Population dynamics, structure and behavior of Anopheles darlingi in a rural settlement in the Amazon rainforest of Acre, Brazil

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Anopheles darlingi </it>is the major vector of malaria in South America, and its behavior and distribution has epidemiological importance to biomedical research. In Brazil, <it>An</it>. <it>darlingi </it>is found in the northern area of the Amazon basin, where 99.5% of the disease is reported.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study area, known as Ramal do Granada, is a rural settlement inside the Amazon basin in the state of Acre. Population variations and density have been analysed by species behaviour, and molecular analysis has been measured by ND4 mitochondrial gene sequencing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results show higher density in collections near a recent settlement, suggesting that a high level of colonization decreases the vector presence. The biting activity showed higher activity at twilight and major numbers of mosquitos in the remaining hours of the night in months of high density. From a sample of 110 individual mosquitoes, 18 different haplotypes were presented with a diversity index of 0.895, which is higher than that found in other <it>Anopheles </it>studies.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>An. darlingi </it>depends on forested regions for their larval and adult survival. In months with higher population density, the presence of mosquitoes persisted in the second part of the night, increasing the vector capacity of the species. Despite the intra-population variation in the transition to rainy season, the seasonal distribution of haplotypes shows no change in the structure population of <it>An. darlingi</it>.</p

Simultaneous left colectomy and standard hepatectomy reformed by laparoscopy

As abordagens laparoscópicas têm sido cada vez mais utilizadas em pacientes com câncer colorretal ou hepático. Colectomia e hepatectomia simultâneas são consideradas técnicas seguras e apresentam resultados oncológicos semelhantes independente da localização do tumor primário quando associada à ressecções hepáticas com menos de quatro metástases, uma vez que não existe aumento da morbimortalidade nem prejuízo na sobrevida. O desenvolvimento de técnicas e materiais laparoscópicos tornou a ressecção combinada do cólon e do fígado uma opção bastante atraente. O objetivo do presente estudo é demonstrar a ressecção de um tumor sincrônico de sigmoide e metástase hepática única tratada por colectomia e setorectomia lateral esquerda puramente laparoscópicaLaparoscopic approaches have been increasingly used in patients with colorectal or liver cancer. Simultaneous colectomy and hepatectomy are considered safe techniques and present similar oncological results regardless of the location of the primary tumor when there are fewer than four liver metastases, since there is no increase in morbidity or decrease in survival. The development of laparoscopic techniques and materials has made the combined resection of the colon and liver a very attractive option. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the synchronous resection of the sigmoid tumor and single liver metastasis treated by purely laparoscopic colectomy and liver left lateral sectorectomy

Correlation between splenomegaly and thrombocytopenia in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis

RACIONAL: Sabe-se que tanto a leucopenia quanto a plaquetopenia têm relação direta com a esplenomegalia, mas não existem estudos correlacionando de forma direta ou precisa o tamanho do baço com o número de plaquetas. Ainda há controvérsia se a plaquetopenia observada em pacientes com doenças hepáticas crônicas está mais relacionada à esplenomegalia ou à própria hipertensão portal. OBJETIVO: Correlacionar o nível sérico das plaquetas nos períodos pré e pós-operatório imediato com peso e volume do baço em pacientes portadores da forma hepatoesplênica da esquistossomose com indicação para tratamento cirúrgico da hipertensão portal. MÉTODO: Foram analisados os prontuários de pacientes portadores da forma hepatoesplênica da esquistossomose mansônica submetidos a tratamento cirúrgico da hipertensão portal. Foram incluídos portadores com a doença confirmada pelo diagnóstico anatomopatológico da biópsia hepática realizada no período intra-operatório. Foram excluídos todos os doentes que apresentavam antecedentes de etilismo crônico, hepatite viral, evidências clínico-laboratoriais de insuficiência hepática ou alterações histopatológicas compatíveis com cirrose hepática. Foram avaliados: o tamanho e volume do baço; o nível sérico de plaquetas; o número de plaquetas. RESULTADOS: Foram identificados 141 pacientes que preenchiam os critérios de inclusão do total de 160 prontuários analisados. A idade média foi de 39,03 ± 12,74 anos (15 a 74 anos), sendo 84 homens (59,5%) e 57 mulheres (40,5%). O peso médio do baço foi de 966,27 ± 464,61 g (120 a 2700 g). O volume elíptico médio foi de 966,68 ± 499,12 cm3 (236,13 a 2782,36 cm³. Houve correlação estatisticamente significativa entre o peso e o volume elíptico do baço (p<0,0001). O número médio de plaquetas no período pré-operatório foi 76,84 ± 43,64 x10³/mm³, abaixo dos valores considerados normais (150 - 400 x10³/mm³). Observou-se correlação estatisticamente significante entre o número e valor logarítmico das plaquetas no período pré-operatório tanto com peso (p<0,01) quanto com o volume elíptico (p<0,05) do baço. O número de plaquetas no pós-operatório imediato esteve correlacionado de modo inverso com o peso do baço retirado (p=0,0297); o valor logaritmo das plaquetas também se correlacionou com o peso. Não se conseguiu, através do modelo empregado, prever o valor sérico das plaquetas baseando-se no peso e volume esplênicos. CONCLUSÃO: As variações do nível sérico de plaquetas tanto no pré como no pós-operatório, em pacientes portadores da forma hepatoesplênica da esquistossomose mansônica, apresentam-se diretamente correlacionadas às variações de peso e volume do baço. A esplenomegalia foi diretamente responsável pela variação do número de plaquetas.BACKGROUND: It is known that both leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were significantly correlated with splenomegaly, but there is no studies correlating directly or precisely the size of the spleen with the number of platelets. It is controversial whether the thrombocytopenia observed in patients with chronic liver disease is more related to splenomegaly or portal hypertension itself. AIM: To correlate the serum level of platelets in pre and postoperative weight and volume of the spleen in patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis with indication for surgical treatment of portal hypertension. METHODS: The medical records of patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni who underwent surgical treatment of portal hypertension were revised. Were included patients with the disease confirmed by pathologic diagnosis of liver biopsy performed during surgery, and excluded all patients who had a history of chronic alcoholism, viral hepatitis, clinical and laboratory evidence of hepatic or histopathological changescompatible with liver cirrhosis. Evaluation of the size and volume of the spleen, the serum level of platelets, the platelet count was done. RESULTS: Were identified 141 patients who met the inclusion criteria of the 160 charts analyzed. The mean age was 39.03 ± 12.74 years (15 to 74 years) and 84 men (59.5%) and 57 women (40.5%). The average weight of the spleen was 966.27 ± 464.61 g (120-2700 g). The elliptical volume averaged 966.68 ± 499.12 cm³ (from 236.13 to 2782.36 cm³. There was a statistically significant correlation between weight and volume of elliptical spleen (p<0.0001). The average number of platelets in preoperative period was 76.84 ± 43.64 x10³/mm³ below normal values (150-400 x10³/mm³). There was a statistically significant correlation between the numbers and logarithmic value of platelets in both preoperative with weight (p<0.01) with the elliptical volume (p<0.05) spleen. The number of platelets in the immediate postoperative period was correlated inversely with the weight of the spleen removed (p=0.0297 ), the logarithm value of platelets is also correlated with weight. The model used did not predict the serum concentrations of platelets based on weight and spleen volume. CONCLUSION: The variations in serum levels of platelets in both pre and postoperative period in patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis were directly correlated to changes in weight and volume of the spleen. Splenomegaly was directly responsible for the variation in the number of platelets

Bayesian Approach to Infer Types of Faults on Electrical Machines from Acoustic Signal

Considering the classification of failures in electrical machines, the present paper aims to use supervised machine learning techniques in order to classify faults in electrical machines, using attributes from audio signals. In order to analyze data and recognize patterns, the considered supervised learning methods are: Bayesian Network, together with the BayesRule algorithm, Support Vector Machine and k-Nearest Neighbor. The performances and the results provided from these algorithms are then compared. The main contributions of this paper are the acquisition process of audio signals and the elaboration of Bayesian networks topologies and classifiers structures using the acquired signals, since the algorithms provide the generalization of the classification model by revealing the network structure. Also, the utilization of audio signals as input attributes to the classifiers is infrequent in the literature. The results show that the Support Vector Machine and k-Nearest Neighbor present a high accuracy. On the other hand, the Bayesian approach is advantageous due to the possibility of showing, through graph representations, the generalized structure to represent the trend of faults in real cases on industry applications.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Hiperfluxo portal na forma hepatosplênica da esquistossomose mansônica

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess portal hemodynamics in patients with portal hypertension due to hepatosplenic schistosomiasis as well as to assess the contribution of splanchnic hyperflow to the pathophysiology of the portal hypertension. METHODS: Sixteen patients with schistosomal portal hypertension and previous history of upper digestive bleeding due to esophageal varices rupture underwent elective esophagogastric devascularization and splenectomy and were prospectively studied. All patients underwent intraoperative invasive hemodynamic portal monitoring with a 4F-thermodilution catheter. The intraoperative portal hemodynamic assessment was conducted after laparotomy (initial) and after esophagogastric devascularization (final). RESULTS: The initial portal pressure was elevated (mean 28.5 ± 4.5 mm Hg), and a significant drop of 25% was observed at the end of the surgery (21.9 ± 4.9 mm Hg). The initial portal flow was elevated (mean 1766.9 ± 686.6 mL/min). A significant fall (42%) occurred at the end of the surgical procedure (1025.62 ± 338.7 mL/min). Fourteen patients (87.5%) presented a portal flow of more than 1200 mL/min, and in 5 cases, values greater than 2000 mL/min were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Esophagogastric devascularization and splenectomy promote a significant reduction of the elevated portal pressure and flow in schistosomal portal hypertension. These data favor the hypothesis of portal hyperflow in the physiopathology of portal hypertension of schistosomiasis.OBJETIVOS: o objetivo do presente estudo é estudar a hemodinâmica portal em pacientes com hipertensão portal secundária a forma hepatoesplênica da esquistossomose e avaliar a contribuição do hiperfluxo esplênico na sua fisiopatologia CASUÍSTICA E MÉTODOS: Foram estudados prospectivamente 16 pacientes portadores de hipertensão portal secundária à forma hepatoesplênica da esquistossomose mansônica com indicação de tratamento cirúrgico. Todos foram submetidos a avaliação hemodinâmica portal com cateter de termodiluição 4F antes e após a realização de desvascularização esofago-gástrica com esplenectomia. RESULTADOS: Na avaliação intra-operatória inicial observou-se pressão (28,5 + 4,5 mmHg ) e fluxo (1750,59 ± 668,14 ml/min) portais iniciais bem acima dos valores considerados normais. Houve queda significante de 25% na pressão (21,65 ± 5,55 mmHg ) e de 42% no fluxo (1011,18 ± 332,73 ml/min) ao término da cirurgia. Quatorze pacientes (87.5%) apresentavam fluxo portal superior a 1200 ml/min e, em 5 casos, valores superiores a 2000 ml/min foram observados. CONCLUSÕES: A pressão e o fluxo portais estão aumentados na hipertensão portal esquistossomótica. A desvascularização esofago-gástrica com esplenectomia reduz significativamente tanto a pressão quanto o fluxo portais. Estes dados favorecem a hipótese do hiperfluxo esplâncnico (esplênico e mesentérico) na fisiopatologia da hipertensão portal na esquistossomose forma hepatoesplênica

Construction by Replacement: A new approach to simulation modeling

Simulation modeling can be valuable in many areas of management science, but it is often costly, time-consuming, and difficult to do. To reduce these problems, system dynamics researchers have previously developed standard pieces of model structure, called molecules, that can be reused in different models. However, the models assembled from these molecules often lacked feedback loops and generated few, if any, insights. This paper describes a new and more promising approach to using molecules in system dynamics modeling. The heart of the approach is a systematically organized library (or taxonomy) of predefined model components, or molecules, and a set of software tools for replacing one molecule with another. Users start with a simple generic model and progressively replace parts of the model with more specialized molecules from a systematically organized library of predefined components. These substitutions either create a new running model automatically or request further manual changes from the user. The paper describes our exploration using this approach to construct system dynamics models of supply chain processes in a large manufacturing company. The experiment included developing an innovative “tangible user interface” and a comprehensive catalog of system dynamics molecules. The paper concludes with a discussion of the benefits and limitations of this approach

Preoperative Inflammatory Markers as Prognostic Predictors After Hepatocellular Carcinoma Resection: Data From a Western Referral Center

BACKGROUND: Recent studies from eastern centers have demonstrate an association between inflammatory response and long-term outcomes after hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) resection. However, the prognostic impact of inflammatory markers in western patients, with distinct tumor and epidemiologic features, is still unknown. AIM: To evaluate the prognostic impact of preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), as well as their impact according to tumor size (\u3c 5 cm, 5-10 cm, \u3e 10 cm) in patients undergoing HCC resection with curative intent. METHODS: Optimal cut-off values for NLR, PLR, and MLR were determined by plotting the receiver operator curves. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) curves were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. The Cox method was used to identify independent predictors of OS and DFS. RESULTS: In total, 161 consecutive adult patients were included. A high NLR (\u3e 1.715) was associated with worse OS (P = 0.018). High NLR (\u3e 2.475; P = 0.047) and PLR (\u3e 100.25; P = 0.028) were predictors of short DFS. In HCC \u3c 5 cm, MLR (\u3e 1.715) was associated with worse OS (P = 0.047). In the multivariate analysis, high PLR was an independent predictor of worse DFS [hazard ratio (HR) 3.029; 95%CI 1.499-6.121; P = 0.002]. CONCLUSION: Inflammatory markers are useful tools to predict long-term outcomes after liver resection in western patients, high NLR was able to stratify subgroups of patients with short OS and DFS, an increased PLR was an independent predictor of short DFS, while high MLR was associated with short OS in patients with early HCC