Pigeon as a model to study peripheral projections from the horizontal semicircular canal vestibular apparatus to a brainstem target immunoreactive for AMPA

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate whether the pigeon (Columba livia) is a good model for evaluating the vestibular system involved with postural maintenance during movement. Methods: This study maps the brainstem targets of the horizontal ampullary inputs from the vestibular periphery of the pigeon. We used biotin dextran amine (BDA) injection in horizontal semicircular canal (HSCC), immunohistochemistry for GluR2/3 and GluR4 AMPA and computerized histomorphology reconstruction. Results: Our results show the same distribution pattern with ipsilateral projections to vestibular nuclear complex (VNC) from the HSCC, with the majority of labeled fibers being, long, thin, with few varicosities and many ramifications. Horizontal semicircular canal projections achieve neurons belonging to all nuclei of the VNC with exception of dorsal portion of lateral vestibular nucleus and this area express GluR2/3 and GluR4 AMPA receptors reinforcing the idea of glutamate participation in these connections. Conclusions: Pigeon is an appropriated experimental model to study of projections of HSCC and reinforcing the information that the vestibular system has strong relation with the fast responses necessary for postural control. Moreover, its phylogenetic organization apparently conservation, also seems to be a fundamental characteristic for vertebrates.

Isolation of Helicobacter pylori in gastric mucosa and susceptibility to five antimicrobial drugs in Southern Chile

Helicobacter pylori colonizes more than 50 percent of the world population thus, it is considered an important cause of gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the isolation frequency of H. pylori in Southern Chile from patients with symptomatology compatible with gastritis or gastric ulcer and to correlate these findings with demographic parameters of infected patients and the susceptibility profiles of the isolated strains to the antimicrobial drugs used in the eradication treatments. A total of 240 patients were enrolled in the study. Each gastric biopsy was homogenized and seeded onto blood agar plates containing a selective antibiotics mixture (DENT supplement). Plates were incubated at 37° C in a microaerophilic environment for five days. The susceptibility profiles to amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, tetracycline and metronidazole were determined using the E-test method. H. pylori was isolated from 99 patients (41.3 percent) with slightly higher frequency in female (42 percent positive cultures) than male (40.2 percent positive cultures). With regard to age and educational level, the highest isolation frequencies were obtained in patients between 21-30 (55 percent) and 41-50 (52.6 percent) years old, and patients with secondary (43.9 percent) and university (46.2 percent) educational levels. Nineteen (21.6 percent) strains showed resistance to at least one antimicrobial drug. Tetracycline was the most active antimicrobial in vitro, whereas metronidazole was the less active. One strain (5.3 percent) showed resistance to amoxicillin, clarithomycin and metronidazole, simultaneously.

Serotonin and circadian rhythms

All mammal behaviors and functions exhibit synchronization with environmental rhythms. This is accomplished through an internal mechanism that generates and modulates biological rhythms. The circadian timing system, responsible for this process, is formed by connected neural structures. Pathways receive and transmit environmental cues to the central oscillator, the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus, which mediates physiological and behavioral alterations. The suprachiasmatic nucleus has three major inputs: the retinohypothalamic tract (a direct projection from the retina), the geniculohypothalamic tract (an indirect photic projection originating in the intergeniculate leaflet), and a dense serotonergic plexus from the raphe nuclei. The serotonergic pathway, a source of non-photic cues to the suprachiasmatic nucleus, modulates its activity. The importance of raphe nuclei in circadian rhythms, especially in photic responses, has been demonstrated in many studies. Serotonin is the raphe neurotransmitter that triggers phase shifts, inhibits light-induced phase-shifts, and plays a role in controlling the sleep-wake cycle. All data to date have demonstrated the importance of the raphe, through serotonergic afferents, in adjusting circadian rhythms and must therefore be considered a component of the circadian timing system. The aim of this paper is to review the literature addressing the involvement of serotonin in the modulation of circadian rhythm

Perfil antropométrico de atletas brasileiros de voleibol infanto juvenil em diferentes níveis de qualificação esportiva / Anthropometrical profile of Brazilian junior volleyball players for different sports requirement levels / Perfil antropométrico de jugadores brasileños infantiles y juveniles de voleibol, en diferentes niveles de calificación deportiva

Objetivo O propósito do estudo foi investigar as características antropométricas de atletas infanto juvenis de voleibol masculino do Brasil divididos em 3 grupos de qualificação esportiva: Alta Qualificação (AQ) composta por atletas da seleção nacional; Qualificação Intermediária (QI) formada pelos atletas participantes do Campeonato Brasileiro de Seleções Estaduais; e Baixa Qualificação (BQ) constituída por atletas de nível escolar. Materiais e métodos Foram avaliados 101 atletas, AQ (n=16), QI (n=68) e BQ (n=17) com faixa etária de 16,7±0,5; 16,6±0,5; e 16,2±0,7 anos, respectivamente. Foram realizadas as seguintes medidas: massa corporal, estatura, altura total, percentual de gordura e somatótipo de Heath & Carter. A análise estatística foi descritiva e inferencial através do Kruskal Wallis Test para detecção de diferenças entre os grupos, com significância de p<0,05, e o coeficiente de correlação de Spearman para determinar as associações entre as características antropométricas e o nível de qualificação, consideradas significantes e muito significantes com p<0,05 e p<0,01 respectivamente. Resultados Diferenças significativas (p<0,05) foram detectadas entre os grupos de atletas para massa corporal, estatura, altura total e ectomorfia. Foi observada uma correlação "forte" para estatura, e "regular" para altura total, massa corporal e ectomorfia conforme se eleva o nível de qualificação dos atletas. Conclusão Os resultados propiciaram dados normativos dos atletas avaliados que permitirão aos técnicos e preparadores físicos utilizar estas informações durante o processo de treinamento como instrumento para seleção esportiva de jovens talentosos no voleibol.

Objective This study was aimed at investigating the anthropometrics characteristics of male Brazilian junior volleyball players, organised into 3 sports requirement groups: high qualification (HQ) formed by the national team, middle qualification (MQ) formed by athletes playing in the Brazilian national championships and low qualification (LQ) formed by players at school level. Materials and Methods 101 athletes were observed, HQ (n=16), MQ (n=68) and LQ (n=17), aged 16.7±0.5; 16.6±0.5 and 16.2±0.7 years, respectively. There following were evaluated: body mass, height, standing reach height, percent body fat and Heath & Carter somatotype. The statistical analysis was descriptive and inferential, the Kruskal Wallis test being used for detecting differences between groups (p<0.05 significance) and Spearman correlation coefficient for establishing association between anthropometric characteristics and requirement levels, considering p<0,05 e p<0.01 to be significant and highly significant, respectively. Results Significant differences (p<0.05) were detected between athlete groups for body mass, height, standing reach height and ectomorphy. A "strong" correlation for height and "regular" correlation for standing reach height, body mass and ectomorphy were observed, according to players' height or classification. Conclusions The results gave normative data for athletes which will allow coaches and physical instructors to use such information during training as a sports' selection instrument for young talented volleyball players.

Objetivo Investigar las características antropométricas de jugadores infantiles y juveniles de voleibol masculino de Brasil, divididos en tres grupos de calificación deportiva: Alta Calificación (AC) formada por atletas de la selección nacional; Calificación Intermedia (CI) formada por los atletas participantes en el Campeonato Brasileño de Selecciones de las Provincias; y Baja Calificación (BC) constituida por atletas escolares. Materiales y Métodos Fueran evaluados 101 atletas, AQ (n=16), QI (n=68) y BQ (n=17) con edad de 16,7 ± 0,5; 16,6 ± 0,5; e 16,2 ± 0,7 años, respectivamente. Se hicieron las mediciones de peso, altura, altura total, porcentual de grasa, y somatotipo. El análisis estadístico fue descriptivo y inferencial por medio de Kruskal Wallis Test para detección de diferencias entre los grupos, con significancia de p<0,05, y el coeficiente de correlación de Spearman para detección de asociaciones entre las características antropométricas y los niveles de calificación, consideradas significativas y muy significativas con p<0,05 y p<0,01, respectivamente. Resultados Diferencias significativas (p<0,05) fueron detectadas entre los grupos de atletas para el peso, altura, altura total y ectomorfia. Se encontró una correlación "fuerte" para la estatura, y "regular" para altura total, peso y ectomorfia, conforme los niveles de calificación se elevan. Conclusiones Los resultados presentan datos normativos de los atletas evaluados y permiten que técnicos y preparadores físicos puedan utilizar esta información durante el proceso de entrenamiento como un instrumento de selección deportiva de jóvenes talentosos en voleibol.

Valoración del daño hepatico en el fallo agudo cardiocirculatorio en material de necropsias / Valuate of the hepatic injury in acute cardiocirculatory failure in necropsies

Con el objeto de valorar cuali-cuantitativamente el daño isquémico hepatocelular (hepatitis isquémica) en el fallo agudo cardiocirculatorio, y de establecer la significación clínica del mismo, 200/1165 protocolos de necropsia fueron seleccionados en base a clínica compatible con FAC. Revisado el material histológico, 33 casos presentaron necrosis centrolobulillar con o sin compromiso mediozonal, sin componente inflamatorio ni concausas tóxico infecciosas, representando el 16.5%. El compromiso lobulillar central fue de grado IV (50-100% de compromiso necrótico) en 96.9%, con lesión mediozonal asociada en 15.%, y de tipo confluente en 21.2%; 2 casos adicionales (5.7%) presentaron necrosis mediozonal aislada. Sólo seis pacientes presentaron clínica manifesta de hepatopatía aguda, 3.0% de los FAC y 18.2% de los que presentaron necrosis isquémica hepatocelular. Hipotensión sostenida previa fue comprobada en 4/6; tres presentaron formas seudo-hepatitis vírica, uno forma colestática, un síndrome hemorragíparo agregado, y el último, fallo hepático fulminante con encefalopatía grado IV (0.5% de FAC y 3.0% de los casos con daño patológico); la bilirrubinemia máxima osciló entre 3.4 y 10.2mg% y las enzimas citolíticas entre 5 y 40 veces los valores limite superior normal; 4 casos presentaron concentración de protrombina entre 25 y 50%; la necrosis centrolobulillar comprometió 100% de los lobulillos en todos los casos