Behavioral alterations induced by repeated saxitoxin exposure in drinking water

Blooms of the saxitoxin-producing cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii have been contaminating drinking water reservoirs in Brazil for many years. Although acute effects of saxitoxin intoxication are well known, chronic deleterious outcomes caused by repeated saxitoxin exposure still require further investigation. The aim of the present work is to investigate the effects of consumption of drinking water contaminated with C. raciborskii for 30 days on learning and memory processes in rats. Methods The effects of saxitoxin (3 or 9 g/L STX equivalents) or cyanobacteria on behavior was determined using the open field habituation task, elevated plus maze anxiety model task, inhibitory avoidance task, and referential Morris water maze task. Results No effects of saxitoxin consumption was observed on anxiety and motor exploratory parameters in the elevated plus maze and open field habituation tasks, respectively. However, groups treated with 9 g/L STX equivalents displayed a decreased memory performance in the inhibitory avoidance and Morris water maze tasks. Conclusions These results suggest an amnesic effect of saxitoxin on aversive and spatial memories.

Behavioral alterations induced by repeated saxitoxin exposure in drinking water

Background: Blooms of the saxitoxin-producing cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii have been contaminating drinking water reservoirs in Brazil for many years. Although acute effects of saxitoxin intoxication are well known, chronic deleterious outcomes caused by repeated saxitoxin exposure still require further investigation. The aim of the present work is to investigate the effects of consumption of drinking water contaminated with C. raciborskii for 30 days on learning and memory processes in rats. Methods: The effects of saxitoxin (3 or 9 µg/L STX equivalents) or cyanobacteria on behavior was determined using the open field habituation task, elevated plus maze anxiety model task, inhibitory avoidance task, and referential Morris water maze task. Results: No effects of saxitoxin consumption was observed on anxiety and motor exploratory parameters in the elevated plus maze and open field habituation tasks, respectively. However, groups treated with 9 µg/L STX equivalents displayed a decreased memory performance in the inhibitory avoidance and Morris water maze tasks. Conclusions: These results suggest an amnesic effect of saxitoxin on aversive and spatial memories.(AU)

Perfil clínico e epidemiológico de gestantes infectadas pelo HIV em um serviço do sul do Brasil / Clinical and epidemiological profile of HIV-infected pregnant women in a service in south Brazil

OBJETIVO: analisar o perfil clínico e epidemiológico, o desfecho da gestação e a transmissão vertical de gestantes infectadas pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) atendidas no pré-natal do Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria (HUSM). MÉTODOS: foi realizado um estudo prospectivo na população de 139 gestantes portadoras do vírus HIV que foram atendidas no Ambulatório de Pré-natal de Alto Risco do HUSM durante o período de agosto de 2002 a agosto de 2007, e que tiveram pelo menos duas consultas de pré-natal neste serviço. A coleta de dados foi efetuada por meio de entrevista e preenchimento do protocolo de pesquisa durante a consulta de pré-natal. O protocolo era mantido anexado ao prontuário da paciente e mantido até o desfecho da gestação. Realizou-se análise descritiva das variáveis quantitativas utilizando-se o programa SPSS versão 15.0. RESULTADOS: dentre as 139 gestantes, a média de idade foi de 25,6 anos (±5,8), 79 (56,8 por cento) eram brancas, 81 (58,5 por cento) eram casadas ou viviam em união estável e 90 (65,0 por cento) tinham menos de oito anos de escolaridade. Cinquenta e um por cento das gestantes já tinham dois ou mais filhos, apresentando número de filhos superior à média estadual. O diagnóstico da infecção foi realizado em gestação atual ou anterior em mais de 70,0 por cento das vezes. Houve exposição sexual em 97,7 por cento e, destas, o parceiro era sabidamente infectado em 59,6 por cento. No período, dos casos adequadamente acompanhados, apenas um recém-nascido (0,7 por cento) contraiu a infecção pelo HIV. CONCLUSÕES: mulheres jovens em situação socioeconômica de vulnerabilidade, com baixa escolaridade e multíparas constituem a maioria da população de gestantes HIV-positivo atendidas no serviço. Avaliações realizadas durante o pré-natal foram relevantes para o diagnóstico da infecção na maioria dos casos. O diagnóstico precoce, associado ao adequado acompanhamento clínico, obstétrico, psicológico e cuidados de enfermagem, são...

PURPOSE: to analyze the clinical and epidemiological profile, the outcome of pregnancy and the vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected pregnant women receiving prenatal care at the University Hospital of Santa Maria (HUSM). METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on 139 HIV-infected pregnant women attended at the High-Risk Prenatal Care Outpatient Clinic of HUSM, during the period from August 2002 to August 2007, with at least two prenatal visits in this service. Data were collected by an interview and by filling out a research protocol during a prenatal visit. The protocol was attached to the medical records of the patient and kept until the outcome of gestation. Descriptive analysis of quantitative variables was performed using the SPSS software, version 15.0. RESULTS: The mean age of the 139 pregnant women studied was 25.6 years (±5.8), 79 (56.8 percent) were white, 81 (58.5 percent) were married or lived in a stable union, and 90 (65.0 percent) had less than eight years of schooling. Fifty-one percent of the pregnant women already had two or more children, with a number of children higher than the mean for the state. The infection was diagnosed during the present or a previous pregnancy in more than 70.0 percent cases. Sexual exposure occurred in 97.0 percent, and in 59.6 percent of cases the partner was known to be infected. During the study period, among the cases properly monitored, only one newborn (0.7 percent) was infected with HIV. CONCLUSIONS: Young women in a socioeconomic situation of vulnerability, with low schooling and multiparous represent the majority of HIV-positive pregnant women attended at the service. Evaluations performed during the prenatal period were relevant for the diagnosis of infection in most cases. An early diagnosis associated with proper clinical, obstetrical and psychological monitoring and with nursing care is important to provide appropriate treatment compliance and a reduction of the...