População infantil com deficiência visual: estudo de 385 casos

OBJECTIVE: To analyze data on the pediatric population attending the Ophthalmologic Clinic's Low Vision Service at the São Paulo University Medical School. METHODS: Low vision ophthalmologic assessment, from April 1998 to December 2003, of 385 children and adolescents with mean age of 7 years; 51.7% males and 48.3% females. The main data analyzed were age, diagnosis, anatomic site of the ocular injury, visual acuity, and prescription of optical aids. RESULTS: 45.4% were below 6 years, and 54.6% were between 6 and 16 years. 35.5% experienced moderate visual impairment, 26% had severe visual impairment, 8.6% had profound visual impairment, 10.6% were near blind, and 1.6% were blind. The main causes of visual impairment included congenital glaucoma (30.6%), macular retinochoroiditis due to congenital toxoplasmosis (16.7%), congenital cataract (12.8%), retinal and macular inherited disorders (11.7%), and optic atrophy (9.8%). Among school-age children, 52.9% received a prescription of optical aids. The most widely used optical aids for distance were 2.8 X 26 (34.4%); 4.2 X 12 (30.3%); and 6 X 17 (26.8%) telescopic systems. The most frequently prescribed optical aid for near vision was the 2x magnifying bar (33.3%). CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for prevention of primary (congenital infections), secondary (congenital glaucoma and retinopathy of prematurity), and tertiary (congenital cataract) visual impairment. The prescription of optical aids for school-age children will help them perform better at school and contribute to their social inclusion.OBJETIVO: Analisar as características da população infantil atendida no Serviço de Visão Subnormal da Clínica Oftalmológica do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. MÉTODOS: Avaliação oftalmológica de 385 crianças e adolescentes, de abril de 1998 a dezembro de 2003, com idade média de 7 anos; 51,7% do sexo masculino e 48,3% do sexo feminino. Idade, diagnóstico oftalmológico, localização anatômica da lesão ocular, acuidade visual e auxílios ópticos adaptados foram observados. RESULTADOS: 45,4% tinham idade inferior a 6 anos e 54,6% tinham entre 6 e 16 anos de idade. 35,5% apresentavam baixa visão moderada, 26% baixa visão grave, 8,6% baixa visão profunda, 10,6% quase cegueira e 1,6% cegueira. As principais causas da deficiência visual foram: glaucoma congênito (30,6%), retinocoroidite macular por toxoplasmose congênita (16,7%), catarata congênita (12,8%), doenças hereditárias da retina e mácula (11,7%) e atrofia óptica (9,8%). Na população de crianças em idade escolar, 52,9% tiveram auxílios ópticos adaptados. Os auxílios ópticos para longe mais utilizados foram os sistemas telescópicos de 2,8X 26 (34,4%), de 4,2 X 12 (30,3%) e de 6 X 17 (26,8%). O auxílio óptico para perto mais adaptado foi a barra de ampliação de 2 X de aumento (33,3%). CONCLUSÕES: Necessidade de prevenção primária (infecções congênitas), prevenção secundária (glaucoma congênito e retinopatia da prematuridade) e prevenção terciária (catarata congênita). A adaptação de auxílios ópticos nas crianças em idade escolar irá colaborar para o seu maior desempenho escolar e sua inclusão social

Visual Impairment Secondary to Congenital Glaucoma in Children: Visual Responses, Optical Correction and Use of Low Vision Aids

INTRODUCTION: Congenital glaucoma is frequently associated with visual impairment due to optic nerve damage, corneal opacities, cataracts and amblyopia. Poor vision in childhood is related to global developmental problems, and referral to vision habilitation/rehabilitation services should be without delay to promote efficient management of the impaired vision. OBJECTIVE: To analyze data concerning visual response, the use of optical correction and prescribed low vision aids in a population of children with congenital glaucoma. METHOD: The authors analyzed data from 100 children with congenital glaucoma to assess best corrected visual acuity, prescribed optical correction and low vision aids. RESULTS: Fifty-five percent of the sample were male, 43% female. The mean age was 6.3 years. Two percent presented normal visual acuity levels, 29% mild visual impairment, 28% moderate visual impairment, 15% severe visual impairment, 11% profound visual impairment, and 15% near blindness. Sixty-eight percent received optical correction for refractive errors. Optical low vision aids were adopted for distance vision in 34% of the patients and for near vision in 6%. A manual monocular telescopic system with 2.8 × magnification was the most frequently prescribed low vision aid for distance, and for near vision a +38 diopter illuminated stand magnifier was most frequently prescribed. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Careful low vision assessment and the appropriate prescription of optical corrections and low vision aids are mandatory in children with congenital glaucoma, since this will assist their global development, improving efficiency in daily life activities and promoting social and educational inclusion

Anatomia da madeira de Azara uruguayensis (Speg.) Sleum.

É descrita e ilustrada com fotomicrografias a estrutura anatômica da madeira de Azara uruguayensis (Speg.) Sleum. Entre seus principais caracteres incluem-se placas de perfuração simples e escalariformes, traqueídeos vasculares, e células perfuradas de raio

Anatomia da madeira de Plinia rivularis (Camb.) Rotman

A estrutura anatômica da madeira de Plinia rivularis (Camb.) Rotman é descrita e ilustrada com fotomicrografias

Anatomia da madeira de Myrcianthes gigantea (Legr.) Legr.

A estrutura anatômica do xilema secundário de Myrcianthes gigantea (Legr.) Legr. é descrita e ilustrada com fotomicrografias. O lenho apresenta poros solitários, parênquima apotraqueal difuso-em-agregados, raios heterogêneos e fibras com pontoações areoladas. A ausência de traqueídeos vasicêntricos e de cristais no parênquima axial permitem separar a espécie de outras Mirtoídeas nativas no Rio Grande do Sul

Homeostatic maintenance and age-related functional decline in the Drosophila ear

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a threat to future human wellbeing. Multiple factors contributing to the terminal auditory decline have been identified; but a unified understanding of ARHL - or the homeostatic maintenance of hearing before its breakdown - is missing. We here present an in-depth analysis of homeostasis and ageing in the antennal ears of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. We show that Drosophila, just like humans, display ARHL. By focusing on the phase of dynamic stability prior to the eventual hearing loss we discovered a set of evolutionarily conserved homeostasis genes. The transcription factors Onecut (closest human orthologues: ONECUT2, ONECUT3), Optix (SIX3, SIX6), Worniu (SNAI2) and Amos (ATOH1, ATOH7, ATOH8, NEUROD1) emerged as key regulators, acting upstream of core components of the fly's molecular machinery for auditory transduction and amplification. Adult-specific manipulation of homeostatic regulators in the fly's auditory neurons accelerated - or protected against - ARHL

Expolinear model on soybean growth in Argentina and Brazil

Predicting crop growth and yield with precision are one of the main concerns of the agricultural science. For these purpose mechanistic models of crop growth have been developed and tested worldwide. The feasibility of an expolinear model for crop growth was evaluated on predicting growth modification on soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) of determined and undetermined growth cultivars, submitted to water restrictions imposed on different phenological stages. An experiment was carried out in Azul/Argentina and in Viçosa/Brazil during the growing seasons (1997/1998, 1998/1999 and 2002/2003). The expolinear model was adjusted to the dry-matter data obtained from each treatment. The model showed sensibility of Rm (maximum relative growth rate of the culture - g g-1 day-1) to variation in air temperature; of Cm (maximum growth rate of the culture - g m-2 day-1) to solar radiation and of Tb (lost time -day) to water stress. Cm values were higher without water restriction presenting, in both countries, a direct correlation with solar radiation. Without water restrictions, Rm values were lower when the average air temperature during the cycle was lower. It was observed that under water stress the culture had a bias to present higher Rm values. Tb was lower in the irrigated treatments than in those with water deficits. The analysis of the outputs clearly shows the feasibility of the expolinear model to explain the differential growth rates of soybean as a consequence of climatic conditions.Prever o crescimento e a produtividade das culturas com precisão é uma das principais preocupações das ciências agrícolas. Com esse propósito, modelos mecanísticos de crescimento de culturas têm sido desenvolvidos e testados. A adequação do modelo expolinear de crescimento de culturas foi avaliada para prever as modificações de crescimento de cultivares de soja (Glycine max L. Merrill) de crescimento determinado e indeterminado, submetidas a déficit hídrico em diferentes estádios fenológicos. Um experimento foi conduzido em Azul/Argentina e outro em Viçosa/Brasil durante as estações de cultivo (1997/1998, 1998/1999 e 2002/2003). O modelo expolinear foi ajustado aos dados de fitomassa seca obtidos de cada tratamento. O modelo apresentou sensibilidade do parâmetro Rm (taxa máxima de crescimento relativo da cultura - g g-1 day-1) à variação na temperatura do ar; do parâmetro Cm (taxa máxima de crescimento da cultura - g m-2 day-1) à radiação solar; e do parâmetro Tb (perda em tempo - dias) ao estresse hídrico. Os valores de Cm foram maiores sem restrições hídricas, apresentando, em ambos os países, uma correlação direta com a radiação solar. Sem restrições hídricas, os valores de Rm foram menores quando a temperatura média do ar durante o ciclo foi menor. Sob estresse hídrico, a cultura mostrou uma tendência a apresentar valores de Rm maiores. Os valores de Tb foram menores nos tratamentos irrigados e maiores nos tratamentos com deficiência hídrica. A análise dos resultados mostrou claramente a capacidade do modelo expolinear para simular as diferentes taxas de crescimento da cultura da soja como uma consequência das condições climáticas