Characterization of the normal fetal circulatory system of the ductus venosus using sound complexity parameters.

The aim of this study was to characterize the normality of the fetal circulatory system through the time between ventricular systoles of the ductus venosus in the three gestational trimesters in healthy fetuses using nonlinear methods of the complexity of the signal. A prospective cohort study was conducted at the Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP) from December 2019 to May 2020. Pregnant women between 11 and 14 weeks, with intrauterine pregnancy and healthy fetus were included. Patients with multiple gestation, positive screening for congenital malformation, including heart disease, and under 18 years of age were excluded. Doppler velocimetry ultrasonography of the ductus venosus was performed between the 11th and 14th weeks, 20th and 24th weeks, and 28th and 32nd weeks of gestation, and then the sound signal was extracted and segmented from the videos. To compare the means between the gestational trimesters of the approximate entropy (ApEn) and Lempel-Ziv complexity (CLZ) of the time between ventricular systoles, the Friedman test was used, with a significance level of 5%. No statistically significant difference was found between the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimesters regarding the mean ApEn (P=0.281) and CLZ (P=0.595) of the time between ventricular systoles of the ductus venosus. Ductus venosus systolic time was not sensitive to differentiate fetal cardiovascular dynamics between gestational trimesters. This study pioneered the characterization of cardiovascular normality by nonlinear parameters of the fetal ductus venosus in all three trimesters.

Characterization of the normal fetal circulatory system of the ductus venosus using sound complexity parameters

The aim of this study was to characterize the normality of the fetal circulatory system through the time between ventricular systoles of the ductus venosus in the three gestational trimesters in healthy fetuses using nonlinear methods of the complexity of the signal. A prospective cohort study was conducted at the Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP) from December 2019 to May 2020. Pregnant women between 11 and 14 weeks, with intrauterine pregnancy and healthy fetus were included. Patients with multiple gestation, positive screening for congenital malformation, including heart disease, and under 18 years of age were excluded. Doppler velocimetry ultrasonography of the ductus venosus was performed between the 11th and 14th weeks, 20th and 24th weeks, and 28th and 32nd weeks of gestation, and then the sound signal was extracted and segmented from the videos. To compare the means between the gestational trimesters of the approximate entropy (ApEn) and Lempel-Ziv complexity (CLZ) of the time between ventricular systoles, the Friedman test was used, with a significance level of 5%. No statistically significant difference was found between the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimesters regarding the mean ApEn (P=0.281) and CLZ (P=0.595) of the time between ventricular systoles of the ductus venosus. Ductus venosus systolic time was not sensitive to differentiate fetal cardiovascular dynamics between gestational trimesters. This study pioneered the characterization of cardiovascular normality by nonlinear parameters of the fetal ductus venosus in all three trimesters.

Hypothalamic stearoyl-CoA desaturase-2 (SCD2) controls whole-body energy expenditure.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-2 (SCD2) is the main δ9 desaturase expressed in the central nervous system. Because of its potential involvement in controlling whole-body adiposity, we evaluated the expression and function of SCD2 in the hypothalami of mice. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Male mice of different strains were used in real-time PCR, immunoblot and metabolic experiments. In addition, antisense oligonucleotides and lentiviral vectors were used to reduce and increase the expression of SCD2 in the hypothalamus. RESULTS: The level of SCD2 in the hypothalamus is similar to other regions of the central nervous system and is ~10-fold higher than in any other region of the body. In the arcuate nucleus, SCD2 is expressed in proopiomelanocortin and neuropeptide-Y neurons. Upon high fat feeding, the level of hypothalamic SCD2 increases. Inhibition of hypothalamic SCD2 as accomplished by two distinct approaches, an antisense oligonucleotide or a short-hairpin RNA delivered by a lentivirus, resulted in reduced body mass gain mostly due to increased energy expenditure and increased spontaneous activity. Increasing hypothalamic SCD2 by a lentivirus approach resulted in no change in body mass and food intake. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, SCD2 is highly expressed in the hypothalami of rodents and its knockdown reduces body mass due to increased whole-body energy expenditure.

Short communication: Variable number of tandem repeat polymorphisms in DGAT1 gene of buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) is associated with milk constituents.

The diacylglycerol-O-transferase 1 gene is a positional and functional candidate for milk composition traits. The objective of this study was to evaluate the segregation of the variable number of tandem repeat polymorphisms in the regulatory region of diacylglycerol-O-transferase 1 gene in a water buffalo herd, and to assess the association of this mutation with milk production traits. For this purpose, 196 Murrah buffalo cows were genotyped by PCR. The association of the marker with total milk, fat, and protein yields at 305 d of lactation, milk fat and protein percentage, and somatic cell scores were evaluated by single-trait analyses using a generalized mixed model. Two segregating alleles were identified in the population. The allele with 2 repeats affected fat percentage favorably. The present results suggest that this polymorphism is an interesting marker to include in the genetic evaluation of buffaloes.

Evaluation of nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthases (NOS) in the amniotic fluid in an experimental gastroschisis rat model.

UNLABELLED: Intestinal damage due to gastroschisis (G), an anomaly found with increasing incidence by pediatric surgeons, is intimately associated with endogenous nitric oxide (NO) production and NO synthase (NOS) expression. AIM: Aim of the study was to evaluate NO production and NOS isoforms in the intestine and amniotic fluid (AF) using a rat model of gastroschisis. METHODS: A gastroschisis rat model was surgically created at 18.5 days of gestation (term=22 days). 3 groups of 12 fetuses each were studied: control (C), sham (S) and (G). Morphometric data of body weight (BW), intestinal weight (IW) and the IW/BW ratio were evaluated and compared. Indirect quantification of NO (nitrite and nitrate - NOx) was analyzed by chemiluminescence, and the expression of the 3 isoforms was analyzed by Western blotting. RESULTS: Group G showed an increase in IW and IW/BW compared with groups C and S. IW: G=0.27 ± 0.06, C=0.20 ± 0.02, S=0.20 ± 0.02 (p<0.01); IW/BW: G=4.11 ± 0.57, C=5.21 ± 1.04, S=5.18 ± 1.23 (p<0.05). NO in the G group was lower in the intestine and higher in AF, as opposed to C and S, where it had increased in the intestine and decreased in AF. Intestinal NOx: G=0.85 ± 0.28, C=1.86 ± 0.82, S=1.80 ± 0.69 (p<0.05); NOx in AF: G=161.87 ± 52.11, C=6.99 ± 5.45, S=48.73 ± 13.183 (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The intestinal inflammation in gastroschisis promotes the release of nitric oxide to the environment (AF). Perhaps NO in the AF may be an inflammatory marker for G.

Intake of aflatoxins through the consumption of peanut products in Brazil.

To estimate daily intake of aflatoxins from peanut products consumed by the population of Paraná State (Brazil), 100 samples of peanut products were collected between July 2006 and April 2007. Aflatoxins were determined by an HPLC method with fluorescence detection. There was a 50% occurrence of aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1 and G2) in concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 113 ng g(-1), with 13 samples with levels above 20 ng g(-1). Intake was calculated for average and high adult consumers of peanut products and it was compared with provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI). The estimated probable daily intake (PDI) for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) varied from 0.6 to 10.4 ng kg(-1) bw day(-1), exceeding the PMTDI of 0.4 ng kg(-1) bw day(-1) for carriers of hepatitis B virus.

S-nitroso-N-acetylcysteine: a promising drug for early ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat liver.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is among the major causes of poor graft function early after liver transplantation that adversely influences patient survival. A variety of mediators have been implicated in the pathogenesis of I/R vascular injury, including nitric oxide (NO). Because of the beneficial effects of NO during preconditioning and reperfusion, strategies to prevent or ameliorate I/R injury through the stimulation of hepatic NO production are an area of significant clinical interest. We evaluated the role of S-nitroso-N-acetylcysteine (SNAC) as an NO donor in the prevention of liver I/R injury in an animal model. METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 3 experimental groups containing 5 animals each: the University of Wisconsin (UW) solution group; SNAC solution group; and SNAC-containing UW solution (SNAC+UW) group. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined in samples of the cold storage solution at 2, 4, and 6 hours of preservation. After 6 hours of cold storage, We applied a 15-minute reperfusion period. Thereafter, the reperfusion was interrupted with blood samples obtained to measure AST, ALT, LDH, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Hepatic fragments were processed for histologic analysis, and to determine of TBARS, catalase, and glutathione levels. RESULTS: During cold preservation, AST and LDH were significantly lower among the SNAC than the UW group or the SNAC+UW group (P = .004 and P = .03, respectively). ALT was comparable among the groups (P = .3). After reperfusion, serum levels of AST, ALT, and LDH, as well as of hepatic TBARS and catalase showed no differences among the groups. Glutathione concentration was lower in the SNAC and SNAC+UW group (P < .001) compared with the UW group. We did not observe histologic signs of preservation injury. CONCLUSION: The SNAC solution showed a greater protective effect to preserve rat livers during cold storage, but it was comparable with UW.

Choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase activities are reduced in rat striatum and frontal cortex after pilocarpine-induced seizures.

In the present study we investigated the alterations on choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities in rat striatum and frontal cortex caused by pilocarpine-induced seizures. Wistar rats were treated with 0.9% saline (i.p., control group), with the association of 0.9% saline (i.p.) plus pilocarpine (400mg/kg, i.p.), 30 min before of administration of saline (pilocarpine group). After the treatments all groups were observed for 1h. The ChAT and AChE activities were measured using spectrophotometric methods and the results compared to values obtained from saline-treated animals. In pilocarpine group was observed a significantly decreases in ChAT and AChE activities in striatum and frontal cortex of adult rats, when compared to control group. Results showed that during acute phase of seizures striatal and frontal cortex ChAT and AChE activities are diminished. Our findings suggest that seizures caused cognitive dysfunction and decreases of ChAT and AChE activities that might be related, at least in part, to the neurological problems presented by epileptic patients.

Mania mista acompanhada de sintomas psicóticos: um ponto de contato entre a esquizofrenia e a psicose maníaco-depressiva? / Mixed mnia with psychotics symptoms: a common way between schizophrenia and maniac depressive psicosis

No presente artigo os autores fazem o relato do caso de uma paciente de trinta anos de idade que, após manifestar, de início, quadro de transtorno bipolar misto, posteriormente evoluiu de forma desfavorável com sintomas psicóticos e deterioração mental grave, levando ao diagnóstico diferencial e prognóstico entre quadros de mania mista com sintomas psicóticos, transtornos esquizoafetivo e esquizofrenia, através de uma revisão de estudos recentes sobre o espectro bipolar e aquelas outras condições clínicas, enfatizando a necessidade de um diagnóstico preciso desses casos e de uma intervenção terapêutica adequada e precoce.

Transtorno Dismórfico Corporal: Relato de um caso clínico / Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Case report

O transtorno Dismórfico Corporal (TDC), que consiste em preocupações patológicas com a aparência ou defeitos em diferentes regiões do corpo, tem sido sistematicamente estudado somente na última década. No presente artigo o autor apresenta um caso clínico de TDC, cursando simultaneamente com Transtorno Bipolar. TDC é, atualmente, considerado uma severa e incapacitante desordem psiquiátrica e que é mais comum do que se pensava anteriormente.

Folie à Deux: relato de um caso clínico / Folie à Deux: a clinical case report

No presente artigo os autores apresentam um caso clínico de Folie à Deux que ocorreu entre mäe e filha. Considerando-se que esse transtorno constitui-se em um fenômeno psiquiátrico raro, os autores empreendem o estudo da psicopatologia da construçäo de um sistema delirante a partir da relaçäo interpessoal entre personalidades susceptíveis, além de discutir sua etiologia e tratamento.

Narcolepsia: relato de um caso clínico de hipersonolência diurna / Narcolepsy: a case report of dayly hipersleepiness

Os autores apresentam o caso clínico de um homem de 36 anos de idade que recebeu o diagnóstico de narcolepsia após propedêutica anterior inconclusiva e tentativas terapêuticas infrutíferas. O paciente teve os seus sintomas melhorados com o tratamento adequado para a referida doença. Após o relato do caso, os AA empreendem discussäo teórica sobre o diagnóstico diferencial da narcolepsia com outras condiçöes clínicas caracterizadas por hipersonolência diurna, tais como a síndrome da apnéia obstrutiva do sono e depressäo atípica, considerando-se que têm fisiopatologia, evoluçäo, prognóstico e tratamento diferentes

Sintomas alucinatórios persistentes: uma discussäo nosológica e Psicopatológica / Persistent Hallucinatory Symptoms: a nosological and psochopathological discussion

Os autores apresentam um caso de psicose de evoluçäo cronica marcado por sintomas alucinatórios persistentes. Discutem a classificaçäo nosológica do caso fazendo referencias a quadros clínicos classicos. Finalmente, fazem breve revisäo sobre a psicopatologia das alucinaçöes

Paralisia geral progressiva: relato de um caso clinico / Progressive paralysis: clinical case report

A paralisis geral progressiva pode se manifestar sob a forma dos mais variados quadros psiquiatricos. Apos a introduçäo da penicilinoterapia no tratamento da sifílis, sua incidencia teve grande declinio, o que fez com que clínicos de diversas especialidades progressivamente dixassem de pensar nessa patologia. Nas últimas décadas, no entanto, tem-se verificado um recrudescimento de sua incidencia devido à mudança de habitos sexuais, tratamento inadequado das formas primárias, falta de diagnostico, de tratamento precoce da doença e à associaçäo con a infecçäo pelo HIV. No presente artigo, os autores apresentam o caso de um paciente de 37 anos, HIV negativo, com uma forma clínica cciclica de neurossífilis, diagnosticada em março de 1999 no Hospital Psiquiátrico Galba Velloso e desenvolvem uma breve discussäo sobre o diagnóstico, tratamento e a psicopatologia da paralisia geral progressiva. Ressaltam, finalmente, a importância de se cogitar dessa possibilidade na prática psiquiatrica do dia-a-dia

Uma interpretaçäo dimensional dos transtornos Psicoticos: da tipicidade à atipicidade / A dimensional interpretation of psychotic disorder: from typicality to atypicality

O autor, atraves da exposiçäo de dois casos clínicos, estabelece aquilo que denomina tipicidade e atipicidade psicoticas e compara os quadros psicoticos incaracteristicos com aqueles mais típicos, em especial a esquizofrenia. Partindo dessa comparaçäo, desenvolve um modelo teórico que culmina em uma representaçäo diagramatica das diversas unidades nosologicas pertencentes ao âmbito das psicoses endógenas, situando-as no interior de um spectrum próprio de acordo com o critério de maior ou menor tipicidade apresentada. O autor acredita que essas consideraçöes teoricas poderäo enriquecer o instrumental semiologico psiquiatrico e, dessa maneira, tornarem-se úteis para que o medico se situe com maior precisäo e segurança diante de quadros psicoticos atipicos no que diz respeito ao diagnostico e tratamento

Desdiferenciaçäo simbólico-afetiva: um modelo teórico para as psicoses esquizofrênicas / Symbolic Affective Dis-differntiation: a Theoretical Model for Schizophrenic Psychoses

O autor estabelece o conceito de desdiferenciaçäo simbólico-afetiva objetivando a proposiçäo de um modelo teórico que possa elucidar a morfologia fenomenológica dos sintomas psicopatológicos das psicoses endógennas, notadamente do grupo das esquizofrenias. De posse desse conceito, além de outros como sensorilizaçäo e reificaçäo, compreende uma análise detalhada dos sintomas de primeira ordem de KURT SCHNEIDER, procurando firmar um nexo teórico plausível capaz de esclarecer a gênese e a estruturaçäo dessas vivências anômalas täo características da esquizofrenia

A Fenomenologia das vivências delirantes: dois casos clínicos / The phenomenology of delusional experiences: two clinical cases

O presente artigo pretende revisar o amplo conceito de delírio, submetendo-se às dificuldades naturais de sua carecterizaçäo Fenomenológica naquelas condiçöes psicóticas atípicas que, frequentemente, acometem pacientes portadores de Transtorno Borderline de Personalidade. Para cumprir essa tarefa, o Autor apresenta dois casos clínicos, sendo que o primeiro corresponde a um Transtorno Delirante e o segundo a uma Psicose atípica, que designa Estado Psicóide. Depois de rever os atributos clássicos das vivências delirantes presentes no primeiro caso clínico, o A. passa a analisar as características psicopatológicas do segundo, concluindo que, provavelmente, existe um spectrum fenomenológico e, talvez, nosológico que abrigaria desde as manifestaçöes atribuídas ás desordens de personalidade até aquelas próprias dos transtornos psicóticos

A Fenomenologia dos Traanstornos Psicóticos Atípicos - Os Estados Psicóides / Atypical psychosis; Personality disorders; Psychoides states; Phenomenologia

Os quadros psicóticos atípicos sempre se contituiram em um desafio diagnóstico e terapêutico para a clínica psiquiátrica. Em vista disso, há a necessidade de maiores estudos fenomenológicos desses quadros visando unificá-los e homogeneizá-los clinicamente, apesar da aparente diversidade psicopatológica apresentada. Com este objetivo, o Autor, utilizando um caso clínico como uma alavanca para movimentar a discussäo teórica, empreende uma detalhada análise fenomenológica da atipia psicótica, estabelecendo um padräo fenomenológico uniforme para facilitar o diagnóstico e o tratamento desses quadros. Além disso, estabelece os conceitos de "morbus" primário e secundário e "filtro" caracterológico, tentando elucidar as estreitas relaçöes psicopatológicas e clínicas entre os transtornos da personalidade e as psicoses atípicas. Por fim, propöe a utilizaçäo do termo "estados psicóides" para denominar esses quadros, objetivando sua unificaçäo nosográfica