Analysis of Anatomical Characteristics and Morphometric Aspects of Infraorbital and Accessory Infraorbital Foramina.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to perform a morphological and morphometric study of the characteristics of the infraorbital foramen (IOF) and accessory infraorbital foramen (AIOF) in Brazilian skulls. METHODS: A sample calculation determined a total of 94 human skulls to be evaluated by a trained examiner for number, shape, diameters, and location of IOF in relation to anatomical landmarks. Number, size, shape, diameters, location, orientation, position, and distances in relation to anatomical landmarks were evaluated for the AIOF. Descriptive analysis, paired t test, Wilcoxon test, Pearson and Spearman correlations were used. RESULTS: A total of 188 IOFs and 48 AIOFs were found. Circular outline was the predominant shape for both IOFs and AIOFs. Infraorbital foramens presented in left sides had a significantly greater transverse diameter and distance from medial margin of the orbit when compared with IOFs located on the right sides (P <0.001). Accessory infraorbital foramens were most frequently found on the left sides of the skulls and had a superomedial position in relation to the IOFs. Accessory infraorbital foramens located on right sides had a significantly greater distance to anterior nasal spine when compared with AIOFs located on the left sides (P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this solid methodology-based study can help guide surgeons in accurately locating the IOF and AIOF, and consequently, their neurovascular bundles to perform safe procedures during maxillofacial interventions.

Comparative presynaptic effects of the volatile anesthetics sevoflurane and isoflurane at the mouse neuromuscular junction.

INTRODUCTION: Sevoflurane and isoflurane are anesthetics that cause muscle relaxation and potentiate the effects of neuromuscular blocking agents. Their presynaptic mechanisms of action are not understood completely, especially at the motor nerve terminal. METHODS: We compared the presynaptic effects of these anesthetics on the exocytosis of synaptic vesicles labeled with the dye FM1-43 at the mouse neuromuscular junction. RESULTS: Neither anesthetic evoked spontaneous exocytosis of synaptic vesicles, but both significantly inhibited the depolarization evoked by 4-aminopyridine and veratridine, suggesting a putative action on sodium channels. Exocytosis evoked by veratridine was inhibited by tetrodotoxin alone or in conjunction with sevoflurane or isoflurane, indicating that both agents may target voltage-gated sodium channels. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that sevoflurane and isoflurane inhibit exocytosis evoked by sodium-dependent depolarization and might act on tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium channels. These findings contribute to a better understanding of some clinical neuromuscular effects induced by these anesthetics.

Capacidade de resposta de bancos de alimentos na captação, distribuição e redução de desperdício de alimentos / La capacidad de respuesta de los bancos de alimentos en la captación, distribución y reducción del desperdicio alimentar / Response capacity of food banks in receiving, distributing and reducing food waste

Bancos de Alimentos são equipamentos de segurança alimentar que operamna arrecadação e distribuição de alimentos por meio da articulação com o setor alimentícioe com a sociedade civil. Este estudo se estruturou a partir de dois objetivos. O primeiro foiconstruir variáveis para avaliação de banco de alimentos. O segundo, avaliar a capacidadede resposta dos bancos na captação, distribuição e redução do desperdício alimentar.Trata-se de um estudo descritivo transversal realizado no período de março de 2010 ajulho de 2011 em seis bancos de alimentos implantados na Região Metropolitana de BeloHorizonte, Minas Gerais. Foi utilizado como instrumento de coleta de dados primários atécnica de grupo focal para construção das variáveis de avaliação e questionário estruturadopara o levantamento de dados sobre a capacidade de resposta dos bancos. O resultado dapesquisa permitiu a construção do instrumento de avaliação composto por três categorias:gestão e infraestrutura; condição de operacionalização; e resultado atingido e coberturade atendimento. Foi observado que a capacidade de resposta dos bancos é afetada pelasua baixa institucionalidade junto ao poder público, somada à frágil articulação dos bancoscom as entidades beneficiárias e a sociedade civil. Uma maior capacidade de cobertura foiidentificada no banco implantado em uma Central de Abastecimento...

Food banks are programs of food security that operate collecting and distributingfood through partnerships established in the food sector and civil society. This study wasstructured based on two objectives. The first was to establish variables to evaluate food banks.The second was to evaluate their response capacity in receiving, distributing and reducingfood waste. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out between March 2010 andJuly 2011 in six food banks located in Great Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Primarydata collection was based on the focus group method used to create variables for evaluation,and a structured questionnaire in order to collect data on food banks response capacity.The results of this research allowed the creation of an evaluation tool shaped by threecategories: management and structure; operational capacity; and results obtained and servicecover. It was determined that the response capacity of food banks is affected by its poorinstitutionalization towards the public system, evidenced by the structure of the team and itslack of employment relationship added to the fragile liaison between food banks, beneficiaryentities and civil society. The greatest cover capacity was identified in the food bank that wasestablished as the main food supplier of the region...

Bancos de Alimentos son equipos de seguridad alimentaria que actúanarrecadando y distribuyendo alimentos, por la articulación con asociados del ramo alimenticioy de la sociedad civil. Este estudio se estructuró a partir de dos objetivos. El primero fueconstruir variantes para evaluación de banco de alimentos. El segundo, evaluar la capacidadde respuesta de los bancos de alimentos en la captación, distribución y reducción deldesperdicio alimentar. Se trata de un estudio descriptivo transversal realizado en el períodode marzo de 2010 a julio de 2011, en seis bancos de alimentos implantados en la RegiónMetropolitana de Belo Horizonte. Fue utilizado como instrumento de colecta de datos 32primarios la técnica de grupo focal, para la construcción de las variables de evaluación ycuestionario estructurado para la recopilación de datos sobre la capacidad de respuesta delos bancos. El resultado de la investigación permitió construir el instrumento de evaluacióncompuesto por tres categorías: manejo/ infraestructura; condición de operación y resultadoalcanzado/cobertura de atención. Fue observado que la capacidad de respuesta de losbancos es afectada por su baja institucionalidad junto al poder público, evidente tanto en lacomposición del personal como en los vínculos de trabajo, además de la frágil articulación delos bancos con los locales beneficiarios y la sociedad civil. Más amplia capacidad de coberturafue identificada en el banco implantado en un Centro de Abastecimiento...

Halothane induces vesicular and carrier-mediated release of [3H]serotonin from rat brain cortical slices.

The serotonergic system may play a role during general anesthesia but the effect of the volatile anesthetic halothane on the release of serotonin (5-HT) is not fully understood. Rat brain cortical slices were labeled with [3H]5-HT to investigate the effects of halothane on the release of this neurotransmitter from the central nervous system. Halothane induced an increase on the release of [3H]5-HT that was dependent on incubation time and anesthetic concentration (0.006, 0.012, 0.024, 0.036, 0.048 and 0.072 mM). This effect was independent of extracellular calcium and was not affected by tetrodotoxin (blocker of voltage dependent Na+ channels). In contrast, the halothane-evoked [3H]5-HT release was reduced by BAPTA-AM, a membrane-permeable BAPTA analog that chelates intracellular Ca2+. The anesthetic-induced [3H]5-HT release depends on the ryanodine-sensitive intracellular calcium store since it was blocked by dantrolene and azumolene (inhibitors of the calcium-release through ryanodine receptors) but was not affected by aminoethoxydiphenylborate (2-APB), an inhibitor of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor. The [3H]5-HT release induced by halothane comes mainly from the vesicular pool since it was reduced in about 70% by reserpine, a blocker of vesicular monoamine transporter. The halothane-evoked release of [3H]5-HT release is reduced by fluoxetine, an inhibitor of 5-HT uptake, and the volatile agent also decreased the uptake of [3H]5-HT into rat brain cortical slices. Moreover, a decrease on halothane-induced release of [3H]5-HT was also observed when the brain cortical slices were incubated at low temperature, which is known to interfere with the carrier-mediated release of the neurotransmitter. Ouabain, a Na+/K+ ATPase pump inhibitor, which induces 5-HT release through reverse transport, also decreased [3H]5-HT release induced by halothane, confirming the involvement of a carrier-mediated release of the neurotransmitter in the presence of halothane. In conclusion, these data suggest that halothane induces vesicular and carrier-mediated release of [3H]5-HT in rat brain cortical slices.

The effect of sevoflurane on intracellular calcium concentration from cholinergic cells.

The mechanism of action of volatile anesthetics is not completely understood. Calcium release from internal stores may alter signaling pathways that influence neurotransmission. Abnormalities of the regulation of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) from patients with malignant hyperthermia is a hallmark of this syndrome indicating the potential of these agents to interact with proteins involved in Ca2+ signaling. In the present study, a cholinergic cell line (SN56) was used to examine whether the release of calcium from intracellular stores occurs in the presence of sevoflurane. Changes in [Ca2+]i were measured using fluo-4, a fluorescent calcium sensitive dye and laser scanning confocal microscopy. Sevoflurane induced an increase on [Ca2+]i from SN56 cells. The sevoflurane-induced increase on [Ca2+]i remained even when the cells were perfused with medium lacking extracellular calcium. However, this effect was abolished by BAPTA-AM, a chelator of intracellular calcium, suggesting the involvement of intracellular Ca2+ stores. Using cyclopiazonic acid, an inhibitor of sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase, we investigated whether the depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores interfered with the effect of sevoflurane. In the presence of this agent, sevoflurane caused a small but not significant rise on [Ca2+]i of the SN56 cells. Dantrolene, an inhibitor of ryanodine-sensitive calcium stores did not modify the sevoflurane increase on [Ca2+]i. Carbachol, a drug that releases Ca2+ from the IP3 pool, abolished the effect of sevoflurane. In addition, xestospongin D, a cell-permeant IP3 receptor antagonist, decreased significantly the sevoflurane increase on [Ca2+]i. Our data suggest that the sevoflurane-induced increase on [Ca2+]i from SN56 cells occurs through the release of calcium from IP3-sensitive calcium stores.