Time Window of the Critical Period for Neuroplasticity in S1, V1, and A1 Sensory Areas of Small Rodents: A Systematic Review.

The plasticity of the central nervous system (CNS) allows the change of neuronal organization and function after environmental stimuli or adaptation after sensory deprivation. The so-called critical period (CP) for neuroplasticity is the time window when each sensory brain region is more sensitive to changes and adaptations. This time window is usually different for each primary sensory area: somatosensory (S1), visual (V1), and auditory (A1). Several intrinsic mechanisms are also involved in the start and end of the CP for neuroplasticity; however, which is its duration in S1, VI, and A1? This systematic review evaluated studies on the determination of these time windows in small rodents. The careful study selection and methodological quality assessment indicated that the CP for neuroplasticity is different among the sensory areas, and the brain maps are influenced by environmental stimuli. Moreover, there is an overlap between the time windows of some sensory areas. Finally, the time window duration of the CP for neuroplasticity is predominant in S1.

Nutritional analysis of the school feeding program menus offered in a municipality of Pará / Análise nutricional dos cardápios ofertados na alimentação escolar de um município do Pará

The National School Feeding Program (PNAE) is a policy that aims to contribute to the improvement of school feeding.Therefore, the goal of this study was to analyze the menus offered in the year 2014 in public schools of the municipal andstate educational network in the municipality of Abaetetuba, Pará, according to the recommendations of the PNAE. Fornutritional adequacy, the average energy consumption (Kcal), carbohydrate (g), protein (g), lipid (g), fiber (g), calcium (mg),iron (mg), magnesium (mg), zinc (mg), vitamin A (µg) and vitamin C (mg) of all the menus by educational category, werecompared with the values established in Resolution No.26/2013. Nutrient values above or below the recommendation bythe PNAE were considered inadequate. The analyzed menus were nutritionally inadequate, which may contribute to thereduction of school performance and student growth, in addition to dietary uncertainty. The elaborate menus were notnutritionally adequate, demonstrating the need to readjust the recommendations and thus guarantee the Human Right toAdequate Food and consequently the improvement of the learning and school performance

O Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar é uma política que possui como estratégia contribuir com a melhora da alimentação no âmbito escolar. Assim, o objetivo do estudo foi analisar os cardápios ofertados no ano de 2014, nas escolas públicas da rede municipal e estadual de ensino no município de Abaetetuba/Pará, de acordo com as recomendações doPNAE. Para a adequação nutricional, foram calculadas as médias de consumo de energia (Kcal), carboidratos (g), proteínas(g), lipídeos (g), fibras (g), cálcio (mg), ferro (mg), magnésio (mg), zinco (mg), vitamina A (µg) e vitamina C (mg) de todos os cardápios por categoria de ensino, comparadas com os valores estabelecidos na Resolução n. 26/2013. Foi considerado inadequado, valores de nutrientes acima ou abaixo da recomendação preconizada pelo PNAE. Os cardápios analisados estavam inadequados nutricionalmente, o que pode contribuir com a diminuição do rendimento escolar e crescimento dos alunos, além da insegurança alimentar. Os cardápios elaborados não estavam adequados nutricionalmente, evidenciando-se a necessidade de readequação às recomendações e dessa forma garantir o Direito Humano à Alimentação Adequada e consequentemente a melhoria do aprendizado e rendimento escolar

Hippocampus and dentate gyrus of the Cebus monkey: architectonic and stereological study.

Behavioral, electrophysiological, and anatomical assays of non-human primates have provided substantial evidence that the hippocampus and dentate gyrus are essential for memory consolidation. However, a single anatomical and stereological investigation of these regions has been done in New World primates to complement those assays. The aim of the present study was to describe the cyto-, myelo-, and histochemical architecture of the hippocampus and dentate gyrus, and to use the optical fractionator method to estimate the number of neurons in the hippocampal pyramidal and granular neurons in the dentate gyrus of the Cebus monkey. NeuN immunolabeling, lectin histochemical staining with Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA), enzyme-histochemical detection of NADPH-diaphorase activity and Gallyas silver staining were used to define the layers and limits of the hippocampal fields and dentate gyrus. A comparative analysis of capuchin (Cebus apella) and Rhesus (Macaca mulatta) monkeys revealed similar structural organization of these regions but significant differences in the regional distribution of neurons. C. apella were found to have 1.3 times fewer pyramidal and 3.5 times fewer granular neurons than M. mulatta. Taken together the architectonic and stereological data of the present study suggest that hippocampal and dentate gyrus neural networks in the C. apella and M. mulatta may contribute to hippocampal-dentate gyrus-dependent tasks in different proportions.