Nocturnal activity rhythm of nyssomyia intermedia (diptera: psychodidae: phlebotominae) in campus fiocruz mata atlântica, an american cutaneous leishmaniasis transmission area, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Nyssomyia intermedia is an important vector of American cutaneous leishmaniasis. METHODS: Sand flies were captured in a Shannon trap and after landing on human collectors and retrieved monthly. Nocturnal activity was estimated using a log-linear model. RESULTS: Peak sand fly collection in the Shannon trap occurred in summer and winter, and peak fly collection on humans occurred in spring and summer. CONCLUSIONS: Ny. intermedia was captured in both the hottest and coldest months, indicating its adaptability to different seasons and the possibility of disease transmission at any time of the year in Campus Fiocruz Mata Atlântica, Brazil.

Effect of hospitalization on rest-activity rhythm and quality of life of cancer patients.

Rest-activity rhythm and quality of life (QoL) in three cohorts, namely (1) cancer in-patients, (2) out-patients, and (3) control subjects were studied. The patients of the former two groups were chosen randomly from the Regional Cancer Center, Raipur, India. All patients received chemotherapy for 3-4 consecutive days. The in-patients remained hospitalized for the entire period of chemotherapy plus one day post treatment. The out-patients, unlike the in-patients, went to their homes daily after treatment. Rest-activity rhythm of the patients was monitored using Actical. Quality of life (QoL) and psychological status of patients were assessed using EORTC QLQ-C30 and Hospital Anxiety & Depression Scale, respectively. Each subject exhibited significant circadian rhythm in rest-activity. The average values for Mesor, amplitude, peak activity, autocorrelation coefficient and dichotomy index of all three groups varied significantly between one group to the other in the following order: in-patient < out-patient < control. Further, quality of life, measured from responses on functional and symptom scales, was better off in cancer out-patients compared to the in-patients. It is concluded that hospitalization alters rest-activity rhythm parameters markedly and deteriorates QoL in cancer patients. Nevertheless, further extensive investigation is desirable to support the above speculation and to ascertain if hospitalization produces similar effects on patients suffering from diseases other than cancer.

Mudança de fotoperíodo: proposta de modelo experimental / Change of photoperiod: proposal for an experimental model

Introduction: There are some physiological and behavioral variations related to seasonality, and light is the major synchronizer of these variations according to the seasonal functions in temperate latitudes. Thus, the objective of this study was to validate a methodology for photoperiod modification in Wistar rats byevaluating its interference in the biological rhythm. Methods: Three male adult Wistar rats (60 days) were exposed to 3 photoperiods of 17 days each, with different light/dark cycles (LD): LDPP/SDPP Animal, exposed to initial LD 16:30/07:30 (LDPP, long-day photoperiod) and final LD 07:30/16:30 (SDPP, short-day photoperiod); SDPP/LDPP Animal, exposed to initial LD 07:30/16:30 and final LD 16:30/07:30; and final LD 16:30/07:30; and CT Animal, under constant LD 12:00/12:00. LDPP/SDPP and SDPP/LDPP animals underwent an intermediate photoperiod between initial and final LD, in which light exposure was increased or reduced by 30 min each day until the photoperiods were inverted. All animals remained isolated during the study and had their core temperatures continuously measured by sensors implanted in the peritoneal cavity and their locomotive activity assessed by sensors attached to their cages. The data obtained were used to construct histograms. Results: LDPP/SDPP and SDPP/LDPP animals had a longer period of activity in the SDPP than in the LDPP. The temperature of the CT animal followed a rhythmic pattern. The rat strain used was sensitive to changes in photoperiod. Conclusions: The model proposed and validated in this study can be used in experiments that aim to assess the consequences of changes in light exposure.

Introdução: Existem variações fisiológicas e comportamentais relacionadas à sazonalidade, e a luz é o principal sincronizador destas variações de acordo com as funções sazonais em latitudes de climas temperados. Sendo assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi validar uma metodologia de modificação de fotoperíodo com ratos Wistar avaliando sua interferência no ritmo biológico. Métodos: Três ratos Wistar machos adultos (60 dias) foram expostos a 3 fotoperíodos de 17 dias cada, com diferentes ciclos claro/escuro (light/dark, LD): Animal CL/CC, exposto a LD inicial 16:30/07:30 (CL, claro longo) e LD final 07:30/16:30 (CC, claro curto); Animal CC/CL, exposto a LD inicial 07:30/16:30 e LD final 16:30/07:30; e Animal CT, sob LD constante 12:00/12:00. Os animais CL/CC e CC/CL passaram por um fotoperíodo intermediário entre o LD inicial e final, no qual a exposição à luz foi aumentada ou diminuída em 30 min a cada dia até que os fotoperíodos se invertessem. Todos os animais permaneceram isolados durante o estudo e tiveram suas temperaturas corporais continuamente aferidas por sensores implantados na cavidade peritoneal e suas atividades locomotoras medidas por sensores acoplados às suas caixas. Os dados obtidos foram utilizados para construção de histogramas. Resultados: Os animais CL/CC e CC/CL apresentaram maior período de atividade em CC do que em CL. A temperatura do animal CT seguiu um padrão rítmico. A linhagem utilizada apresentou sensibilidade à mudança de fotoperíodo. Conclusão: O modelo proposto e validado neste estudo pode ser usado em experimentos que tenham como objetivo avaliar as consequências das mudanças de exposição à luz.

Non-thermal continuous and modulated electromagnetic radiation fields effects on sleep EEG of rats

In the present study, the alteration in the sleep EEG in rats due to chronic exposure to low-level non-thermal electromagnetic radiation was investigated. Two types of radiation fields were used; 900 MHz unmodulated wave and 900 MHz modulated at 8 and 16 Hz waves. Animals has exposed to radiation fields for 1 month [1 h/day]. EEG power spectral analyses of exposed and control animals during slow wave sleep [SWS] and rapid eye movement sleep [REM sleep] revealed that the REM sleep is more susceptible to modulated radiofrequency radiation fields [RFR] than the SWS. The latency of REM sleep increased due to radiation exposure indicating a change in the ultradian rhythm of normal sleep cycles. The cumulative and irreversible effect of radiation exposure was proposed and the interaction of the extremely low frequency radiation with the similar EEG frequencies was suggested

Regulación circadiana del comportamiento: diferencias entre especies diurnas y nocturnas / Circadian regulation of behavior: differences between diurnal and nocturnal species

La mayoría de los organismos, incluyendo los humanos, exhiben ritmos diarios de aproximadamente 24 horas en fisiología, funciones hormonales y conducta. En mamíferos, estos ritmos son controlados por un marcapasos circadiano endógeno ubicado en el núcleo supraquiasmático (NSQ) del hipotálamo que determina la organización temporal de varias conductas y procesos fisiológicos. El control circadiano de ritmos diarios difiere en especies diurnas y nocturnas pero los mecanismos que pueden explicar dichas diferencias se desconocen aún. El objetivo de esta revisión es resumir el estado actual del conocimiento sobre los relojes circadianos y de las diferencias entre especies diurnas y nocturnas.

Most organisms, including humans, show daily rhythms of about 24 hours in physiology, hormonal function, and behavior. In mammals, these rhythmsare controlled by an endogenous circadian pacemaker localized in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus that determines thetemporal organization of several behaviors and physiological processes.Circadian control of daily rhythms differs in diurnal and nocturnal speciesbut many of the mechanisms that may explain these differences remain stillunknown. The aim of this review is to summarize our current knowledge of the circadian clocks and the differences between diurnal and nocturnal species.

Nocturnal activity and biting rhythm of sand flies [diptera; psychodidae] in Al-Agool, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia

The study of phlebotomine sand flies activity and biting rhythms are of vital importance determining the period of maximum risk of Leishmania infection, prevention of transmission, and in successful control. This study was carried out aiming to reach a better understanding of the phlebotomine sandflies activity and biting rhythms in Al-Agool village, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia, an area of zonootic cutaneous leishmaniasis. Three collection methods were used to collect sand flies; CDC miniature light traps, sticky traps and aspirator collection off human bait, for six nights [12 hours each] in May and June, 2007. Four species were detected; Phlebotomus papatasi, P sergenti, Sergentomyia cyldei and S. antennata. P. papatasi was found to be the most abundant species [81%]. Sticky traps sampled the greater number of phlebotomine flies [43.4%], followed by light traps [31%], catching all of the 4 collected species. Human bait sampled 25.6%, only Phlebotomus species were collected by this method. Both sexes of collected sand flies displayed nocturnal activity with different patterns; the females nocturnal activity was repuscu1ar, exhibiting two peaks of activity, a larger one after dusk and a smaller one before dawn, whereas t of males was clearly nocturnal. Also, females biting rhythms follow that of nocturnal activity. This poses a greater risk for humans to be bitten and infected by the 'various sand fly-borne pathogens. This is especially important in intra-domiciliary settings during the night, in particular, after dusk and before dawn

Efeitos do treinamento resistido na força máxima, na flexibilidade e na autonomia funcional de mulheres idosas / Effect of resistive training on the maximum strenght, flexibility and functional autonomy of elderly woman

O objetivo desse estudo foi verificar os efeitos do treinamento resistido na força máxima, na flexibilidade e na autonomia funcional, bem como a correlação existente entre a força máxima e a autonomia funcional de idosas (grupo de força - GF n=11, = 66,3±7,84 anos e um grupo controle - GC n=11, =65,1±3,33 anos). OGF foi submetido a um treinamento contra resistência de força (75-85% 1RM), por 16 semanas, 2 dias/semana. O tratamento estatístico utilizado foi correlação de Pearson e o teste ôtõ de Student. Os dados mostraram resultados significativos do GF no ganho da força máxima, flexibilidade e autonomia funcional, e correlação significativa entre a força máxima medida no exercício supino reto (SR) e o teste de autonomia funcional levantarda posição de decúbito ventral (LPDV) (r=-0,67). Os dados sugerem que o programa de treinamento melhorou o desempenho das atividades da vida diária da amostra, com um treinamento de apenas 2 dias/semana.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of resistive training on maximum strength, flexibility and functional autonomy, as well as the correlation between maximum strength and functional autonomy of the elderly women (strength group, GF, n=11, = 66.3 ± 7.84 years/control group, GC, n=11, =65.1 ± 3.33 years). They participated of a resistive training (75-85% 1RM) during 16 weeks, 2 days/week. Statistical procedures were PearsonÆs correlation and Student t-test, using the SPSS package, version 12.0. Data showed significant results for GF on the strength, flexibility and functional autonomy, and significant correlation between strength and functional autonomy (r=-0.67). The data suggested that training program enhances performance in activities of daily living with a training protocol of only 2 days/week.

Mecanismos do ciclo sono-vigília / Sleep-wake cycle mechanisms

Três sub-divisões hipotalâmicas são importantes no ciclo sono-vigília: o hipotálamo anterior (núcleos gabaérgicos e núcleos supraquiasmáticos), o hipotálamo posterior (núcleo túbero-mamilar histaminérgico) e o hipotálamo lateral (sistema hipocretinas). O sistema gabaérgico inibitório do núcleo pré-óptico ventro-lateral (VLPO) do hipotálamo anterior é responsável pelo início e manutenção do sono NREM. Os neurônios supraquiasmáticos (NSQs) do hipotálamo anterior são responsáveis pelo ritmo circadiano do ciclo sono-vigília. Os núcleos aminérgicos, histaminérgicos, as hipocretinas e núcleos colinérgicos do prosencéfalo basal apresentam-se ativos durante a vigília, inibindo o núcleo pré-óptico ventro-lateral, promovendo a vigília. O processo de inibição-estimulação é a base do modelo da interação recíproca entre os grupos de células wake-off-sleep-on e células wake-off-sleep-on reguladores do ciclo sono-vigília. O modelo da interação recíproca também se aplica aos núcleos colinérgicos (células REM-on) e aminérgicos (células REM-off) do tronco cerebral no controle temporal do sono REM-NREM.

Changes in circadian sleep-wake and rest-activity rhythms during different phases of menstrual cycle / 生理学报

The results of previous studies on the menstrual-related sleep changes were inconsistent. The menstrual-related circadian sleep-wake and rest-activity rhythms changes are still uncertain. Using actigraphic monitoring of wrist activity, we investigated the sleep-wake and rest-activity patterns of 12 normally cyclic healthy women during reproductive life. Multivariate analyses were performed during the four phases of the menstrual cycle: menstrual phase (lst to 5th day of menstrual cycle), late follicular/peri-ovulation phase (11th to 15th day), early to mid luteal phase (18th to 23rd day) and late luteal phase (25th to 28th day), respectively. The variables of circadian sleep-wake pattern were similar in the four phases, except an increased tendency of the sleep latency in peri-ovulation phase compared with the early to mid-luteal phase (19+/-18 vs 9+/-6), but unfortunately no statistical significance were found (P<0.10). Concerning the circadian patterning of rest and activity, the interdaily stability (IS) in menstrual phase was significantly higher than the early to mid luteal phase (P<0.05). In early to mid luteal phase, the M10 onset time was significantly earlier compared with that of the late follicular/peri-ovulation phase (P<0.05), and the cosinor peak time was significantly earlier compared with that of the late luteal phase (P<0.05). The circadian periodogram calculated the period length of the rhythm of average woman. The average length was (24.01+/-0.29) h, and there was no significant difference among the four menstrual phases. The results suggest that the phase of circadian rest-activity rhythm may be modulated by the menstrual cycle, but the quantity and quality of the rest-activity rhythm have no essential different, and that menstrual cycle may have no effects on the circadian sleep-wake rhythm in normally cyclic healthy women.

Allometric scaling of biological rhythms in mammals

A wide spectrum of cyclic functions in terrestrial mammals of different size, from the 3-gram shrew to the 3-ton elephant, yields an allometric exponent around 0.25, which is correlated - as a kind of common denominator - with the specific metabolic rate. Furthermore, the applicability of these empirical findings could be extrapolated to chronological events in the sub-cellular realm. On the other hand, the succession of growth periods (T98 percent) until sexual maturity is reached also follows the 1/4 power rule. By means of Verhulst's logistic equation, it has been possible to simulate three different biological conditions, which means that by modifying the numerical value of only one parameter, revertible physiological and pathological states can be obtained, as for instance isostasis, homeostasis and heterostasis.

Study on cytotoxic activities of some derivatives of 5- nitrofurfural

Six derivatives of 5-nitrofurfural were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities. The cytotoxic effect has been tested in vitro on the tumor cell lines KB and FI. All six tested compounds demonstrated a significant cytotoxic effect in both examined tumor cell lines. Among these, the compound H25 showed the highest activity

Ciclo sueño vigilancia y obesidad / Sleep wake cycle and obesity

La relación entre el hombre y su ambiente requiere, necesariamente, ajustes fisiológicos y comportamentales indispensables para el mantenimiento de la homeostasia. Para ejercer estas adecuaciones, el ser humano está dotado de dos tipos de adaptaciones funcionales: a) las reactivas, que son modificaciones del organismo en respuesta a un cambio que ya ocurrió, y b) las anticipatorias o predictivas, que suceden antes de que intervengan los predecibles cambios en las claves ambientales (homeostasia anticipatoria). Enfatizamos, entonces, el marco temporal de 24 horas en que fluctúan las diversas variables fisiológicas producto de los relojes biológicos, y, en particular, el ciclo sueño/vigilia (CSV). La relación de fase de las diversas variables del organismo, constituye el orden temporal interno (OTI). La preservación de este OTI es parte fundamental de nuestra fisiología, pues asegura el establecimiento de una adecuada eficiencia funcional y promueve una armoniosa interacción con nuestro entorno. La ruptura incluso transitoria de este OTI, determina una desincronización interna. Postulamos que la transgresión del OTI gatilla y/o magnifica las disfunciones conducentes a enfermedades crónicas, incluyendo la obesidad y sus complicaciones clínicas

Los mecanismos pre y postsinápticos que intervienen en la inducción y mantenimiento de la potenciación a largo plazo / Pre and post synaptic mechanisms involved in the inductment and maintainance of long-term potentiation

La modificación en la fortaleza de las conexiones sinápticas es una variable crítica que contribuye en varios aspectos al funcionamiento del sistema nervioso, incluyendo al aprendizaje, a la memoria (24,34,40), y en algunas neuropatologías. Cualquier modelo que presente una modificación sotenida en la respuesta sináptica representa posibilidad de analizar los mecanismos plásticos y adaptativos del sistema nervioso, así como el efecto de ciertas drogas de uso psiquiátrico sobre estos mecanismos o de sus características bajo condiciones patológicas. La Potenciación a Largo Plazo (LTP, del inglés Long-term potentiation), se ubica actualmente como uno de los modelos más útiles de plasticidad neuronal. En general, existe el acuerdo de que la LTP, definida como un incremento de larga duración en la eficacia sináptica, presenta dos fases: inducción y mantenimiento. Diversos estudios han sugerido que los principales mecanismos que intervienen en la inducción de la LTP incluyen la participación (principalmente en el giro dentado y en el área CA1 del hipocampo) de los receptores tipo NMDA(N-metil-D-aspartato) y no-NMDA, del calcio, etc. La dinámica de estos mecanismos explica algunas de las características principales de la LTP: la especificidad sináptica, la cooperatividad y la asociatividad. Con respecto a la fase de mantenimiento, hay controversia acerca de si los mecanismos responsables de la persistencia del fenómeno son exclusivamente presinápticos, postsinápticos o si comprenden a ambos sitios de la sinapsis(12), aunque, al parecer, esta última opción es la más viable. En múltiples investigaciones se ha referido que la inducción o el mantenimiento de la LTP pueden verse alterados bajo diversas situaciones: ya sea por la presencia de agonistas o antagonistas del glutamato, del GABA, de la estructura anatómica donde se estudia o por los parámetros de estimulación eléctrica utilizada para la inducción. En aspectos realcionados con la práctica clínica se ha señalado que la LTP puede modificarse por sustancias empleadas en la farmacoterapia psiquiátrica, en modelo experimentales de epilepsia, o que algunos de los mecanismo celulares importantes en la LTP se presentan alterados mientras que otros se preservan en el cerebro de pacientes con trastornos neurodegenerativos como la enfermedad de Alzheimer

Circadian and ultradian rhythms of drinking behavior of albino rats maintained in constant darkness

The objetive of the present study was to investigate the circadian and the ultradian rhythms of drinking behavior in Wistar rats maintained under conditions of constant darkness. Six mature male rats (weighing 270-350 g) were exposed to light-dark 12:12-h cycles (LD 12:12, lights on at 12:00 h) for 35 days and then switched to constant darkness (DD) conditions for at least 2 weeks. Drinking behavior was monitored continuously with a standard drinkometer circuit and the data were stored in 5-min bins. A modification of Enright's periodogram technique was used to evaluate the free-running drinking behavior circadin rhythm. Ultradian rhythms in drinking behavior were estimated by the Fast Fouries Transform (FFT) technique. Two of the animals (rats 4 and 6) showed no statistically significant circadian or ultradian rhythms and the other four showed free-running drinking circardian rhythm behavior shorter than 24 h (ranging from 23.333 to 23.967 h). Ultradian rhythms of drinking behavior of 12- and 8-h periods were detected in 4 (rats 1, 2, 3 and 5) and 2 (rats 1 and 5) animals, respectively. The relation of the compound structure of the circadian and ultradian rhythms is discussed demonstrating that drinking behavior is a good marker for studies of physiology of temporal organization.

Infradian modulation of liver nucleic acid and lipid content of adult female Lewis/S rats

Infradian modulation with periods of 168 h and 120 h characterizes the RNA, DNA and lipid content of the liver in adult female Lewis/S rats. Multilinear analysis shwos that the fit of an infradian cosine curve with these periods is statistically significant below the 5% level (P = 0.011;P = 0.007 and P = 0.013) and that they account for 19.0, 22.7 and 20.1% of the overall variability, respectively

Metodologia para la deteccion y analisis de patrones de actividad / Methodology for the detection and analysis of activity patterns

Se describe un método simple para el registro de patrones de actividad en animales, basado en una transducción realizada con sensores piezoeléctricos unidos a una jaula modificada. La señal es luego filtrada y digitalizada, y puede almacenarse para un posterior análisis

Filariasis in Bengkoka Peninsula, Sabah, Malaysia: bionomics of Mansonia sp.

Studies on age groups within activity cycles, age composition and survivorship in natural populations of Mansonia in Kampung Pantai, Bengkoka Peninsula of Sabah state have been described. Early activity of 3-5 parous Ma. bonneae during the first hour after sunset was noted. Age composition of Ma. bonneae at forest shade, indoor and outdoor of house, comparative buffalo vs human bait outdoor in Kampung Pantai showed all round high parous rates ranging from 66.7 to 75.4%. Population 3-parous and older ranged from 18.8 to 26.7%. Nine of the 14 infective Ma. bonneae were 3-parous and this segment of the population was engaged in active transmission. High parous rates were observed in Ma. dives and Ma. uniformis taken in small numbers. Parous rates of Ma. bonneae taken in Kampung Delima and Kampung Taradas were also high. Estimates of daily survivorship of Ma. bonneae and Ma. dives determined by two methods were very high.