Assessing cognitive decline in the aging brain: lessons from rodent and human studies.

As life expectancy continues to increase worldwide, age-related dysfunction will largely impact our societies in the future. Aging is well established to promote the deterioration of cognitive function and is the primary risk factor for the development of prevalent neurological disorders. Even in the absence of dementia, age-related cognitive decline impacts specific types of memories and brain structures in humans and animal models. Despite this, preclinical and clinical studies that investigate age-related changes in brain physiology often use largely different methods, which hinders the translational potential of findings. This review seeks to integrate what is known about age-related changes in the brain with analogue cognitive tests used in humans and rodent studies, ranging from "pen and paper" tests to virtual-reality-based paradigms. Finally, we draw parallels between the behavior paradigms used in research compared to the enrollment into clinical trials that aim to study age-related cognitive decline.

High prevalence of HPV 18 and multiple infections with oncogenic HPV genotypes in women at risk of cervical cancer examined in Manaus, Brazil.

Cervical cancer is a serious public health problem in Brazil, especially in Manaus (Amazonas), the city with the highest incidence rate of cervical cancer in the country. Persistent infection with oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes is the cause of disease development. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of oncogenic genotypes in women at high risk for cervical precancer examined in two policlinics in Manaus. One hundred and two patients who underwent colposcopy took part in the research. The DNA samples obtained from the cervical epithelium were analyzed by PCR with type-specific primers for the detection of eight oncogenic genotypes, which were chosen based on previous studies. The presence of HPV virus was detected in all samples. The most prevalent oncogenic genotypes were 18 (47.1%) and 16 (45.1%). Interestingly, HPV 18 was considered uncommon in this region. In addition to these, genotypes 31 (19.6%), 58 (19.6%), 33 (18.6%), and 45 (15.7%) also had a relatively high frequency in this population. Fifty-six women (54.9%) had multiple infections with up to five oncogenic types. Also, the presence of genotypes other than 16 and 18 was observed in most samples (57.8%), which also deserves attention since they are not covered by currently available vaccines against HPV in Brazil. The high prevalence and multiple infections with several oncogenic HPV genotypes in association with precursor lesions for cervical cancer highlighted the need to improve strategies to prevent this disease in Amazonas.

High prevalence of HPV 18 and multiple infections with oncogenic HPV genotypes in women at risk of cervical cancer examined in Manaus, Brazil

Cervical cancer is a serious public health problem in Brazil, especially in Manaus (Amazonas), the city with the highest incidence rate of cervical cancer in the country. Persistent infection with oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes is the cause of disease development. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of oncogenic genotypes in women at high risk for cervical precancer examined in two policlinics in Manaus. One hundred and two patients who underwent colposcopy took part in the research. The DNA samples obtained from the cervical epithelium were analyzed by PCR with type-specific primers for the detection of eight oncogenic genotypes, which were chosen based on previous studies. The presence of HPV virus was detected in all samples. The most prevalent oncogenic genotypes were 18 (47.1%) and 16 (45.1%). Interestingly, HPV 18 was considered uncommon in this region. In addition to these, genotypes 31 (19.6%), 58 (19.6%), 33 (18.6%), and 45 (15.7%) also had a relatively high frequency in this population. Fifty-six women (54.9%) had multiple infections with up to five oncogenic types. Also, the presence of genotypes other than 16 and 18 was observed in most samples (57.8%), which also deserves attention since they are not covered by currently available vaccines against HPV in Brazil. The high prevalence and multiple infections with several oncogenic HPV genotypes in association with precursor lesions for cervical cancer highlighted the need to improve strategies to prevent this disease in Amazonas.

An outbreak of conjunctivitis caused by multiresistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a Brazilian newborn intensive care unit.

We report an outbreak of conjunctivitis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa involving seven infants admitted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Uberlândial Federal University Hospital between March and September 2001. Three infants developed systemic complications (01 sepsis and 02 pneumonias). Ten isolates were obtained from conjunctival cultures and all were resistant to ceftazidime and aminoglycosides. Fast identification of the organism and treatment with imipenem were important in containing the outbreak of P. aeruginosa.

An outbreak of conjunctivitis caused by multiresistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a Brazilian Newborn Intensive Care Unit

We report an outbreak of conjunctivitis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa involving seven infants admitted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Uberlândial Federal University Hospital between March and September 2001. Three infants developed systemic complications (01 sepsis and 02 pneumonias). Ten isolates were obtained from conjunctival cultures and all were resistant to ceftazidime and aminoglycosides. Fast identification of the organism and treatment with imipenem were important in containing the outbreak of P. aeruginosa