Electrocorticographic description of the effects of anticonvulsant drugs used to treat lidocaine-induced seizures.

INTRODUCTION: Local anesthetics are widely used in clinical practice. While toxicity is rare, these drugs can cause potentially lethal seizures. OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we investigated the electrocorticographic (ECoG) and electromyographic patterns of seizures induced by acute lidocaine (LA) toxicity and treated with anticonvulsant drugs. The study used adult male Wistar rats to describe of the seizure-related behavior of LA and investigated the treatment with anticonvulsant drugs. RESULTS: The use of LA resulted in clear changes in the ECoG pattern, which presented characteristics of Status epilepticus, with increased intensity in all brainwaves. The decomposition of the cerebral waves showed an increase in the beta and gamma waves that may be related to tonic-clonic seizure. Although the treatment with anticonvulsants drugs reduces the power of brainwaves at frequencies between 1 and 40 Hz compared to the LA group, but only diazepam (DZP) was able to decrease the intensity of oscillations. The muscle contraction power also indicated a difference in the effectiveness of the three treatments. CONCLUSION: The sum of the evidence indicates that LA causes status epilepticus and that DZP is the most effective treatment for the control of these seizures, by restoring the systemic values to levels close to those recorded in the control group.

Alteration of Testosterone Levels Changes Brain Wave Activity Patterns and Induces Aggressive Behavior in Rats.

Testosterone is responsible for several changes in the brain, including behavioral and emotional responses, memory, and cognition. Given this, we investigated changes in the brain wave profile caused by supplementation with exogenous testosterone in both castrated and non-castrated rats. We also investigated the serum testosterone levels, renal and hepatic function, and the lipid and behavioral profiles. We found changes in the spectral wave power in both groups (castrated and non-castrated animals) supplemented with exogenous testosterone, consistent with an aggressive/hostile profile. These changes were observed in the electrocorticographic evaluation associated with increased power in low-frequency (delta and theta) and high-frequency (beta and gamma) activity in the supplemented animals. The castrated animals presented a significant decrease of wave power in the alpha frequency. This correlated with a decrease of the performance of the animals in the elevated plus-maze evaluation, given that the alpha wave is linked to the execution and visualization of motor processes. In the behavioral evaluation, the castrated animals presented a reduced permanence time in the elevated-plus maze, although this was prevented by the supplementation of testosterone. Testosterone supplementation induced aggressive behavior in non-castrated animals, but not in castrated ones. Supplemented animals had significantly elevated serum testosterone levels, while their urea levels were significantly lower, but without clinical significance. Our data indicate that testosterone supplementation in non-castrated rats, but not in castrated ones, causes electrocorticographic changes that could be associated with more aggressive and hostile behavior, in addition to indicating a potential for personality disorder. However, further studies are required to elucidate the cellular and molecular changes caused by acute testosterone supplementation.

Measles outbreak after 12 years without endemic transmission, Portugal, February to May 2017.

We report a measles outbreak in two Portuguese health regions (Algarve and Lisbon and the Tagus Valley) since February 2017, and which by 31 May resulted in 28 confirmed cases, of which 16 were unvaccinated. Thirteen cases were healthcare workers. One unvaccinated teenager died. Genotype B3 was identified in 14 cases from both regions. This outbreak occurs after 12 years without endemic measles transmission, and in a context of high measles vaccination coverage and immunity.

Crise do capital, precarização do trabalho e impactos no Serviço Social / Capital crisis, work precariousness and impacts on Social Service

O artigo analisa alguns impactos das transformações societárias em curso no período histórico de transição dos séculos XX e XXI na particularidade da profissão Serviço Social. A análise agrega um complexo de mediações essenciais para elucidar o significado das determinações da alienação do trabalho no exercício profissional, enquanto partícipe da divisão social do trabalho coletivo no processo de reprodução das relações sociais. O conteúdo apreende as particularidades das formas de precarização do trabalho e das manifestações da questão social enquanto expressões da alienação e fetichismo em tempos de crise do capital.

The article analyses some of the impacts of the transformations in society on Social Service during the historical period of transition of both the twentieth and the nineteenth centuries. The analysis aggregates some essential mediation to explain the meaning of the determination of work alienation in the professional practice, as it participates in the social division of collective work in the process of reproduction of social relationships. The contents elucidate the details of the forms of work precariousness and of the manifestations of the social issue as expressions of alienation and fetishism in times of capital crisis.

[Causes of deaths in Portugal and challenges in prevention]. / Causas de Morte em Portugal e Desafios na Prevenção.

In Portugal, the hope of living, in terms of probability, either at birth or at 65 years old, has reached levels that represent huge gains and certainly reflect the successful initiatives developed in many sectors in the last 30 years. In 2008-2010, the average life expectancy at birth was 79.20 years for men and women. By contrast, in 1980, the average life expectancy at birth was 71.78 years. Furthermore, premature mortality, defined as occurring before 70 years of age, expressed as rate, represents the likelihood of dying before this age, which is presently of 24.3%, meaning that one in four dies Portuguese citizen before reaching the age of 70. Main cause of deaths and the number of years in the Portuguese population that theoretically stops living when you die before the age of 70 (potential years lost), for both sexes, includes the following: traffic accidents with motor vehicles - 22,550 years; malignant tumor of trachea, bronchus and lung - 19,768 years, vascular brain diseases - 16,070 years, self-injury caused intentionally - 14,753 years. It's important to analyze these figures and its evolution in order to allow an understanding of their impact and implement effective corrective measures. The contribution of actions and programs to prevent some of the above causes of deaths and potential years lost is still to be objectively interpreted but it is well known the importance of reducing risks factors as tobacco and alcohol consumption, encouraging balanced nutrition in calories and composition, promoting regular physical exercise and improving information and health education on the reduction of many chronic non-communicable diseases, what in turn, reflects in the decline of premature mortality. It is essential to analyze the causes that anticipate the death of the Portuguese population and the cause of these causes, that is, their risk factors and design programs that reduce the exposure of citizens to avoidable risks, which is the essence of all public health programmes.

[Influenza activity 2000/2001]. / Actividade gripal em Portugal no inverno de 2000/2001: análise antigénica e genética das estirpes de vírus influenza.

Influenza viral infections are an important cause of morbidity in all age groups and are associated with a high mortality rate amongst the elderly and in risk groups. The current study analyses data from the epidemiological surveillance of influenza during the 2000/2001-winter season. Clinical, epidemiological and virological data relative to cases of influenza syndrome were collected via the National Influenza Surveillance Scheme, in collaboration with the General Directory of Health and integrates the information obtained by the Network of Sentinel Medical Practitioners and Emergency Units. The data analysis hereby obtained shows a low influenza activity during the 2000/2001-winter season, with an epidemiological period characterized by small duration and intensity. The incidence rate of influenza-like illnesses increased above the base line during three weeks and didn't surpass 74 cases per 1,000,000 inhabitants. Influenza B viruses were predominant with the simultaneous presence of influenza A (H1 and H3). The antigenic and genetic characterisation of the isolates allowed the confirmation of the similarity between these viral strains and the vaccine strains as well as the extent of the antigenic drift. Despite the antigenic similarity between the majority of influenza B isolates and the vaccine strains it's noticeable that the genetic characteristics showed an evolution directed towards the B/Sichuan/379/99 strain, which would later be incorporated in the 2001/2002 influenza vaccine. The co-circulation of two different lineages was consequently observed by the phylogenetic analysis of the B strains isolated in our country.