Rapid and long-lasting antidepressant-like effects of ketamine and their relationship with the expression of brain enzymes, BDNF, and astrocytes

Ketamine (KET) is an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist with rapid and long-lasting antidepressant effects, but how the drug shows its sustained effects is still a matter of controversy. The objectives were to evaluate the mechanisms for KET rapid (30 min) and long-lasting (15 and 30 days after) antidepressant effects in mice. A single dose of KET (2, 5, or 10 mg/kg, po) was administered to male Swiss mice and the forced swim test (FST) was performed 30 min, 15, or 30 days later. Imipramine (IMI, 30 mg/kg, ip), a tricyclic antidepressant drug, was used as reference. The mice were euthanized, separated into two time-point groups (D1, first day after KET injection; D30, 30 days later), and brain sections were processed for glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), histone deacetylase (HDAC), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemical assays. KET (5 and 10 mg/kg) presented rapid and long-lasting antidepressant-like effects. As expected, the immunoreactivities for brain GSK-3 and HDAC decreased compared to control groups in all areas (striatum, DG, CA1, CA3, and mainly pre-frontal cortex, PFC) after KET injection. Increases in BDNF immunostaining were demonstrated in the PFC, DG, CA1, and CA3 areas at D1 and D30 time-points. GFAP immunoreactivity was also increased in the PFC and striatum at both time-points. In conclusion, KET changed brain BDNF and GFAP expressions 30 days after a single administration. Although neuroplasticity could be involved in the observed effects of KET, more studies are needed to explain the mechanisms for the drug's sustained antidepressant-like effects.

Prevalence and epidemiology of chronic hepatitis C among prisoners of Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil

In Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil, the number of prisoners has increased in the recent years and the control of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has become more complex. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence and identify the genotypes of HCV in prisoners as well as the factors associated with this infectious disease. Thereby, 443 men and 243 women from prisons were interviewed and subjected to blood collection. Anti-HCV reactive samples were analyzed by RT-PCR and genotyped. The overall seroprevalence of HCV infection was 4.8 percent (95 percentCI: 3.4 to 6.8 percent). Furthermore, the prevalence was higher in: men, injecting drug users, tattooed persons, those who were more than 50 years old, individuals who have been arrested multiple times, people with previous history of sexually transmitted disease (STD), persons who received blood transfusions or those with HIV/AIDS. The prevalence of RNA HCV by PCR was 3.0 percent (95 percentCI: 1.7 to 4.2 percent). Moreover, the coinfection of HIV and HCV was 33.3 percent. In addition, genotype 1 was the most frequent (85 percent) followed by genotype 3 (15 percent). The screening strategy for HCV and other infectious diseases in inmates is important as it establishes an early diagnosis, opportunity for treatment and allows the breaking of the transmission chain.

Parasite fauna monitoring of matrinxã Brycon amazonicus (Spix & Agassiz, 1829) raised in an intensive husbandry system in a stream channel in the state of Amazonas, Brazil

The matrinxã, Brycon amazonicus, is one of the main species being used for aquaculture and fishery activities in the Amazonian region, yet little is known about the parasites that cause its diseases. The present study monitored parasite fauna infesting an intensive husbandry system in a stream channel. The collections were carried out monthly from September, 1997 to January, 1998. Water quality parameters, fish removal procedures, as well as biometry and anaesthetic data were observed in order to monitor the management conditions. Of the 80 sampled fish, 71 (89 percent) were infested with four Monogenoidea species (Anacanthorus spiralocirrus, Jainus amazonensis, Tereancistrum kerri and Trinibaculum brazilensis), 12 (15 percent) one of Nematoda Spirocamallanus inopinatus, and three (3.75 percent) with the Copepoda Ergasilus bryconis. Monogenoidea presented the highest prevalence and intensity of infestation. The Kruskall-Wallis non-parametric variance analysis showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the monthly parasite indexes of A. spiralocirrus, J. amazonensis and T. brazilensis, however no significant difference (P > 0.05) was detected for T. kerri. Evaluation of the management conditions pointed out that monthly capture anaesthesia and hauling procedures may have been responsible for some of the clinical signals such as loss of scales, erosion and no pigments on the caudal fin and cornea opacity, which were the most frequently found injuries in husbandry.

O matrinxã Brycon amazonicus, é uma espécie amplamente cultivada na região Amazônica, entretanto, as doenças parasitárias são praticamente desconhecidas. Este estudo teve como objetivo monitorar mensalmente a fauna parasitológica e as condições de manejo em sistema de cultivo intensivo em canal de igarapé. As coletas foram realizadas mensalmente, durante os meses de setembro de 1997 a janeiro de 1998. O monitoramento das condições de manejo foi realizado observando-se os parâmetros de qualidade de água, procedimentos de despesca, biometrias e anestesia. Oitenta (80) peixes foram amostrados, dos quais, 71 (89 por cento) encontravam-se parasitados com quatro espécies de monogenóideos (Anacanthorus spiralocirrus, Jainus amazonensis, Tereancistrum kerri e Trinibaculum brazilensis), 12 (15 por cento) com o nematóide Spirocamallanus inopinatus e três (3,75 por cento) com o ergasilídeo Ergasilus bryconis. Os monogenóideos apresentaram os maiores valores de prevalências e intensidades de infestação. A análise de variância não paramétrica de Kruskall-Wallis revelou uma diferença significativa (P < 0,05) nos índices parasitários mensais de A. spiralocirrus, J. amazonensis e T. brazilensis, porém para T. kerri não foi detectado diferença significativa (P > 0,05). A avaliação das condições de manejo indicaram que os procedimentos mensais de captura, anestesia e transporte podem ter sido responsáveis por alguns dos sinais clínicos observados durante o cultivo. Os mais freqüentes foram: perda de escamas, erosão e despigmentação da nadadeira caudal e opacidade de córnea.

Suporte nutricional em pacientes hospitalizados: experiencia de um ano. / Nutritional support in hospitalized patients: experience of 1 year

A equipe de nutricao clinica da Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM) atende aos pedidos de interconsulta das diversas enfermarias do Hospital Sao Paulo que estao sob a responsabilidade de diferentes disciplinas da EPM. De outubro de 1982 a outubro de 1983, a equipe avaliou o estado nutricional e indicou a conduta de suporte nutricional em 89 doentes. Quando a alimentacao enteral foi a indicada, a dieta formulada foi adaptada a cada caso,segundo as necessidades energeticas e, quando necessario, com restricoes de nutrientes, tais como proteina, sodio e agua. A prevalencia de desnutricao proteico-calorica foi de 68%. A nutricao enteral foi indicada em 80 pacientes, sendo instalada em 57 dos quais 24 receberam-na, durante a hospitalizacao, por tempo medio de 32 dias e 4 receberam-na no hospital e, depois da alta, em seus domicilios, por tempo medio de 46 dias.Esses pacientes mostraram melhora do estado nutricional e nao apresentaram complicacoes decorrentes da terapeutica nutricional aplicada