition, IL-1β levels were determined in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus and striatum. BDNF levels were measured in the hippocampus. Our results showed that leptin, similarly to imipramine, prevented the core behavioral alterations induced by LPS (despair-like behavior and anhedonia), without altering locomotion. In neurochemical analysis, leptin restored LPS-induced changes in IL-1β levels in the PFC and striatum, and increased BDNF levels in the hippocampus. The blockade of dopamine D1 and D2/D3 receptors inhibited leptin's antidepressant-like effects, whilst only the blockade of D1-like receptors blunted leptin-induced increments in prefrontal IL-1β levels. Our results indicate that leptin has antidepressant-like effects in an inflammatory model of depression with the contribution, at least partial, of dopamine receptors

Medidas de prevenção e controle de infecções neonatais: opinião da equipe de enfermagem

El objetivo de este artículo es conocer la opinión del equipo de enfermería acerca de las medidas de prevención y control de infecciones neonatales en los recién nacidos. Estudio descriptivo, llevado a cabo en una unidad neonatal de Fortaleza-CE, Brasil, de junio a octubre/2009. La muestra estuvo conformada por cincuenta y dos (52) profesionales del equipo de enfermería y para recoger datos se aplicó un cuestionario. Se verificó que el lavado de las manos fue mencionado por 48 (92,3%) de los profesionales como algo eficaz para la prevención de infección, seguido por el uso de equipo de protección personal 21 (40,23QI¡-,). La punción venosa fue citada por 45 (86,5%) como riesgo de infección. El equipo de enfermería demostró conocimiento suficiente acerca del asunto planteado

Epidemiological aspects of accidents by poisony animals in Northeast Brazil / Aspectos epidemiológicos dos acidentes por animais peçonhentos no nordeste brasileiro: Emergências; Animais venenosos; Estudos epidemiológicos; Epidemiologia.

Objective: to analyze the epidemiological aspects of accidents by venomous animals in Northeastern Brazil. Method: descriptive, retrospective study, constructed from secondary data available on the website of the Department of Informatics of the Brazilian Unified Health System regarding cases of accidents with venomous animals in the period from 2015 to 2019. Results: it was noticed that between 2015 and 2019 there was an average percentage increase of 74.25% in cases, with approximately 4 thousand accidents involving venomous animals per month. As for the sociodemographic aspects, there was a predominance of females (51.35%), browns (62.51%), aged 20-59 years (57.5%). In addition, in the clinical aspects of accidents, there is a higher occurrence of accidents with scorpions (72.70%). Conclusion: we see the importance of analyzing epidemiological aspects in order to support health promotion, protection and management actions.Objetivo: analizar los aspectos epidemiológicos de los accidentes por animales venenosos en el noreste de Brasil. Método: estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo, construido a partir de datos secundarios disponibles en el sitio web del Departamento de Informática del Sistema Único de Salud de Brasil sobre los casos de accidentes con animales venenosos en el período de 2015 a 2019. Resultados: se notó que entre 2015 y 2019 fue un aumento porcentual promedio de 74,25% en los casos, con aproximadamente 4 mil accidentes con animales venenosos por mes. En cuanto a los aspectos sociodemográficos, hubo predominio del sexo femenino (51,35%), marrones (62,51%), de 20 a 59 años (57,5%). Además, en los aspectos clínicos de los accidentes, hay una mayor ocurrencia de accidentes con escorpiones (72,70%). Conclusión: vemos la importancia de analizar los aspectos epidemiológicos para apoyar las acciones de promoción, protección y gestión de la salud.Objetivo: analisar os aspectos epidemiológicos dos acidentes por animais peçonhentos no Nordeste do Brasil. Método: estudo descritivo, retrospectivo, construído a partir de dados secundários disponíveis no portal do Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde do Brasil referente aos casos de acidentes com animais peçonhentos no período de 2015 a 2019. Resultados: percebeu-se que entre 2015 e 2019 houve um crescimento percentual médio de 74,25% nos casos, sendo registrado cerca de 4 mil acidentes com animais peçonhentos por mês. Quanto aos aspectos sociodemográficos, predominou o sexo feminino (51,35%), pardos (62,51%), com faixa etária de 20-59 anos (57,5%). Além disso, nos aspectos clínicos dos acidentes, nota-se a maior ocorrência de acidentes com escorpiões (72,70%). Conclusão: vê-se a importância em analisar aspectos epidemiológicos a fim de subsidiar ações de promoção, proteção e gestão em saúde.

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved