Gametogenesis and seminatural reproduction of the Amazon twospot astyanax Astyanax bimaculatus (Linnaeus, 1758) cultivated in an enriched environment.

Environmental enrichment is used to provide well-being to the animals, such as fish, in captive conditions, mimicking their natural habitat. It may influence fish behavior, physiology, and survival. In terms of reproduction, however, the relationship between environment enrichment and successful reproduction in captivity is still poorly explored in fish species. Aiming to understand any possible benefits of structural enrichment on fish reproduction, 10-days-hatched larvae of the twospot astyanax Astyanax bimaculatus were raised for 18 weeks in tanks with different elements of structural environmental enrichment (PVC pipes, stones, and artificial plants). In the 5th month of life, those animals were hormonally induced to reproduce to assess gamete formation and offspring quality. Animals raised in a sterile-reared environment (non-enriched) showed earlier spawning than the enriched one, presenting significant quantities of Postovulatory follicle complexes (POCs) and cells in atresia in female ovaries, indicating possible reproductive dysfunction or stress, as well as a greater quantity of empty testicular lumen in males, indicating great release of sperm. On the contrary, animals cultivated in enriched environments showed gonads filled with semen in males and vitellogenic oocytes in females. Furthermore, offspring from the sterile-reared group presented significant rates of larval abnormality compared to the enriched group. In conclusion, the results of this study show that environmental enrichment can interfere with the reproduction of fish in captivity, mainly by preventing early maturation of gametes, which can result in low-quality offspring and, consequently, low production of fish species.

Gerontological contributions to the care of elderly people in long-term care facilities.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze Brazilian scientific productions from the last 11 years which show the contributions of nursing to elderly people in long-term care facilities. METHOD: This is an integrative literature review. The search took place in the Virtual Health Library (VHL) in the BDENF and LILACS databases and the SCIELO virtual library, between June and October 2016, using the keyword long-term care facility and the descriptors nursing and geriatrics. RESULTS: Eleven studies were selected, published 2005 and 2016, with various methodological approaches that enabled discussion of the proposed objective. CONCLUSION: The contributions of nursing to institutionalized elderly people were linked to health promotion measures, as well as simple interventions, such as listening, interacting, offering recreation and helping in psychoaffective relationships. These activities contributed to raising the self-esteem of the individuals.

Gerontological contributions to the care of elderly people in long-term care facilities / Contribuciones gerontológicas para la atención de personas mayores en hogares para ancianos / Contribuições gerontológicas para assistência de idosos em instituição de longa permanência

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze Brazilian scientific productions from the last 11 years which show the contributions of nursing to elderly people in long-term care facilities. Method: This is an integrative literature review. The search took place in the Virtual Health Library (VHL) in the BDENF and LILACS databases and the SCIELO virtual library, between June and October 2016, using the keyword long-term care facility and the descriptors nursing and geriatrics. Results: Eleven studies were selected, published 2005 and 2016, with various methodological approaches that enabled discussion of the proposed objective. Conclusion: The contributions of nursing to institutionalized elderly people were linked to health promotion measures, as well as simple interventions, such as listening, interacting, offering recreation and helping in psychoaffective relationships. These activities contributed to raising the self-esteem of the individuals.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Analizar producciones científicas brasileñas de los últimos once años que demuestran las contribuciones de enfermería a los ancianos en hogares para ancianos. Método: Revisión integrativa de literatura. Búsqueda realizada en Biblioteca Virtual de Salud (BVS), en las bases BDENF, LILACS y en la biblioteca virtual SCIELO, entre junio y octubre de 2016, utilizando las palabras clave Hogares para Ancianos y los descriptores enfermería y geriatría. Resultados: Fueron seleccionados 11 estudios publicados entre 2005 y 2016, con diversos abordajes metodológicos que permitieron discutir el objetivo propuesto. Conclusión: Las contribuciones de Enfermería al anciano institucionalizado están sujetas a las medidas de promoción de salud, así como a las intervenciones simples, como oír, interactuar, ofrecer entretenimiento y ayudar en las relaciones psicoafectivas, siendo que dichas conductas permiten el aumento de la autoestima del individuo.

RESUMO Objetivo: analisar produções científicas brasileiras dos últimos onze anos que demonstram as contribuições da Enfermagem aos idosos em instituições de longa permanência. Método: trata-se de uma revisão integrativa de literatura. A busca ocorreu na biblioteca virtual da saúde (BVS), nas bases BDENF, LILACS e na biblioteca virtual SCIELO, entre junho e outubro de 2016, utilizando-se as palavras-chave Instituição de Longa Permanência e os descritores enfermagem e geriatria. Resultados: foram selecionados 11 estudos publicados entre 2005 e 2016, com diversas abordagens metodológicas que permitiram a discussão do objetivo proposto. Conclusão: as contribuições da enfermagem ao idoso institucionalizado encontram-se atreladas às medidas de promoção à saúde, bem como às intervenções simples, como ouvir, interagir, ofertar entretenimento e ajudar nas relações psicoafetivas, sendo que essas condutas contribuem para o aumento da autoestima do indivíduo.

Perinatal malnutrition stimulates motivation through reward and enhances drd(1a) receptor expression in the ventral striatum of adult mice.

AIM: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of protein perinatal malnutrition on the function of dopamine DRD1 and DRD2 receptors in regards to motivation and food consumption in adult mice. The study also analyzed the effect of protein perinatal malnutrition on the gene expression of these receptors in the ventral striatum. METHODS: Wistar lineage mice were divided into two groups according to maternal diet: control (17% casein), n=30 and low protein (8% casein), n=30. Between 30 and 120days of life, the following factors were measured: body weight; the effect of dopamine D1 and D2 agonists on the ingestion of palatable food; the motivational aspect under the action of the D1 (SKF 38393) and D2 Quinpirole dopaminergic agonists; and the gene expression of DRD1 and DRD2 receptors in the ventral striatum. RESULTS: The body weights of the malnourished animals remained significantly lower than those of the control group from 30 to 120days of life. Malnourished animals ingested a greater quantity of palatable food. There was a decrease in palatable diet consumption in both the control and malnourished groups after the application of D1 and D2 agonists; however, the anorexic effect of the D1 agonist was understated in malnourished animals. Perinatal malnutrition increases the motivational behavior of the animal when food reward is used. There was an increase in gene expression of the DRD1a receptor in the ventral striatum of malnourished animals, and there were no significant changes concerning the DRD2 receptor. CONCLUSIONS: Perinatal protein malnutrition stimulates hedonic control of eating behavior by promoting increased intake of palatable foods, possibly due to increased expression of dopamine receptor DRD1a in the ventral striatum.

Câncer de cólon e estresse oxidativo / Cáncer de colon y estrese oxidativo / Colon cancer and oxidative stress

O câncer de cólon e reto foi o terceiro mais incidente entre a população feminina e o quarto mais incidente entre os homens da região Sudeste do Brasil em 2008. Assim como nas demais patologias que afetam o trato gastrintestinal, essa neoplasia debilita o paciente como um todo. Trata-se de uma doença multifatorial, sendo que fatores ambientais, especialmente o nível de atividade física e o tipo de dieta, estão envolvidos no risco de desenvolvimento. Todo o processo de alterações genéticas, responsável pela progressão dessa patologia, pode ser muito intensificado pelo estresse oxidativo causado pelos radicais livres, sendo este o principal responsável pelas metástases. A compreensão do mecanismo de ação dos radicais livres no desenvolvimento do câncer de cólon poderá propiciar a identificação de novos alvos terapêuticos. Desse modo, muitos estudos têm demonstrado que a diminuição do estresse oxidativo intestinal previne o desenvolvimento do câncer de cólon, contudo, trata-se de estudos fenomenológicos, sendo necessários trabalhos que se foquem na compreensão dos mecanismos de sinalização celular.

El cáncer de colon y recto fue el tercero en incidencia en la población femenina y el cuarto en la población masculina dela región del sudeste de Brasil en 2008. Como las otras patologías que afectan al aparato gastrointestinal, esta neoplasia debilita al paciente de manera total. Se trata de una enfermedad multifactorial, siendo que los factores ambientales, especialmente el nivel de actividad física y el tipo de dieta, están implicados en el riesgo de su desarrollo. Todo el proceso de alteraciones genéticas, responsablede la progresión de esta patología, puede ser intensificado por él estrese oxidativo que producen los radicales libres, siendo este la principal causa de metástasis. La comprensión del mecanismo de acción de los radicales libres en el desarrollo del cáncer de colon podrá propiciar la identificación de nuevos blancos terapéuticos. Así, muchos estudios han demostrado que la reducción del estrese oxidativo intestinal impide el desarrollo del cáncer de colon. Sin embargo, como se trata de estudios fenomenológicos, se necesitan trabajos que se concentren en la comprensión de los mecanismos de señalización celular.

Colorectal cancer type was the third highest incidence among women and the fourth most frequent among men in Brazil Southeast region in 2008. Similar to other diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract, it weakens the patient organism as a whole. It is a multifactorial disease, and environmental factors, especially physical activity level and diet, are involved in the risk of its development. The entire process of genetic alterations responsible for the progression of this disease can be enhanced by free radical-induced oxidative stress, which is the main responsible for metastasis. The comprehension of the free radical mechanisms in the development of colon cancer may facilitate the identification of new therapeutic targets. Finally, several studies have shown that reduced intestinal oxidative stress prevent the development of colon cancer, however, it is phenomenological studies, and the knowledge of its the signaling mechanisms remains unclear.

Enucleated L929 cells support invasion, differentiation, and multiplication of Trypanosoma cruzi parasites.

Cell infection with Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas' disease, begins with the uptake of infective trypomastigotes within phagosomes and their release into the cytosol, where they transform into replicating amastigotes; the latter, in turn, differentiate into cytolytically released and infective trypomastigotes. We ask here if the T. cruzi infection program can develop in enucleated host cells. Monolayers of L929 cells, enucleated by centrifugation in the presence of cytochalasin B and kept at 34 degrees C to extend the survival of cytoplasts, were infected with parasites of the CL strain. Percent infection, morphology, stage-specific markers, and numbers of parasites per cell were evaluated in nucleated and enucleated cells, both of which were present in the same preparations. Parasite uptake, differentiation and multiplication of amastigotes, development of epimastigote- and trypomastigote-like forms, and initial cytolytic release of parasites were all documented for cytoplasts and nucleated cells. Although the doubling times were similar, parasite loads at 48 and 72 h were significantly lower in the cytoplasts than in nucleated cells. Similar results were obtained with the highly virulent strain Y as well as with strains CL-14 and G, which exhibit low virulence for mice. Cytoplasts could also be infected with the CL strain 24 or 48 h after enucleation. Thus, infection of cells by T. cruzi can take place in enucleated host cells, i.e., in the absence of modulation of chromosomal and nucleolar gene transcription and of RNA modification and processing in the nucleus.