Factors affecting executive function performance of Brazilian elderly in the Stroop test

Aging is related to a decrease in physiological abilities, especially cognitive functions. To unravel further evidence of age-related cognitive decline, we analyzed which physical and functional variables are predictors of cognitive performance in a sample of 498 Brazilian elderly (67.26% women). To do so, we used the Stroop test as a tool to evaluate executive functions and the General functional fitness index (GFFI) to evaluate the functional fitness of the participants. A linear regression analysis revealed that female sex (β=-0.097; t=-2.286; P=0.023), younger age (β=0.205; t=4.606; P<0.0001), more years of education (β=-0.280; t=-6.358; P<0.0001), and higher GFFI (β=-0.101; t=-2.347; P<0.02) were predictors of better cognitive performance. Body mass index (kg/m2) and nutritional status (underweight, eutrophic, overweight, or obese) were not predictors of cognitive performance. Interestingly, among the GFFI tasks, muscle strength influenced the test execution time, both in upper and lower limbs (elbow flexion: β=-0.201; t=-4.672; P<0.0001; sit-to-stand: β=-0.125; t=-2.580; P<0.01). Our findings showed that: 1) women performed the Stroop test faster than men; 2) the older the person, the lower was the cognitive performance; 3) the higher the education, the better the test execution time; and 4) higher scores in the GFFI were associated with a better performance in the Stroop test. Therefore, gender, age, education, and functional fitness and capacity were predictors of cognitive performance in the elderly.

Epilepsy-induced electrocardiographic alterations following cardiac ischemia and reperfusion in rats

The present study evaluated electrocardiographic alterations in rats with epilepsy submitted to an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) model induced by cardiac ischemia and reperfusion. Rats were randomly divided into two groups: control (n=12) and epilepsy (n=14). It was found that rats with epilepsy presented a significant reduction in atrioventricular block incidence following the ischemia and reperfusion procedure. In addition, significant alterations were observed in electrocardiogram intervals during the stabilization, ischemia, and reperfusion periods of rats with epilepsy compared to control rats. It was noted that rats with epilepsy presented a significant increase in the QRS interval during the stabilization period in relation to control rats (P<0.01). During the ischemia period, there was an increase in the QRS interval (P<0.05) and a reduction in the P wave and QT intervals (P<0.05 for both) in rats with epilepsy compared to control rats. During the reperfusion period, a significant reduction in the QT interval (P<0.01) was verified in the epilepsy group in relation to the control group. Our results indicate that rats submitted to an epilepsy model induced by pilocarpine presented electrical conductivity alterations of cardiac tissue, mainly during an AMI episode.

Microbial Biodegradation of Aromatic Compounds in a Soil Contaminated with Gasohol.

The studies developed in this work aimed to find alternatives to biodegradation or bioremediation of soils contaminated with gasoline or gasohol. So, the biodegradation of benzene, toluene and o-xylene (BTX) in soil samples contaminated with gasoline or gasohol by a bacterial consortium was studied. Four bacterial strains were selected for the consortium based on their growth capacity in gasoline, gasohol and BTX as sole carbon sources, and on the production of biosurfactants in mineral medium containing gasohol as the sole carbon source. The reduction of TX concentrations in soil slurries in a multi-cell bioreactor system was used as the criterion to evaluate biodegradation efficiency. BTX removal was highly stimulated by air injection and mineral nutrients, and was significantly increased by the presence of the bacterial consortium. Addition of a proprietary oxygen release compound did not stimulate the biodegradation of BTX.

Planejamento estratéfico elaborado juntamente com a equipe de enfermagem de um hospital de médio porte / Strategic planning developed along with the nursing time at a medium-sized hospital

O estudo tem por objetivo relatar a experiência da utilização do planejamento estratégico, realizado durante o primeiro ano do curso de Especialização na modalidade Residência em Gerência de Serviços de Enfermagemdo Hospital Universitário Regional do Norte do Paraná. O planejamento foi elaborado juntamente com a equipe de enfermagem de um hospital de média complexidade em Londrina, Estado do Paraná. Os problemas da instituição, que influenciavam diretamente no processo de trabalho da equipe de saúde e de enfermagem, foram levantados, por meio de seis oficinas, aplicando-se o planejamento estratégico situacional, segundo Carlos Matus. As dificuldades relatadas e problematizadas foram categorizadas quanto à estrutura administrativa e organizacional, área física, materiais, equipamentos e relacionamento interpessoal. Para os problemas com governabilidade de resolução, foram estabelecidas estratégias de ação que determinam seus prazos e responsáveis. Após nove meses, verificou-se que a maioria dos problemas foi resolvida por meio doenvolvimento e responsabilização dos atores sociais, comprometidos com o processo de aprimoramento gerencial da referida instituição.

This study aims to report the experience of applying strategic planning to the Northern Paraná Regional University Hospital during the first year of a specialization in the field of Residency in Nursing Services Management. The plan was designed by registered nurses, nurse assistants and nurses’ aides working at amedium-complexity hospital in Londrina, State of Paraná, Brazil. Institutional problems that directly influenced thehealth team and the work processes of nurse personnel were analyzed using the “problem-based learning” methodology in six workshops, by applying the Situational Strategic Planning methodology of Carlos Matus. The reported difficulties were sorted according to their administrative and organizational structure, physical area,materials, equipments and interpersonal relationship. Action strategies, deadlines and responsibilities were setfor the problems that could be fixed. After nine months, it was clear that most problems were solved through commitment and accountability of social actors engaged to the process of management improvement of the given institution.

El estudio tiene como objetivo relatar experiencia de la utilización del planeamiento estratégico, realizado durante el primer año del curso de Especialización en la modalidad Residencia en Gerencia de Servicios deEnfermería del Hospital Universitario Regional del Norte del Paraná. El planeamiento fue elaborado en conjuntocon el equipo de enfermería de un hospital de media complejidad en Londrina, Paraná. Los problemas de lainstitución, que influían directamente en el proceso de trabajo del equipo de salud y de enfermería, fueron analizados, a través de seis talleres, aplicándose el planeamiento estratégico situacional, según Carlos Matus.Las dificultades relatadas y problematizadas fueron categorizadas con relación a la estructura administrativa y organizacional, área física, materiales, equipamientos y relación interpersonales. Para los problemas con gobernabilidad de resolución, fueron establecidas estrategias de acción que determinan sus plazos y sus responsabilidades. Después de nueve meses, se verificó que la mayoría de los problemas fue resuelta a través del envolvimiento y responsabilización de los actores sociales, comprometidos con el proceso de perfeccionamiento gerencial de la referida institución.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infection and Kaposi's sarcoma in Brazil

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) became a critical health issue with the emergence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the 1980s. Four clinical-epidemiological forms of KS have been described: classical KS, endemic KS, iatrogenic KS, and AIDS-associated KS. In 1994, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) or human herpesvirus type 8 was identified by Chang and colleagues, and has been detected worldwide at frequencies ranging from 80 to 100 percent. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of KSHV infection in KS lesions from HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients in Brazil, as well as to review the current knowledge about KS transmission and detection. For these purposes, DNA from 51 cases of KS was assessed by PCR: 20 (39.2 percent) cases of classical KS, 29 (56.9 percent) of AIDS-associated KS and 2 (3.9 percent) of iatrogenic KS. Most patients were males (7.5:1, M/F), and mean age was 47.9 years (SD = ± 18.7 years). As expected, HIV-positive KS patients were younger than patients with classical KS. On the other hand, patients with AIDS-associated KS have early lesions (patch and plaque) compared to classical KS patients (predominantly nodular lesions). This is assumed to be the result of the early diagnose of KS in the HIV-positive setting. KSHV infection was detected by PCR in almost all cases (48/51; 94.1 percent), irrespectively of the clinical-epidemiological form of KS. These results show that KSHV is associated with all forms of KS in Brazilian patients, a fact that supports the role of this virus in KS pathogenesis.

Soil temperature and diapause maintenance in eggs of the spittlebug, Deois flavopicta (Hemiptera: Cercopidae)

Diapausing eggs of the neotropical pasture pest, Deois flavopicta (Stal) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae), were exposed to low overnight temperatures that simulated field conditions during the dry season (23/12, 23/15 and 23/18ºC day/night), for different periods (0-60 days). After treatment, eggs were kept at 28ºC and contact water (100% humidity) until hatching. A group of diapausing eggs were kept all the time under this last condition as a control treatment. Time for hatching (in degree-days) was reduced with decrease in low overnight temperature and increase of exposure time to these cold shocks, although there was no interaction between the factors. Regression of exposure time to cold shock influencing the expected mean hatching time produced independent equations for temperatures below 18ºC and 15ºC. We constructed a model that simulates the expected proportion of the population hatching after the beginning of rainy season based on regression equations to mean hatching time and associated standard deviation. The simulation generated for the model correlated significantly with nymphal population observed in the field. These results showed that overnight soil temperatures below 18ºC, as occurs in Central and South-eastern Brazil between May and August, shorten the period of diapause, increase quiescent eggs in the soil, and may synchronize the population hatching.

Foram expostos ovos diapáusicos da praga de pastagens na região neotropical, Deois flavopicta (Stal) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae), a baixas temperaturas noturnas, simulando condições de campo durante a estação seca (23/12, 23/15 e 23/18ºC dia/noite), por diferentes períodos (0, 15, 30, 40, 50 e 60 dias). Após o tratamento térmico, os ovos foram mantidos a 28ºC e em água de contato (100% de umidade), até a eclosão das ninfas. Um grupo-controle de ovos diapáusicos foi mantido por todo o período experimental em altas temperaturas e umidade. O tempo para eclosão (em graus/dia) foi reduzido devido ao efeito das baixas temperaturas noturnas e ao aumento no período de exposição ao choque frio, embora não tenha sido observada interação significativa entre esses fatores. A regressão do efeito do período de choque frio no tempo médio para eclosão das ninfas provenientes de ovos diapáusicos produziu equações independentes para as temperaturas abaixo de 18ºC e 15ºC. Com base nas equações de regressão do tempo médio e no desvio-padrão associado, construímos um modelo que simula a proporção esperada da população que eclodirá após o início da estação chuvosa. A simulação gerada pelo modelo correlacionou-se significativamente à população de ninfas observada no campo. Estes resultados mostram que temperaturas noturnas abaixo de 18ºC, como ocorre no Centro-Sul do Brasil entre maio e agosto, abreviam o período da diapausa, acumulam ovos quiescentes no solo e podem sincronizar a eclosão da população.

Deladenus siricidicola,bedding (Neotylenchidae) parasitism evaluation in adult Sirex noctilio, Fabricius, 1793 (Hymenoptera: Siricidae)

This work aimed to evaluate the Deladenus siricidicola, Bedding (Neotylenchidae)parasitism in adults Sirex noctilio, Fabricius, 1793 (Hymenoptera: Siricidae). Timber was sampled by cutting out pieces of 0.80 m in length in Sirex noctilio attacked and Deladenus siricidicola inoculated Pinus taeda. Longs were 15-20 cm in diameter, according to the tree age. Samples were packed in gauze-cages, for daily observations, till S. noctilio adults emergence. The emerged insects were transported, in plastic containers to the laboratory, where they were sectioned and dissected under stereoscopic microscopy to observ the nematode occurrence. From the initially proposed ten units, nine of them were evaluated in a total of 1,810 emerged adult insects, being 1,441 males and 369 females. Nematode parasitism was shown in 267 males and 74 females, in a total of 341 infected insects (18.84 percent)

Trypanosoma cruzi: amastigote polymorphism defined by monoclonal antibodies

We have raised monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed towards amastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi, and shown that mAbs 1D9 and 4B9 are carbohydrate while mAb 4B5 activity is resistant to periodate oxidation of the antigen. Here we used an ELISA to quantitate and compare the expression of surface epitopes on fixed parasites among different parasite isolates. The expression of markers varied among T. cruzi amastigotes isolated from infected cells or after extracellular differentiation of trypomastigotes. Moreover, we also observed an extensive polymorphic expression of these epitopes among amastigotes derived from different strains and clones. For instance, mAb 2C2 strongly and evenly reacted with 9 strains and clones (G, Y, CL, Tulahuen, MD, and F, and clones Sylvio X-10/4, D11, and CL.B), with absorbance at 492 nm (A492 nm) from 0.6 to 0.8. By contrast, mAb 4B5 had a higher expression in Tulahuen amastigotes (around 0.9 at 492 nm) whereas its reactivity with amastigotes from clones CL.B, Sylvio X-10/4 and D11 was much lower (around 0.4). mAb 1D9 displayed an interesting pattern of reactivity with amastigotes of the different strains and clones (A492 nm of G>D11ÝSylvio X-10/4 = MD>Tulahuen = F = Y>CL>CL.B). Finally, we observed that mAb 4B9 had the lowest reaction with the parasites studied, with higher values of A492 nm with Y strain (around 0.6) and lower values with Tulahuen, F and CL.B strains (around 0.2). Immunoblotting analysis also showed extensive variations among amastigotes of the various parasite isolates and mAbs 4B9, 1D9 and 4B5 revealed significant differences in expression between clones and parental strains. These data describe a previously uncharacterized polymorphism of T. cruzi amastigote surface components