Evaluation of the reproductive profile of Subulina octona (Gastropoda, Subulinidae) experimentally infected by Paratanaisia bragai (Digenea, Eucotylidae) / Avaliação do perfil reprodutivo de Subulina octona (Gastropoda, Subulinidae) infectada experimentalmente por Paratanaisia bragai (Digenea, Eucotylidae)

Abstract Snails infected by trematodes may increase or decrease their reproductive activity in response to the presence of infection. Our aim was to verify the reproductive alterations in Subulina octona after infection by Paratanaisia bragai. The infected snails were individually exposed for 24 hours to 20 parasite eggs and four groups were formed (10, 20, 30 and 40 d.p.i.- days after infection), along with control groups. Every 10 days, the number of eggs in the reproductive tract, number of eggs hatched, galactogen content and histopathological changes were evaluated. The reproductive in the control and infected snails presented an alternating pattern, where periods of high production of eggs and newly hatched were followed by periods of low production. However, in relation to the amount of galactogen, both control and infected groups followed the same pattern of variation. In the histology, we observed the presence of male and female gametes with marked reduction in the number of oocytes. The results indicate that the intra-snail development of the parasite affects the reproductive biology of the host.

Resumo Moluscos infectados por trematódeos podem aumentar ou diminuir sua atividade reprodutiva em resposta à presença da infecção. Nosso objetivo foi verificar as alterações reprodutivas de Subulina octona após a infecção por Paratanaisia bragai. Os moluscos infectados foram individualmente expostos durante 24 horas a 20 ovos do parasito e quatro grupos foram formados (10, 20, 30 e 40 d.p.i. - dias pós infecção), com respectivos grupos controle. A cada 10 dias, o número de ovos no trato reprodutivo, o número de ovos eclodidos, o conteúdo de galactogênio e alterações histopatológicas eram avaliadas. O padrão reprodutivo nos moluscos controle e infectados evidenciou um comportamento alternante, nos quais períodos de alta produção de ovos e filhotes foram seguidos por períodos de baixa produção. No entanto, em relação ao conteúdo de galactogênio, moluscos controle e infectados seguiram o mesmo padrão de variação. Na histologia, observamos a presença de gametas masculinos e femininos com acentuada redução no número de óocitos. Os resultados indicam que o desenvolvimento intramolusco do parasito afeta a biologia reprodutiva do hospedeiro.

Evaluation of the reproductive profile of Subulina octona (Gastropoda, Subulinidae) experimentally infected by Paratanaisia bragai (Digenea, Eucotylidae).

Snails infected by trematodes may increase or decrease their reproductive activity in response to the presence of infection. Our aim was to verify the reproductive alterations in Subulina octona after infection by Paratanaisia bragai. The infected snails were individually exposed for 24 hours to 20 parasite eggs and four groups were formed (10, 20, 30 and 40 d.p.i.- days after infection), along with control groups. Every 10 days, the number of eggs in the reproductive tract, number of eggs hatched, galactogen content and histopathological changes were evaluated. The reproductive in the control and infected snails presented an alternating pattern, where periods of high production of eggs and newly hatched were followed by periods of low production. However, in relation to the amount of galactogen, both control and infected groups followed the same pattern of variation. In the histology, we observed the presence of male and female gametes with marked reduction in the number of oocytes. The results indicate that the intra-snail development of the parasite affects the reproductive biology of the host.

Evaluation of the reproductive profile of Subulina octona (Gastropoda, Subulinidae) experimentally infected by Paratanaisia bragai (Digenea, Eucotylidae)

Abstract Snails infected by trematodes may increase or decrease their reproductive activity in response to the presence of infection. Our aim was to verify the reproductive alterations in Subulina octona after infection by Paratanaisia bragai. The infected snails were individually exposed for 24 hours to 20 parasite eggs and four groups were formed (10, 20, 30 and 40 d.p.i.- days after infection), along with control groups. Every 10 days, the number of eggs in the reproductive tract, number of eggs hatched, galactogen content and histopathological changes were evaluated. The reproductive in the control and infected snails presented an alternating pattern, where periods of high production of eggs and newly hatched were followed by periods of low production. However, in relation to the amount of galactogen, both control and infected groups followed the same pattern of variation. In the histology, we observed the presence of male and female gametes with marked reduction in the number of oocytes. The results indicate that the intra-snail development of the parasite affects the reproductive biology of the host.

Resumo Moluscos infectados por trematódeos podem aumentar ou diminuir sua atividade reprodutiva em resposta à presença da infecção. Nosso objetivo foi verificar as alterações reprodutivas de Subulina octona após a infecção por Paratanaisia bragai. Os moluscos infectados foram individualmente expostos durante 24 horas a 20 ovos do parasito e quatro grupos foram formados (10, 20, 30 e 40 d.p.i. dias pós infecção), com respectivos grupos controle. A cada 10 dias, o número de ovos no trato reprodutivo, o número de ovos eclodidos, o conteúdo de galactogênio e alterações histopatológicas eram avaliadas. O padrão reprodutivo nos moluscos controle e infectados evidenciou um comportamento alternante, nos quais períodos de alta produção de ovos e filhotes foram seguidos por períodos de baixa produção. No entanto, em relação ao conteúdo de galactogênio, moluscos controle e infectados seguiram o mesmo padrão de variação. Na histologia, observamos a presença de gametas masculinos e femininos com acentuada redução no número de óocitos. Os resultados indicam que o desenvolvimento intramolusco do parasito afeta a biologia reprodutiva do hospedeiro.

Cardiovascular risk estimated in renal transplant recipients with the Framingham score.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is responsible for much of the mortality and morbidity observed in the renal transplant population. Some studies have applied the Framingham score mainly to the chronic kidney disease (CKD) on renal replacement therapy in an attempt to predict cardiovascular events, but the results underestimated the risk. It became evident at the participation of so-called nontraditional factors, such as anemia and inflammatory markers among others, were important predictors of risk in this population. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to apply the Framingham score to a population of renal transplant subjects to assess its quality to predict cardiovascular events among a population without the theoretically nontraditional risk factors. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of patients transplanted from 2005 to 2010 for the score as determined by sex, age, blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking history, and presence of diabetes mellitus. The final results expressed the risk for absolute development of cardiovascular diseases at the end of 10 years. RESULTS: Among 126 patients including 44 women and, 82 men of mean age 45 ± 16 years were 64 living-related and 62 deceased-donor grafts. The etiology of CKD was hypertension (58%), diabetes (37%), and other causes (5%). Fifty-nine percent of patients had a low risk of developing coronary artery diseases at the end of 10 years, 30% medium risk, and only 11% high risk when measured by the Framingham score. CONCLUSIONS: The assessment of cardiovascular risk using the Framingham risk score did not reflect the observations in the literature of both high mortality and high morbidity. Therefore, this was not a good method to assess the risk of cardiovascular disease, probably because it does not include cardiovascular risk factors in addition to traditional ones that are important in this population.

Efficacy of the trial-based thought record, a new cognitive therapy strategy designed to change core beliefs, in social phobia.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND BACKGROUND: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) often follows a chronic course and is associated with substantial impairment in functioning. Although results from clinical trials clearly establish evidence for efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy in treating this disorder, up to 50% of patients with SAD show little or no improvement. Thus, new approaches that have promised in improving the efficacy of treatment for SAD are needed. One such approach is the trial-based thought record (TBTR), which targets the restructuring of patients' core beliefs. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether patients receiving TBTR would report fewer symptoms of social anxiety and general psychiatric distress following treatment, relative to conventional cognitive therapy (CCT). METHODS: A two-arm randomized trial comparing TBTR (n = 17) with a set of CCT techniques (n = 19), which included the standard seven-column dysfunctional thought record and the positive data log in SAD patients according to DSM-IV. RESULTS: Scores on many outcome measures decreased significantly across the course of treatment in both groups (P < 0·001), including the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (FNE), Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SADS), Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Clinical Global Impression - Improvement. In addition, a one-way ancova, taking baseline values as covariates, showed that TBTR was significantly more efficacious than CCT in reducing the scores of FNE (P = 0·01 at mid-treatment and P = 0·004 at post-treatment), and SADS (P = 0·03 at post-treatment). WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: This study provides preliminary evidence that TBTR is at least as efficacious as CCT in reducing symptoms of SAD, pointing to the need for additional studies of TBTR in SAD and other psychiatric disorders.

Knowledge about transplantation and attitudes toward organ donation: a survey among medical students in northeast Brazil.

During the registration for the second semester of 2002, 779 of the 1001 students from the Medical School, Federal University of Bahia, Brazil, answered an anonymous multiple-choice questionnaire including demographic variables, knowledge about transplantation issues, and willingness to donate organs. Mean age was 21.9 +/- 2.9 years (range: 17 to 51 years); 59.5% were men. Regarding the knowledge of which organs and tissues could be transplanted, 99.1% answered kidneys, 96.1% heart, 88.2% liver, 41.1% lung, 24.0% pancreas, 9% bowel, 98.3% corneas, 89.5% bone marrow, 38.1% heart valves, 47.7% skin, and 18.5% bone and tendons. Regarding the criteria of death, 82.4% answered that it is the lack of all brain activity, 8.2% cardiac arrest, 5.2% irreversible coma, and 4.2% did not know. As to the Brazilian transplantation law, 47.3% did not know, 51% had heard about it, and 1.7% answered that they knew the law in detail. As to the willingness to donate organs, 538 (69.2%) were donors. Of 239 nondonors, 51.1% answered the reason for not donating was the lack of confidence in the heath system, 14.3% had no knowledge of the matter, 17.7% were concerned about organ removal before brain death, and 1.7% for religious reasons. The percentage of those willing to donate organs was greater among spiritualists than among Catholics and Protestants. The results of this study support a greater emphasis on providing information regarding transplantation in medical schools to improve the knowledge of future heath care professionals about transplantation and organ donation issues.

Astaxanthinogenesis in the yeast Phaffia rhodozyma : optimization of low-cost culture media and yeast cell-wall lysis.

Astaxanthin is a diketo-dihydroxy-carotenoid produced by Phaffia rhodozyma, a basidiomicetous yeast. A low-cost fermentation medium consisting of raw sugarcane juice and urea was developed to exploit the active sucrolytic/urelolytic enzyme apparatus inherent to the yeast. As compared to the beneficial effect of 0.1 g% urea, a ready nitrogen source, mild phosphoric pre inversion of juice sucrose to glucose and fructose, promptly fermentable carbon sources, resulted in smaller benefits. Corn steep liquor (CSL) was found to be a valuable supplement for both yeast biomass yield (9.2 g dry cells/L) and astaxanthin production (1.3 mg/g cells). Distillery effluent (vinace), despite only a slightly positive effect on yeast growth, allowed for the highest pigment productivity (1.9 mg/g cells). Trace amounts of Ni2 (1 mg/L, as a cofactor for urease) resulted in controversial effects, namely, biomass decrease and astaxanthin increase, with no effect on the release (and uptake) of ammonium ion from urea. Since the synthesized astaxanthin is associated with the yeast cell and the pigment requires facilitated release for aquaculture uses (farmed fish meat staining), an investigation of the yeast cell wall was undertaken using detergent-treated cells. The composition of the rigid yeast envelope was found to be heterogeneous. Its partial acid or enzymatic depolymerization revealed glucose and xylose as common monomeric units of the cell-wall glycopolymers. Yeast cell-wall partial depolymerization with appropriate hydrolases may improve the pigment bioavailability for captive aquatic species and poultry.