Clinical presentation, diagnostic findings and outcome of dogs with presumptive spinal-only meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin

Objectives: To summarise clinical presentation, diagnostic findings and long-term outcome for dogs clinically diagnosed with meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin affecting the spinal cord alone. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for dogs diagnosed with presumptive spinal-only meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin between 2006 and 2015. Results: 21 dogs were included; the majority presented with an acute (43%) or chronic (52%) onset of neurological signs. Ambulatory paresis was the most common neurological presentation (67%). Neurological examination most commonly revealed a T3-L3 myelopathy, and spinal hyperaesthesia was a common finding (71%). A spinal cord lesion was visible in 90% of cases on magnetic resonance imaging. Eighteen lesions (86%) showed parenchymal contrast enhancement and 17 lesions (81%) showed contrast enhancement of overlying meninges. All dogs were treated with immunosuppressive doses of glucocorticosteroids, sometimes combined with cytosine arabinoside. At time of data capture, 10/21 dogs (48%) had died or been euthanased because of the condition. Overall median survival time was 669 days. Clinical Significance: Meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin should be considered in the differential diagnosis of dogs presenting with a progressive myelopathy. Magnetic resonance imaging features can possibly help to distinguish presumptive meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin from other more common spinal diseases. Overall, long-term survival is guarded, approximately 50% of dogs will die or be euthanased despite appropriate therapy

Deletion of ameloblastin exon 6 is associated with amelogenesis imperfecta

Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) describes a heterogeneous group of inherited dental enamel defects reflecting failure of normal amelogenesis. Ameloblastin (AMBN) is the second most abundant enamel matrix protein expressed during amelogenesis. The pivotal role of AMBN in amelogenesis has been confirmed experimentally using mouse models. However, no AMBN mutations have been associated with human AI. Using autozygosity mapping and exome sequencing, we identified genomic deletion of AMBN exon 6 in a second cousin consanguineous family with three of the six children having hypoplastic AI. The genomic deletion corresponds to an in-frame deletion of 79 amino acids, shortening the protein from 447 to 368 residues. Exfoliated primary teeth (unmatched to genotype) were available from family members. The most severely affected had thin, aprismatic enamel (similar to that reported in mice homozygous for Ambn lacking exons 5 and 6). Other teeth exhibited thicker but largely aprismatic enamel. One tooth had apparently normal enamel. It has been suggested that AMBN may function in bone development. No clinically obvious bone or other co-segregating health problems were identified in the family investigated. This study confirms for the first time that AMBN mutations cause non-syndromic human AI and that mouse models with disrupted Ambn function are valid

From ‘prison’ to ‘paradise’?:Seeking freedom at the rainforest frontier through urban-rural migration

The lives of the urban poor in the majority world are unfree: blighted by social injustice in its manifold forms, from violence and ill-health to absent economic opportunities. We explore the pursuit of freedom through migration away from the metropole to ramais (colonisation tracks) at the rainforest frontier. Drawing on a case study in Brazilian Amazonia, we reveal urban rural migration as a frontier dynamic driven by the search for a good life. We theorize freedom and the good life using the capabilities approach, starting from the observation that people in the ramais reported feeling better and asking why that is. We find that frontiers provide a safer environment, which fosters individual and collective capabilities. A lower risk of violence reduces fears around bodily integrity, pervasive in Latin American cities. This safety fosters freedom and dignity by reducing worries and anxieties, leading to improvements in emotional wellbeing. We understand this increased sense of freedom as enhanced agency, that is, empowerment. In addition to new forms of political activity and subjectivity, we report a flourishing of senses, imagination and affiliation with others. Inequalities are reduced, positively influencing dignity and self-worth. These new freedoms are threatened by lack of rights provisioning by the State, however. We recommend that the Brazilian state should address social and environmental dimensions of these new forest frontiers. The state should recognize and support these settlements as valid forms of development, because they so clearly contribute to human wellbeing and flourishing. The state should guide and assist livelihood and landscape management toward more ecological approaches such as agroecology and agroforestry, to mitigate deforestation risks typical of forest frontiers

SURVEY OF TOXIC PLANTS IN URBAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN THE CITY OF ALTAMIRA, PARÁ

As plantas tóxicas são indivíduos que apresentam substâncias químicas, que na maioria das vezes são causadoras de intoxicações, isso ocorre devido à insuficiência de conhecimento sobre esses vegetais, assim como pela utilização errônea em paisagismo nos mais diferentes ambientes, sendo um deles o espaço escolar, cuja presença de crianças é maior, e estas são as mais vulneráveis a tais acidentes. Com base neste contexto este trabalho objetivou a realização do levantamento de espécies tóxicas em escolas públicas de ensino fundamental da zona urbana do município de Altamira-Pará. Para isso, o estudo seguiu uma abordagem quali-quantitativa, realizada através de visitas in loco, no período de dezembro de 2013 a outubro de 2014. As espécies foram identificadas conforme o sistema de classificação Angiosperm Phylogeny Group III e posteriormente, foram calculados os índices de diversidade. Além disso, aplicou-se um formulário composto por perguntas objetivas e subjetivas relacionadas ao cultivo, aos conhecimentos e aos cuidados a respeito das espécies ornamentais tóxicas que foram encontradas nestas instituições. De 108 espécies ornamentais identificadas apenas 19, distribuídas em 9 famílias e 9 gêneros, são consideradas tóxicas, sendo que a família Araceae apresentou o maior número de espécies com 6 e 276 indivíduos. A escola, sendo um local que abriga crianças de diferentes idades deve preocupar-se em selecionar as espécies vegetais que serão inseridas neste ambiente, além de buscar informações a respeito destas, em caso de já estarem nestes locais.Palavras-chave: Espécies tóxicas, crianças, instituições urbanas, intoxicações. Toxic plants are individuals that have chemicals, which in most cases are causing poisoning, this is due to insufficient knowledge about these plants, as well as the erroneous use in landscaping in many different environments, one being their of the school environment, whose presence of children is greater, and these are the most vulnerable to such accidents. This study aimed to conduct the survey of toxic species in public elementary schools in the urban area of the city of Altamira, Pará. For this, the study followed a qualitative and quantitative approach, conducted through site visits, from December 2013 to October 2014. The species were identified according to the classification system Angiosperm Phylogeny Group III and, after, diversity indices were calculated. In addition, we applied a form composed of objective and subjective questions, related to cultivation, to knowledge and care about the toxic ornamental species that were found in these institutions. Of 108 species ornaments identified only 19, distributed in 9 families and 9 genera are considered toxic, and the Araceae family had the highest number of species 6 and 276 individuals.  The school, is a place that houses children of different ages should be concerned in selecting the plant species that will be inserted in this environment, and seek information about these, if they are already on these locations.Keywords: Toxic species; children; urban institutions; poisoning

The Spatial Properties of L- and M-Cone Inputs to Electroretinograms That Reflect Different Types of Post-Receptoral Processing

yesWe studied the spatial arrangement of L- and M-cone driven electroretinograms (ERGs) reflecting the activity of magno- and parvocellular pathways. L- and M-cone isolating sine wave stimuli were created with a four primary LED stimulator using triple silent substitution paradigms. Temporal frequencies were 8 and 12 Hz, to reflect cone opponent activity, and 30, 36 and 48 Hz to reflect luminance activity. The responses were measured for full-field stimuli and for different circular and annular stimuli. The ERG data confirm the presence of two different mechanisms at intermediate and high temporal frequencies. The responses measured at high temporal frequencies strongly depended upon spatial stimulus configuration. In the full-field conditions, the L-cone driven responses were substantially larger than the full-field M-cone driven responses and also than the L-cone driven responses with smaller stimuli. The M-cone driven responses at full-field and with 70° diameter stimuli displayed similar amplitudes. The L- and M-cone driven responses measured at 8 and 12 Hz were of similar amplitude and approximately in counter-phase. The amplitudes were constant for most stimulus configurations. The results indicate that, when the ERG reflects luminance activity, it is positively correlated with stimulus size. Beyond 35° retinal eccentricity, the retina mainly contains L-cones. Small stimuli are sufficient to obtain maximal ERGs at low temporal frequencies where the ERGs are also sensitive to cone-opponent processin

Action Ethnography on Care, Disability and Health Policy and Administration of Public Service for Women and Caretakers of Zika Virus Affected Children in Pernambuco, Brazil

In Brazil, the Zika epidemic, a national and public health emergency declared in 2015, and in effect until early 2016, caused severe neurological damage to over three thousand newborn children (3.179 confirmed cases up to the fifteenth week of 2018), of which, by the same date, 451 were from the state of Pernambuco. The newborn evidenced microcephaly at birth based originally on observations from Pernambuco and Paraíba, were discovered to be part of a still uncharted conjuncture of symptoms which came to be known as the Congenital Syndrome of Zika Virus (CSZV) mobilizing mothers and their networks, health and social service professionals and workers, and researchers from diverse disciplines to find ways to understand, treat, alleviate and prevent the Syndrome. Since March of 2017 we have continued our CNPq research (begun in October of 2016), reinforced and made more widely applicable with the Newton Instituional Links grant. Our research team accompanied daily therapeutic itineraries of mothers with Zika-effected children, and observed different institutional therapeutic spaces

Maturation-related adaptations in running speed in response to sprint training in youth soccer players

Objectives This study investigated the effects of a previously recommended dose of sprint training (ST) in young male soccer players of differing maturity status. Design Quasi-experimental design. Methods Male soccer players from two professional academies were divided into Pre-PHV (Training: n = 12; Control: n = 13) and Mid-PHV (Training: n = 7; Control = 10) groups. The training groups completed 16 sprints of 20 m with 90 seconds recovery, once per week. Results Between-group effect sizes (ES) were substantially larger in Pre-PHV (10 m [1.54, CI: 0.74 to 2.23]; 20 m [1.49, CI: 0.75 to 2.23]; 5-10-5 [0.92, CI: 0.23 to 1.61]) than in Mid-PHV (10 m [-0.00, CI: −0.81 to 0.81]; 20 m [-0.12, CI: −0.93 to 0.69]; 5-10-5 [-0.41, CI: −1.22 to 0.41]). Within-group effects demonstrated a similar, though less accentuated, trend which revealed ST to be effective in both Pre-PHV (10 m [0.44, CI: −0.24 to 1.12]; 20 m [0.45, CI: −0.23 to 1.13]; 5-10-5 [0.69, CI: 0.00 to 1.38]) and Mid-PHV (10 m [0.51, CI: −0.38 to 1.40]; 20 m [0.33, CI: −0.56 to 1.21]; 5-10-5 [0.43, CI: −0.46 to 1.32]). Conclusions ST, in the amount of 16 sprints over 20 m with a 90 s rest, may be more effective in Pre-PHV youths than in Mid-PHV youths

DIAGNÓSTICO DA ARBORIZAÇÃO URBANA DA CIDADE DE VITÓRIA DO XINGU, PARÁ, BRASIL

Vitória do Xingu não dispõe de um plano de arborização urbana, tão pouco de um diagnóstico sistematizado desse cenário. Sendo assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo realizar um diagnóstico da arborização urbana de Vitória do Xingu, no qual buscou-se qualificar e quantificar as espécies, identificando problemas relacionados aos plantios e suas necessidades. Foi realizado um censo das espécies vegetais presentes nas vias públicas da cidade, utilizando planilhas estruturadas. Foram identificadas 257 plantas de 38 espécies, de 35 gêneros e distribuídas em 19 famílias botânicas. A espécie mais frequente foi Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merr & L. M. Perry (jambeiro), com 54 indivíduos, representando 21,0% das árvores da cidade. A família Fabaceae foi a mais representativa, com 15,8% das espécies e Myrtaceae a mais numerosa, com 27,6% dos indivíduos. As frutíferas representaram 48,25% das plantas identificadas. Muitas árvores apresentam conflitos com a fiação elétrica (89%), poucas apresentaram conflitos com a iluminação pública (11%) e nenhum caso de conflito com a sinalização. A grande diversidade de espécies resulta da participação efetiva da população na arborização da cidade. Recomenda-se que algumas espécies sejam substituídas gradativamente por não possuírem as características desejadas para arborização

Feasibility of trial procedures for a randomised controlled trial of a community based group exercise intervention for falls prevention for visually impaired older people: the VIOLET study

Background Visually impaired older people (VIOP) have a higher risk of falling than their sighted peers, and are likely to avoid physical activity. The aim was to adapt the existing Falls Management Exercise (FaME) programme for VIOP, delivered in the community, and to investigate the feasibility of conducting a definitive randomised controlled trial (RCT) of this adapted intervention. Methods Two-centre randomised mixed methods pilot trial and economic evaluation of the adapted group-based FaME programme for VIOP versus usual care. A one hour exercise programme ran weekly over 12 weeks at the study sites (Newcastle and Glasgow), delivered by third sector (voluntary and community) organisations. Participants were advised to exercise at home for an additional two hours over the week. Those randomised to the usual activities group received no intervention. Outcome measures were completed at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks. The potential primary outcome was the Short Form Falls Efficacy Scale – International (SFES-I). Participants’ adherence was assessed by reviewing attendance records and self-reported compliance to the home exercises. Adherence with the course content (fidelity) by instructors was assessed by a researcher. Adverse events were collected in a weekly phone call. Results Eighteen participants, drawn from community-living VIOP were screened; 68 met the inclusion criteria; 64 participants were randomised with 33 allocated to the intervention and 31 to the usual activities arm. 94% of participants provided data at the 12 week visit and 92% at 24 weeks. Adherence was high. The intervention was found to be safe with 76% attending nine or more classes. Median time for home exercise was 50 min per week. There was little or no evidence that fear of falling, balance and falls risk, physical activity, emotional, attitudinal or quality of life outcomes differed between trial arms at follow-up. Conclusions The intervention, FaME, was implemented successfully for VIOP and all progression criteria for a main trial were met. The lack of difference between groups on fear of falling was unsurprising given it was a pilot study but there may have been other contributory factors including suboptimal exercise dose and apparent low risk of falls in participants. These issues need addressing for a future trial

COMPOSIÇÃO FLORÍSTICA DA ARBORIZAÇÃO DA CIDADE DE ALTAMIRA, PARÁ.

Foi realizado em 2010, um inventário da arborização da cidade de Altamira, Pará. Foram amostradas todas as vias públicas dos 25 bairros, com a utilização de uma planilha estruturada para a realização do censo total das espécies presentes nas vias. Foram identificadas 4.294 plantas de 120 espécies, de 105 gêneros e distribuídas em 40 famílias botânicas. A espécie mais frequente foi o ficus (Ficus benjamina), com um total de 1.062 espécimes que representaram 24,7% das árvores da cidade. A segunda espécie mais frequente foi o macharimbé (Cenostigma macrophyllum) com 793 espécimes (18,5% do total). Também aparecem a mangueira (Mangifera indica) com 376 espécimes (8,8%), o jambeiro (Syzygium malaccense) com 345 espécimes (8,0%), a palmeira imperial (Roystonea oleracea (Jacq.) O. F. Cook) com 135 espécimes (3,1%), a murta (Murraya paniculata), com 103 espécimes (2,4%) e o cajueiro (Anacardium occidentale) com 85 espécimes (2,0%). As famílias que apresentaram maior número de espécies foram a Fabaceae com 27 espécies, a Arecaceae com 10, Anacardiaceae com 6 e as famílias Malvaceae, Myrtaceae, Moraceae e Bignoniaceae apresentaram cada uma delas, 5 espécies. A grande diversidade de espécies encontradas resulta da participação efetiva da população na arborização da cidade de Altamira