Efeitos do treino aeróbico aquático sobre a cognição de um indivíduo após traumatismo crânio encefálico: estudo de caso / Effects of aquatic aerobic training on an individual's cognition after traumatic brain injury: a case study

Objetivo: Verificar a interferência do exercício aeróbico realizado no ambiente aquático na cognição de um indivíduo com Traumatismo Crânio Encefálico (TCE). Método: Trata-se de um estudo de caso experimental realizado no Setor de Fisioterapia Aquática da AACD, após a aprovação pelo CEP da instituição. Participou do estudo um indivíduo do sexo masculino, de 31 anos, que sofreu um TCE há quase de 12 meses da data da avaliação. Na anamnese, o indivíduo não relatou hidrofobia e, ao exame físico, o indivíduo não apresentou dor ou disfunções que comprometessem a realização dos exercícios do protocolo. Comprometeu-se a não realizar outra atividade física durante a realização do estudo. Foi submetido à avaliação neuropsicológica detalhada antes e após a intervenção de um protocolo de treino aeróbico aquático. O protocolo foi constituído de 12 sessões de 45 minutos, uma vez por semana, de treino aeróbico em uma bicicleta subaquática com acompanhamento de um fisioterapeuta. A temperatura da água foi de 33°C e imersão ao nível do processo xifóide. O monitoramento da intensidade do treino foi realizado através da frequência cardíaca (FC) e a FC alvo foi estipulada pela fórmula de Karvonenn. Resultados: O participante melhorou a pontuação nos testes de funções intelectuais, processos atencionais e velocidade de processamento de informações, habilidades viso espaciais, linguagem, raciocínio lógico, cálculo mental, raciocínio abstrato. Conclusão: O exercício aeróbico aquático interferiu positivamente nas funções cognitivas de um indivíduo com sequelas de um TCE.

Objective: To verify the interference of aerobic aquatic exercise performed in the cognition of an individual with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Method: This is experimental case study occured in the Aquatic Physiotherapy Sector of the AACD. It was aprroved by the institution's Research Ethics Committee, protocol number 3,171,742. A 31-year-old male who underwent a TBI (almost 12 months from the evaluation date) participated in the study. The participant did not report hydrophobia and, on physical assessment, he did not present pain or dysfunctions that compromised his physical performance. He undertook not to perform another physical activity during the study. A neuropsychological evaluation was carried out before and after the intervention. The protocol consisted of 12 sessions of 45 minutes, once a week, aerobic training on an underwater bike with a physiotherapist monitoring. The water temperature was 33°C and immersion at the level of the xifoid process. The training intensity monitoring was performed through heart rate (HR) and target HR was stipulated by Karvonenn formula. Results: The participant improved the score in the tests of intellectual functions, intentional processes and speed of information processing, spatial vision skills, language, logical reasoning, mental calculus, abstract reasoning. Conclusion: Aquatic aerobic exercise positively interfered with the cognitive functions of an individual with sequelae of an TBI.

The Effect of Sugarcane Straw Aging in the Field on Cell Wall Composition.

Cellulosic ethanol is an alternative for increasing the amount of bioethanol production in the world. In Brazil, sugarcane leads the bioethanol production, and to improve its yield, besides bagasse, sugarcane straw is a possible feedstock. However, the process that leads to cell wall disassembly under field conditions is unknown, and understanding how this happens can improve sugarcane biorefinery and soil quality. In the present work, we aimed at studying how sugarcane straw is degraded in the field after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Non-structural and structural carbohydrates, lignin content, ash, and cellulose crystallinity were analyzed. The cell wall composition was determined by cell wall fractionation and determination of monosaccharide composition. Non-structural carbohydrates degraded quickly during the first 3 months in the field. Pectins and lignin remained in the plant waste for up to 12 months, while the hemicelluloses and cellulose decreased 7.4 and 12.4%, respectively. Changes in monosaccharide compositions indicated solubilization of arabinoxylan (xylose and arabinose) and ß-glucans (ß-1,3 1,4 glucan; after 3 months) followed by degradation of cellulose (after 6 months). Despite cellulose reduction, the xylose:glucose ratio increased, suggesting that glucose is consumed faster than xylose. The degradation and solubilization of the cell wall polysaccharides concomitantly increased the level of compounds related to recalcitrance, which led to a reduction in saccharification and an increase in minerals and ash contents. Cellulose crystallinity changed little, with evidence of silica at the latter stages, indicating mineralization of the material. Our data suggest that for better soil mineralization, sugarcane straw must stay in the field for over 1 year. Alternatively, for bioenergy purposes, straw should be used in less than 3 months.

Condições higiênico-sanitárias e físico-estruturais dos boxes que comercializam pescados em um mercado público no município de Natal/RN / Hygienic-sanitary and physical-structural conditions of boxes which market fish in a public market in a municipality of Natal / RN

Os pescados são considerados alimentos ricos em nutrientes, com alto teor de proteínas, lipídios de excelente qualidade e baixo nível de colesterol. Seu consumo é extremamente importante na dieta alimentar. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar as condições higiênico-sanitárias e físico-estruturais dos boxes que comercializam pescados no mercado público na cidade de Natal-RN, com a finalidade de identificar pontos críticos. O método utilizado para a pesquisa foi exploratória quali-quantitativa, com observação direta da realidade e preenchimento de checklist pré-formatado, baseado na Resolução – RDC nº 216, de 15 de setembro de 2004 da ANVISA. Os resultados identificaram não conformidades higiênico-sanitários e estruturais nos boxes, sobre os equipamentos e utensílios e no ambiente. Esses resultados reforçam que os órgãos municipais devem vistoriar o local, primando pelo rigor e pela frequência.

Effects of strontium ranelate treatment on osteoblasts cultivated onto scaffolds of trabeculae bovine bone.

Blocks of Bovine bone have shown promising results as implantable scaffolds to promote bone regeneration. Strontium ranelate (SrR) is both an antiresorptive and an anabolic drug that has been indicated for oral administration to treat osteoporosis. Few studies, however, have investigated the local effects of SrR and its use in association with biomaterials thus far. In this work, we investigated SrR effects in cultures of primary osteoblasts (PO, from Wistar rats calvaria) and immortalized osteoblasts (IO, from MC3T3-E1 cell line) cultivated as a monolayer or in association with scaffolds of bovine bone in mineralized (MBB) and demineralized (DBB) forms. The optimum dose to induce SrR effects on cell viability was established as 0.1 mM. Our results suggested that the local administration of SrR is biocompatible and non-cytotoxic. In addition, SrR appeared to accelerate primary osteoblast cell differentiation by enhancing alkaline phosphatase activity, the expression of osteogenic differentiation markers, the synthesis of the organic matrix, and a decrease of Ca2+ ions in mineralized nodules. DBB was found to be a better scaffold material to promote PO and IO cell proliferation. Exposing the proteins of the demineralized bone matrix might improve scaffold osteoconductive properties. Our results indicated the importance of further investigation of the administration of SrR at sites of bone repair. The association of SrR and bone grafts suggests the possibility of using SrR as a co-adjuvant for bone tissue bioengineering and in bone regeneration therapies.

Plant extracts with potential to control of two-spotted spider mite / Extratos vegetais com potencial de uso no controle do ácaro rajado

Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) is a species of great economic importance to Brazil. In its control, the main option is the use of synthetic miticides, which, if used indiscriminately, can contaminate the environment, farmers and consumers. In the search for control alternatives, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of plant extracts and essential oils on females of this pest. For this, T. urticae females, reared in laboratory, were sprayed in Potter tower. Fourteen plants were tested in the form of aqueous extracts (AE), hydroethanolic extracts (HE) or essential oils (EO). The experimental plot consisted of a Petri dish with a Canavalia ensiformis L. leaf disk containing five T. urticae females, using ten plates per treatment. Mortality evaluations were performed 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours after spraying, recording the number of dead females on the disc and the number of dead females on the moistened cotton. We considered that females found on cotton were repelled by treatments. Matricaria chamomilla L. HE and Pimpinella anisum L. AE have acaricidal effect for females, providing above 83% of mortality, after 120 hours. Origanum vulgare L. HE causes at least 75% mortality after 24 hours. Also 120 hours after spraying, P. anisum HE and O. vulgare AE cause repellency of females above 16%, and A. absinthium HE exceeds 22% for this parameter. The results stimulate further researches to determine the optimum dose and evaluation of additional effects on the fertility of surviving females.(AU)

Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) é uma espécie de grande importância econômica para o Brasil. Em seu controle, a principal opção são os acaricidas sintéticos, que, se usados de forma indiscriminada, podem contaminar ambiente, produtores e consumidores. Na busca de alternativas de controle, este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o efeito de extratos vegetais e óleos essenciais sobre fêmeas dessa praga. Para isso, fêmeas de T. ­urticae criadas em laboratório foram pulverizadas em torre de Potter. Foram testadas 14 espécies vegetais, na forma de extratos aquosos (EA), hidroetanólicos (EH) ou óleos essenciais (OE). A parcela experimental consistiu de uma placa de Petri com um disco de folha de feijão-de-porco (Canavalia ­ensiformis L.) contendo cinco fêmeas de T. urticae, sendo utilizadas dez placas por tratamento. As avaliações de mortalidade foram realizadas 24, 48, 72, 96 e 120 horas após a pulverização, registrando-se o número de fêmeas mortas no disco e no algodão umedecido. Considerou-se que fêmeas encontradas no algodão foram repelidas pelos tratamentos. Matricaria chamomilla L. na forma de extrato hidroetanólico e Pimpinella anisum L. na forma de extrato aquoso possuem efeito acaricida para fêmeas proporcionando acima de 83% de mortalidade, após 120 horas da pulverização. Origanum ­vulgare L. EH causa no mínimo 75% de mortalidade após 24 horas. Também após 120 horas, P. anisum EH e O. vulgare EA causam repelência de fêmeas acima de 16% e A. absinthium EH ultrapassa 22% para esse parâmetro. Os resultados estimulam a realização de pesquisas futuras para determinação da dose ótima e avaliação de efeitos adicionais sobre a fertilidade das fêmeas sobreviventes.(AU)

Condições higienicossanitárias do cachorro-quente, comercializado por ambulantes no cinturão turístico da cidade do Natal-RN / Sanitary and hygienic conditions of hot dogs, marketed by street vendors in the tourist belt of the city of Natal-RN

A comercialização de alimentos por ambulantes em vias públicas pode constituir risco à saúde dos consumidores, visto que as pessoas envolvidas neste segmento são detentoras de pouco conhecimento em relação às boas práticas de manipulação dos alimentos. Este trabalho teve como objetivo realizar a avaliação das condições higienicossanitárias do cachorro-quente, comercializado por ambulantes na avenida engenheiro Roberto Freire, cinturão turístico da cidade do Natal, RN. Realizou-se um estudo exploratório, quantitativo, qualitativo e descritivo com oito ambulantes de cachorro- -quente, por meio de instrumento de verificação com 24 itens, baseado em um checklist. As perguntas contemplavam as boas práticas de serviços de alimentação, quanto à higiene do manipulador, instalação, transporte e armazenamento dos alimentos. Os resultados indicam que as condições higiênicossanitárias no comércio ambulante de cachorro-quente são insatisfatórias. Em todos os pontos de venda, 100% dos ambulantes não faziam a higienização das mãos. Em relação aos resultados 87,5% dos alimentos eram preparados em casa e 12,5% por terceiros, onde 67% armazenavam em caixas plásticas e 22% em térmicas; 75% dos ambulantes apresentaram uniforme em bom estado, 75% possuíam adornos, 88% usavam touca como proteção dos cabelos e 63% apresentavam unhas curtas e limpas; 24% utilizavam álcool como forma de higienização das mãos e apenas 6% utilizavam o álcool 70ºC. Nessa perspectiva, sugere-se a necessidade de ampliar o nível de conhecimento dos manipuladores de alimentos sobre a segurança dos alimentos, compreendendo os fatores de segurança e cuidados na preparação e armazenamento dos alimentos de rua.(AU)

Acute flaccid paralysis laboratorial surveillance in a polio-free country: Brazil, 2005-2014.

The last case of paralytic poliomyelitis caused by wild poliovirus in Brazil occurred in 1989. The interruption of the indigenous poliovirus transmission was obtained through mass immunization campaigns to eligible children and an active epidemiological and laboratorial surveillance of all cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) among children under 15 y of age. This paper describes and evaluates the performance of the AFP surveillance system in different geographic areas of Brazil between 2005 and 2014, using indicators recommended by WHO. AFP surveillance indicators as well as virological investigation of polio and non-polio enteroviruses in stool samples received in the laboratory were assessed from 2005-2014. During the period, 5463 cases of AFP were investigated. Of these, 55% were males and 45% were females. Those under 5 y of age represented 48% of all cases reported and investigated. AFP notification rate was within the acceptable values with mean value of 1.3 (North), 1.4 (Northeast), 1.1 (Southern), 1.0 (Southeast) and 1.4 (Midwest) cases of AFP per 100.000 population aged 15 y as well as the adequacy of fecal specimens received in the laboratory. Sabin- related polioviruses accounted for 1.7% of the isolates while, 6.7% were non-polio enterovirus with the values ranging from 5.0% to 8.9 %. No wild-type polio was found. The AFP epidemiological and laboratorial surveillance activities have been kept at appropriate levels in Brazil. These data are a very strong indication, which supports the status of country free of polio.

Rat dental pulp stem cells: isolation and phenotypic characterization method aiming bone tissue bioengineering

ABSTRACT: Dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) have been showing a considerable potential for regenerative medicine. Pulps were collected from lower incisors (n=2) through direct access of the tooth pulp chamber. The isolated cells were cultured in alfa-MEM 10% FBS, in standard culture conditions. At the third passage, DPSC were characterized by flow cytometry (MHCI, CD54, CD73, CD90, CD45, CD11 and CD34); RT-PCR for Nanog gene; and their differentiation capacity in osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic cell lines. Isolated cells exhibited adhesion capacity to plastic; fusiform morphology, and 80% confluence reached in approximately 3 days. These cells have also revealed positive expression for CD54, CD73 and CD90 markers; and negative expression for CD11, CD34 and CD45. Nanog expression was detected by RT-PCR, expected for a mesenchymal stem cell profile. DPSC chondrogenic differentiation was confirmed by positive staining in Alcian Blue; lipidic droplets stained with oil red confirmed their capacity to differentiate in adipogenic fate; while mineralized beads, stained with alizarin red, confirmed their differentiation in osteogenic phenotype. These results indicate the viability of the isolation and expansion of rat DPSC following this method, and osteogenic differentiation potential opens new perspectives for in vivo studies and the use of these cells in cellular therapies and tissue bioengineering, aiming bone repair.

Glucose as the sole metabolic fuel: The possible influence of formal teaching on the establishment of a misconception about energy-yielding metabolism among students from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Energy-yielding metabolism is an important biochemistry subject that is related to many daily experiences and health issues of students. An adequate knowledge of the general features of EYM is therefore important, both from an academic and social point of view. In a previous study, we have shown that high-school students present the misconception that carbohydrates, especially glucose, are the sole metabolic fuel for ATP production by human cells. In the present work, we investigated the possible origins of the occurrence of this misconception among students. The analysis of students' answers to questionnaires indicated that the misconception appears as soon as in the 8th grade and remains unchanged throughout subsequent school years. The analysis of grade textbooks showed that the misconception is likely to be a consequence of the teaching of nutrition in the 8th grade, when a single function is emphasized for each nutrient. The energetic function is mainly associated with carbohydrates, while proteins and lipids are considered structural and storage molecules, respectively. An extreme similarity was observed between students' knowledge of nutrient's function and textbook contents. Analysis of high-school textbooks suggested that the misconception would be reinforced because of the detailed teaching only of glucose metabolism, with rare mention of lipids or amino acids as metabolic fuels. The consequences of that approach are discussed and suggestions are made on an alternative teaching of energy-yielding metabolism.