A Preterm Rat Model for Pain Studies.

This research delves into the consequences of consistent pinprick stimulation on preterm offspring to ascertain its long-term implications for pain sensitivity. The primary objective of this protocol was to investigate the impact of neonatal pinprick stimuli on the pain threshold in the later stages of life using a preterm rat model. By establishing this model, we aim to advance the research on understanding and managing early postnatal pain associated with prematurity. The findings of this study indicate that while the baseline thresholds to mechanical stimuli remained unaffected, there was a notable increase in mechanical hypersensitivity following complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) injection in adult rats. Interestingly, compared with male rats, female rats demonstrated heightened inflammatory hypersensitivity. Notably, maternal behavior, the weight of the litters, and the growth trajectory of the offspring remained unchanged by the stimulation. The manifestation of altered nociceptive responses in adulthood after neonatal painful stimuli could be indicative of changes in sensory processing and the functioning of glucocorticoid receptors. However, further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms involved and to develop interventions for the consequences of prematurity and neonatal pain in adults.

Effects of repetitive pinprick stimulation on preterm offspring: Alterations in nociceptive responses and inflammatory hypersensitivity in adulthood.

INTRODUCTION: This study investigates the effects of repetitive pinprick stimulation on preterm offspring and its impact on nociceptive responses and inflammatory hypersensitivity in adulthood. OBJECTIVES: The objective is to shed light on the potential long-term consequences of neonatal pain and prematurity on sensory processing. METHODS: Term and preterm rats were subjected to repetitive pinprick (PP) stimulation or control (CC) during the neonatal period. Adult rats received CFA injection to induce inflammatory hypersensitivity, and mechanical hypersensitivity was measured. Gender differences in inflammatory hypersensitivity were also examined. Maternal behavior, litter weight, and offspring growth were monitored to assess any potential influences of the stimulation on these parameters. RESULTS: In preterm rats, the PP stimulation did not affect baseline thresholds to mechanical stimuli, but increased mechanical hypersensitivity after CFA injection in adult rats. Females exhibited greater inflammatory hypersensitivity compared to males. Maternal behavior, litter weight, and offspring growth were not influenced by the stimulation. PP stimulation during the neonatal period led to changes in nociceptive responses in adulthood, potentially altering sensory processing. CONCLUSION: PP stimulation in preterm rats during the neonatal period resulted in changes in nociceptive responses in adulthood, leading to increased inflammatory hypersensitivity. The study emphasizes how early development can significantly impact sensory processing and further highlights the potential long-term consequences of prematurity and neonatal pain on this processing.

Caspofungin Effects on Electrocardiogram of Mice: An Evaluation of Cardiac Safety.

Caspofungin is an echinocandin, exhibiting efficacy against most Candida species invasive infection. Its cardiotoxicity was reported in isolated rat heart and ventricular myocytes, but in vivo and clinical studies are insufficient. Our objective was to evaluate caspofungin in vivo cardiac effects using an efficacious dose against Candida albicans. Female Swiss mice were infected with C. albicans, and treated with caspofungin, 5 or 10 mg/kg, intraperitoneal along 5 days. Survival rate and colony-forming units (CFU) into vital organs were determined. For cardiac effects study, mice were treated with caspofungin 10 mg/kg, and electrocardiogram (ECG) signal was obtained on C. albicans-infected mice, single dose-treated, and uninfected mice treated along 5 days, both groups to measure ECG intervals. Besides, ECG was also obtained by telemetry on uninfected mice to evaluate heart rate variability (HRV) parameters. The MIC for caspofungin on the wild-type C. albicans SC5314 strain was 0.3 µg/ml, indicating the susceptible. Survival rate increased significantly in infected mice treated with caspofungin compared to mice treated with vehicle. None of the survived infected mice presented positive CFU after treatment with 10 mg/kg. C. albicans infection induced prolongation of QRS, QT, and QTc intervals; caspofungin did not alter this effect. Caspofungin induced increase of PR and an additional increase of QRS after 24 h of a single dose in infected mice. No significant alterations occurred in ECG intervals and HRV parameters of uninfected mice, after caspofungin treatment. Caspofungin showed in vivo cardiac relative safety maintaining its antifungal efficacy against C. albicans.

Tuberculose ocupacional: análise documental de um hospital universitário no Rio de Janeiro / Tuberculosis ocupacional: análisis documental de un hospital universitario en Rio de Janeiro / Occupational tuberculosis: documentary analysis of a university hospital in Rio de Janeiro

Introducción: el riesgo de contaminación de los profesionales implicados en el cuidado de pacientes con tuberculosis revelan la enfermedad presentada en el entorno intra-hospitalario. Objetivos: determinar la prevalencia de casos de tuberculosis en profesionales de un hospital universitario en la ciudad de Rio de Janeiro y analizar el perfil epidemiológico de los casos reportados. Métodos: análisis retrospectivo de casos secundarios de tuberculosis notificados entre 2007 y 2011. Proyecto aprobado por el comité de ética de la investigación en el marco del registro CAAE: 05916912.6.0000.5285. Para el análisis de datos elegido por la frecuencia simple y estadísticas de identificación. Resultados: la prevalencia de la tuberculosis en el hospital fue mayor en la categoría otros profesionales afines, hombres (57,1 por ciento) y caucásicos (71,4 por ciento). Conclusiones: los resultados apuntaron a la necesidad de incorporar las normas de bioseguridad recomendadas por el programa de control de la tuberculosis en los servicios de salud(AU)

Introduction: the risk of contamination in professionals involved in the care of patients with tuberculosis reveal the presence of disease in the intra-hospital environment. Objective: to identify the prevalence of reported cases of tuberculosis in professionals in a university hospital in the city of Rio de Janeiro and analyze the epidemiological profile of cases reported. Methods: retrospective analysis of secondary cases of tuberculosis reported between 2007 and 2011. Project approved by the research ethics committee under the CAAE registration: 05916912.6.0000.5285. Methodos: For data analysis chosen by the simple frequency and identification statistics. Results: the prevalence of tuberculosis in hospital was higher in the category other related professionals (health aides and maintenance of servers), males (57.1 percent) and Caucasians (71.4 percent). Conclusions: the results pointed to the need to incorporate the biosafety norms recommended by the TB control program in health services(AU)

Impacto de oficinas de educação alimentar no perfil nutricional de crianças inseridas no programa escola integrada / Impact of nutrition education workshops in the nutritional profile of children inserted in the integrated school program

Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto de oficinas de educação alimentarno perfil nutricional de crianças inseridas no ProgramaEscola Integrada (EI), comparando com alunos da EscolaTradicional (ET). Material e métodos: Foram coletadosdados antropométricos, socioeconômicos, demográficos ede consumo alimentar de crianças (6-10 anos) participantesda EI e ET de uma Escola Municipal de Belo Horizonte,sendo a intervenção nutricional desenvolvida somente entreos alunos da EI. Resultados: Foram avaliados 115 indivíduos,identificando-se 27,6% de excesso de peso entre ascrianças da EI e 18,2% na ET (p=0,72). Destaca-se que ojantar foi a única refeição em que não foram observadasdiferenças significativas dos alimentos consumidos entre osgrupos. Uma alteração verificada para os alunos da EI, apósa intervenção, foi o aumento da ingestão de suco de frutas(p=0,01) no almoço. Conclusão: Não foram obtidos muitosresultados positivos, provavelmente devido ao curto tempoda intervenção. Entretanto, ressalta-se que a EI apresentoupapel importante na alimentação dos escolares por meio daoferta de alimentos e da oportunidade de desenvolvimentode ações educativas.

Prospective assessment of hospital-acquired bloosdstream infections: how many may be preventable?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the proportion of preventable hospital-acquired bloodstream infections (HA-BSIs), the authors prospectively examined consecutive cases in a large university hospital over an 18-month period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medical charts were assessed with the physician in charge of the patient within 4 days after HA-BSI diagnosis to determine whether the infection was healthcare-related. Preventability was assessed using a validated tool. Results of 378 HA-BSIs (incidence rate, 1.00 per 1000 patient-days), 341 were first HA-BSI episodes in a patient, and 272 (79.8%) were secondary to an identifiable source, of whom 196 (57.5%) were related to medical management. These 196 HA-BSIs were related to an invasive procedure (n=163), a non-invasive medical management (n=30) or both (n=3). RESULTS: Of the 272 patients with HA-BSIs from identifiable sources, 55 (20.2%) had no underlying disease, 115 (42.3%) had an ultimately fatal underlying disease, 99 (36.4%) had a rapidly fatal disease, and three (1.1%) were not evaluated. Of the 196 iatrogenic HA-BSIs, 66 were considered preventable (most of them being related to an intravascular catheter), 84 were of uncertain preventability, and 46 were not preventable. In total, 66 of the 341 HA-BSIs (19.4%) were considered preventable, and 191 (56.0%) were not preventable. CONCLUSION: Although evaluation of the preventability of hospital-associated adverse events has been reported to be difficult and of limited reliability, our simple method may help to identify wards or HA-BSI types that warrant in-depth evaluation.

Prolonged cardioprotective effect of pyridostigmine encapsulated in liposomes.

AIMS: The purpose of the present work was to investigate the ability of pyridostigmine encapsulated in long-circulating liposomes, to protect against ECG (electrocardiogram) alterations induced by sympathetic stimulation in rats. MAIN METHODS: The encapsulation of pyridostigmine was carried out by freeze-thaw and extrusion. Blood pressure and ECG (limb lead II) were monitored in anaesthetized male Wistar rats. The formulation containing pyridostigmine was intravenously administrated in 0.1, 0.3 and 1.0mg/kg doses, and sympathetic stimulation was conducted by administration of 1 or 3 microg of noradrenaline (NA) after 1, 2, 4 or 6h. The obtained cardiovascular parameters were compared to animals that received intravenous injection of pyridostigmine in free form or saline. KEY FINDINGS: After saline, NA induced a significant increase in QT interval (22.3% after 3.0 microg). Previous administration of free pyridostigmine significantly prevented the increase of QT interval after sympathetic stimulation and the most prominent effect was observed after 1h for the dose of 0.3mg/kg (6.8% after 3.0 microg of NA) and was no longer observed after 2h of the treatment. On the other hand, the maximum effect of pyridostigmine in liposomal formulation preventing QT interval increase was observed 2h after treatment (9.7% after 3.0 microg of NA) and was still present until 6h when 1mg/kg was previous administrated. SIGNIFICANCE: The results of the present study, beyond to confirm the cardioprotective action of pyridostigmine, suggest that liposomal pyridostigmine may be a potential therapeutic alternative to prevent cardiovascular disturbances resulting from sympathetic hyperactivity.