Why despite the lower prevalence, is asthma more severe in the semiarid region?

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease which is very prevalent throughout the world, and climatic factors, especially air humidity, have been considered fundamental to its development. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between the climate factor and the severity of asthma episodes in the semiarid region, comparing it to the coast and an intermediate climate region, considering the use of medication as an intervening factor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ecological study in cities with different climatic conditions (semiarid, intermediate region and Coast). Prevailing data was obtained from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) protocol. We evaluated the temperature, humidity and use of drugs for asthma/100,000 inhabitants. RESULTS: The prevalence of asthma was lower in the semiarid (14%; 95%CI=12.1-15.7) than the intermediate region (19.1%; 95%CI=17.7-20.6) and coast (17.9%; 95%CI=16.6-19.2). Episodes of severe asthma attacks were surprisingly higher in semiarid (10.4%; 95%CI=8.9-11.9) when compared to coast (4.1%; 95%CI=3.4-4.9) and intermediate region (5.0%; 95%CI=4.3-5.8). In the semiarid region, the humidity was lower and the temperature higher than the other cities evaluated. The dispensing of medications was lower in the semiarid region. CONCLUSIONS: Temperature and humidity may have contributed to a lower prevalence and greater severity of asthma in the semiarid region. The dispensing of medications was lower in the semiarid region, indicating that access to both relief and control drugs was lower in this city. The possibility of lack of health care in the semiarid region can also be another explanatory factor associated.

Inter- and Intra-Individual Analysis of Post-Exercise Hypotension Following a Single Bout of High-Intensity Interval Exercise and Continuous Exercise: A Pilot Study.

Recently, post-exercise blood pressure (BP) has been considered a predictive tool to identify individuals who are responsive or not to BP reductions with exercise training (i. e., "high" and "low responders"). This study aimed to analyze the inter- and intra-individual BP responsiveness following a single bout of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) and continuous exercise (CE) in normotensive men (n=14; 24.5±4.2 years). Mean change in BP during the 60 min period post-exercise was analyzed and minimal detectable change (MDC) was calculated to classify the subjects as "low" (no post-exercise hypotension [PEH]) and "high responders" (PEH occurrence) following each exercise protocol (inter-individual analysis). The MDC for systolic and diastolic BP was 5.8 and 7.0 mmHg. In addition, a difference equal/higher than MDC between the exercise protocols was used to define an occurrence of intra-individual variability in BP responsiveness. There were "low" and "high" PEH responders following both exercise protocols (inter-individual variability) as well as subjects who presented higher PEH following a specific exercise protocol (intra-individual variability between exercise protocols). These results were observed mainly for systolic BP. In summary, PEH is a heterogeneous physiological phenomenon and, for some subjects, seems to be exercise-protocol dependent. Further investigations are necessary to confirm our preliminary findings.

Is the mouse follicle culture a good model for the goat with respect to the development of preantral follicles in vitro?

The present study evaluated the efficiency of using 2 culture media developed for mice and for goats in the in vitro preantral follicle culture of each species. Murine and caprine secondary follicles were cultured in vitro with human recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (murine medium) or with bovine recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone in association with growth hormone (caprine medium). The results showed that murine follicles cultured in caprine medium had lower (P < 0.05) rates of follicular survival and growth, whereas for caprine follicles, these variables were not affected by the type of medium used (P > 0.05). After in vitro maturation, a higher (P < 0.05) number of oocytes that resumed meiosis were observed in the murine medium for both species. In contrast, only in the caprine species estradiol production was significantly superior when the caprine medium was used. Higher progesterone production was observed in the presence of the murine medium only for murine follicles (P < 0.05). In conclusion, murine and caprine preantral follicles cultured under the same in vitro culture medium conditions respond differently; caprine oocytes grown in vitro in the presence of the murine medium show the greatest developmental competence among the tested combinations. Therefore, under the present experimental conditions, the mouse follicle culture has proved be a good model for the development of new culture media for caprine preantral follicles.

Validade e reprodutibilidade de receptores para o GPS em relação à distância percorrida / Validez y reproducibilidad de receptores GPS en relación de la distancia recorrida

Objetivo. El presente estudio evaluó la validez y reproducibilidad de dos modelos de receptores para el Global Positioning System (GPS). La validez fue evaluada comparando la distancia registrada por los receptores con la distancia conocida de estos trayectos. Método. Seis jóvenes tenistas (177,6 ± 6,2 cm; 76,6 ± 3,2 kg) recorrieron tres trayectos: 1) 100 m en la pista de atletismo (número de "disparos" = 120); 2) 400 m en la pista de atletismo (número de "disparos" = 60) y 3) 100 m con cambios de dirección (número de "disparos" = 120), utilizando los equipos Garmin© Forerunner 405 y Polar© RS800. Resultados. En los trayectos sin cambios de dirección (100 y 400 m), a través de la ANOVA two way (distancia y velocidad) no se detectaron diferencias entre la distancia conocida y las distancias registradas por los receptores analizados (p > 0,05). En el trayecto de 100 m con cambios de dirección, se observaron diferencias entre la distancia conocida y las registradas tanto por el Polar© RS800 como por el Garmin© Forerunner 405 (p < 0,05). También se verificó la diferencia en las distancias registradas por el Polar® RS800 y por el Garmin© Forerunner 405 para el trayecto realizado con cambios de dirección (p < 0,05). Conclusión. A través de los datos, se puede afirmar que los receptores para GPS evaluados presentaron un nivel aceptable de precisión para distancias recorridas sin cambios de dirección, sin embargo, la precisión de estos equipos en trayectos con cambios de dirección fue limitada (AU)

Objective. The present study evaluated the reproducibility and validity of two models of receivers for the Global Positioning System (GPS). Validity was assessed by comparing the distance recorded by the GPS receivers with the known distance. Method. Six young players (177.6 ± 6.2 cm; 76.6 ± 3.2 kg) performed three routes with different characteristics: 1) 100 m in the athletics track (number of "sprints" = 120); 2) 400 m in the athletics track (number of "sprints" = 60) and 3) 100 m with changes of direction (number of "sprints" = 120), using equipment Garmin© Forerunner 405 and Polar© RS800. Results. Regarding linear routes (100 and 400 m), no differences were detected using ANOVA two-way (distance and speed) between the known distance and distance recorded by GPS receivers analyzed (p > 0.05). Regarding non-linear route of, significant differences were observed between the known distance and recorded distance by the GPS receivers (p < 0.05). There was also a significant difference between the distance recorded by Polar© RS800 and Garmin© Forerunner 405 for the non-linear route (p < 0.05). Analysis of the limits of agreement reinforces the limitation of equipment in relation to accuracy for the non-linear route. Conclusion. These data suggest that the GPS receivers evaluated showed acceptable level of accuracy for linear routes, however, the accuracy of such devices on non-linear routes was limited (AU)

Session RPE and salivary immune-endocrine responses to simulated and official basketball matches in elite young male athletes.

The present study compared the ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and immune-endocrine (IgA and cortisol) responses to simulated training matches (TM) and official matches (OM) in elite young male basketball players (N.=10). Saliva samples were collected from each player before and after three TM and two OM and subsequently tested for cortisol and IgA concentrations by immunoassay. The perceived intensity of each match was rated using a RPE scale (CR-10). The training match and official match data were pooled to provide an aggregate value for each setting. The session RPE scores from the OM were significantly (P<0.05) greater than the simulated TM. Pre- and postcortisol concentrations assessed during the OM were also found to be significantly higher than the TM (P<0.05). No significant changes in salivary IgA concentrations were observed across either the simulated or official match settings. In summary, the OM induced greater RPE and salivary cortisol responses than the simulated TM, probably due to the additional stressors associated with real competition. The data also suggests that acute changes in cortisol concentrations do not play a role in the regulation of salivary IgA under the current testing conditions.

Effect of continuous and pulsed therapeutic ultrasound in the appearance of local recurrence of mammary cancer in rats.

PURPOSE: Ultrasound (US) therapy is an electrothermotherapeutic modality that uses US energy to provoke physical and chemical alterations. US therapy has been widely used in physical therapy. However, in clinical practice, it is contraindicated in cancer patients due to the possibility of exacerbating tumor growth. METHODS: Sixty-eight female Sprague-Dawley rats bred in UNIFAE vivarium were studied. At 50 days of age, 7,12-dimetylbenz(a)anthracene (7,12-DMBA) was administered to 35 rats by gastric gavage to induce mammary cancer. After 90 days the mammary glands of the rats belonging to the group with mammary cancer induction and stimulated by US were removed. Animals received either continuous or pulsed US. US waves were generated at a frequency of 1 MHz during 10 days, with an intensity dose of 0.5 W in the continuous group, and 0.9 W (duty cycle: 20%) in the pulsed group. RESULTS: Among the rats treated with continuous US, 44.4% developed local recurrence, while among the rats treated with pulsed US, 22.2% had local tumor recurrence (p<0.05). No evidence of distant metastases was shown in any of the rats studied. CONCLUSION: The use of continuous and pulsed therapeutic US promoted the development of local recurrence of mammary cancer in female Sprague-Dawley rats in the postoperative period.

Differential behavioral outcomes of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA-ecstasy) in anxiety-like responses in mice

Anxiolytic and anxiogenic-like behavioral outcomes have been reported for methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ecstasy) in rodents. In the present experiment, we attempted to identify behavioral, hormonal and neurochemical outcomes of MDMA treatment to clarify its effects on anxiety-related responses in 2-month-old Balb/c male mice (25-35 g; N = 7-10 mice/group). The behavioral tests used were open field, elevated plus maze, hole board, and defensive behavior against predator odor. Moreover, we also determined striatal dopamine and dopamine turnover, and serum corticosterone levels. MDMA was injected ip at 0.2, 1.0, 5.0, 8.0, 10, or 20 mg/kg. MDMA at 10 mg/kg induced the following significant (P < 0.05) effects: a) a dose-dependent increase in the distance traveled and in the time spent moving in the open field; b) decreased exploratory activity in the hole board as measured by number of head dips and time spent in head dipping; c) increased number of open arm entries and increased time spent in open arm exploration in the elevated plus maze; d) increased time spent away from an aversive stimulus and decreased number of risk assessments in an aversive odor chamber; e) increased serum corticosterone levels, and f) increased striatal dopamine level and turnover. Taken together, these data suggest an anxiogenic-like effect of acute MDMA treatment, despite the fact that behavioral anxiety expression was impaired in some of the behavioral tests used as a consequence of the motor stimulating effects of MDMA.

Differential behavioral outcomes of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA-ecstasy) in anxiety-like responses in mice.

Anxiolytic and anxiogenic-like behavioral outcomes have been reported for methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ecstasy) in rodents. In the present experiment, we attempted to identify behavioral, hormonal and neurochemical outcomes of MDMA treatment to clarify its effects on anxiety-related responses in 2-month-old Balb/c male mice (25-35 g; N = 7-10 mice/group). The behavioral tests used were open field, elevated plus maze, hole board, and defensive behavior against predator odor. Moreover, we also determined striatal dopamine and dopamine turnover, and serum corticosterone levels. MDMA was injected ip at 0.2, 1.0, 5.0, 8.0, 10, or 20 mg/kg. MDMA at 10 mg/kg induced the following significant (P < 0.05) effects: a) a dose-dependent increase in the distance traveled and in the time spent moving in the open field; b) decreased exploratory activity in the hole board as measured by number of head dips and time spent in head dipping; c) increased number of open arm entries and increased time spent in open arm exploration in the elevated plus maze; d) increased time spent away from an aversive stimulus and decreased number of risk assessments in an aversive odor chamber; e) increased serum corticosterone levels, and f) increased striatal dopamine level and turnover. Taken together, these data suggest an anxiogenic-like effect of acute MDMA treatment, despite the fact that behavioral anxiety expression was impaired in some of the behavioral tests used as a consequence of the motor stimulating effects of MDMA.

Inibição dos lentivírus de pequenos ruminantes por drogas antivirais / Inhibition of small ruminant lentivirus by antiviral drugs

Inibidores da enzima transcriptase reversa e da protease foram avaliados quanto ao seu efeito inibitório na replicação do Vírus da Artrite Encefalite Caprina (CAEV) cepa CAEV Cork e do vírus Maedi-Visna (MVV) cepa K1514 cultivados em células fibroblásticas de caprinos. Os fármacos utilizados foram: lamivudina, didanosina, estavudina, zidovudina, efavirenz, atazanavir e lopinavir/ritonavir. A maior concentração utilizada para lamivudina, estavudina, zidovudina e efavirenz foi 500 ?M, para atazanavir foi 50 ?M e 5,0 ?M para lopinavir/r e didanosina. A atividade antiviral in vitro foi pesquisada por meio da avaliação da viabilidade celular através da redução do MTT e pela pesquisa de inibição dos efeitos citopáticos (CPE) dos vírus. A replicação dos vírus só não foi completamente bloqueada pelos inibidores de protease (IP) atazanavir e lopinavir/r enquanto os demais apresentaram eficácia antiviral significativa em diferentes concentrações. Os IP juntamente com o efavirenz, não mostraram atividade antiviral quando foram avaliados pela técnica de redução do MTT. Esses dados indicam que os fármacos inibidores da transcriptase reversa lamivudina, didanosina, estavudina e zidovudina são eficazes na inibição in vitro dos lentivírus de pequenos ruminantes.

Inhibitors of the reverse transcriptase and protease enzymes were evaluated for their inhibitory effect on the replication of caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) strain CAEV Cork and of the Maedi-Visna virus (MVV) strain K1514 cultured in fibroblastic cells. The drugs lamivudine, didanosine, stavudine, zidovudine, efavirenz, atazanavir and lopinavir/ritonavir were used. The highest concentration used for lamivudine, stavudine, zidovudine and efavirenz was 500 ?M, for atazanavir it was 50 ?M and 5.0 ?M for lopinavir/r and didanosine. The in vitro antiviral activity was investigated by evaluating the cell viability by the MTT method and testing for inhibition of cytopathic effects (CPE) of the virus. The replication of the virus was not completely inhibited by the protease inhibitors atazanavir and lopinavir/r in the test for CPE, while the others drugs showed significant antiviral efficacy in different concentrations. The protease inhibitors together with the efavirenz did not show antiviral activity when they were assessed by the reduced MTT technique. These data showed that the reverse transcriptase inhibitor drugs lamivudine, didanosine, stavudine and zidovudine were effective in the in vitro inhibition of small ruminant lentivirus.

Founder effect of the BRCA1 5382insC mutation in Brazilian patients with hereditary breast ovary cancer syndrome.

The 5382insC mutation in BRCA1 is a frequently reported mutation, being very prevalent in Central and Eastern Europe. This mutation was recurrently reported in Brazil and one case was reported Portugal, but not in Spain and other South-American countries,. We analyzed the haplotypic profile of seven Brazilian carriers of 5382insC to characterize a possible founder effect. The analyses indicated that mutation carriers shared an identical haplotype. The absence of this mutation in Spain, other South American countries, and sub-Saharan populations, as well as the patients' own ancestry, point to a significant Central or Eastern European contribution to the present genetic background of Brazilian population, different from the population structuring of remaining South American countries.

Neuroendocrine, behavioral and macrophage activity changes induced by picrotoxin effects in mice.

The relevance and property of studies related to stress effects on immune function are undisputable. All studies conducted on stress-immune relationships, however, provide from physical and/or psychological stressors. Indeed, as far as it is of our knowledge brain-innate immune responses were not analyzed after anxiogenic-like drugs use. The present experiment was then undertaken to analyze the effects of picrotoxin (0.3, 0.6 and 1.0mg/kg doses) on behavior, macrophage activity, serum corticosterone and noradrenaline (NE) levels and turnover in the brain of adult mice. Results showed that picrotoxin treatment in mice: (1) decreased motor and rearing activities in an open-field; (2) decreased the number of entries into the plus-maze open-arms and decreased the time spent in the exploration of the plus-maze open-arms; (3) decreased both motor activity and the level of holes exploration in the hole-board; (4) increased the levels of serum corticosterone in dose-dependent way; (5) increased noradrenaline (NE) and MHPG levels and NE turnover in the hypothalamus; and (6) increased Staphylococcus aureus and PMA-induced macrophage oxidative burst. However, and contrary to that reported after physical or psychological stress, this drug induced no effects on macrophage phagocytosis and NE levels and turnover in the frontal cortex. The present results are thus showing that picrotoxin induces some but not all neuro-innate immunity changes previously reported for inescapable foot-shock and psychological stressors in mice. These facts suggest that this chemical stressor triggers CNS pathways that might be somehow different from those fired by inescapable foot-shock and psychological stressors, leading to different neuro-innate immune responses.

Taxas de prenhez em novilhas de corte acasaladas aos 18 e 24 meses de idade / Differences in pregnancy rate of beef heifers mating at 18 and 24 months of age

Avaliaram-se os efeitos da idade de acasalamento e classe de peso sobre a taxa de prenhez (TP) de novilhas de corte Hereford (n=119) acasaladas aos 18 (18M) ou 24 meses (24M) e classificadas em leves (18ML = 260kg; 24ML = 280kg) e pesadas (18MP = 300kg; 24MP = 330kg). O período de monta foi de 05/04 a 21/05/01 (outono) e de 04/11 a 20/12/01 (primavera) para 18M e 24M, respectivamente. Avaliaram-se os efeitos do peso no início do acasalamento (PIA), escore da condição corporal (CCI) e ganho de peso (GDM). Não ocorreram diferenças (P>0,05) na TP entre os grupos 18MP (73,3 por cento), 24ML (72,4 por cento) e 24MP (83,3 por cento), mas a TP foi mais baixa entre as novilhas 18ML (26,7 por cento). O GDM foi maior para novilhas 24M (0,664 vs 0,537kg/d) (P<0,05) que para as 18M. No grupo 18MP, as novilhas que conceberam tiveram maior GDM (0,621 vs 0,429kg/d) em relação às falhadas. O CCI foi mais alto (P<0,10) nas novilhas que conceberam (3,5) que nas falhadas (3,32). Observou-se efeito quadrático do PIA (P<0,01) sobre a TP (Y= -993,03 + 6,4543PIA - 0,0097PIA²; R²=0,98).

The effects of the mating age and weight class on the pregnancy rate (PR) of Hereford heifers (n=119) at 18 (18M) or 24 months (24M) of age were evaluated. The heifers were divided into classes as light (18ML=260kg; 24ML=280kg) or heavy (18MP=300kg; 24MP=330kg). The breeding seasons were: 18M: 04/05 - 05/21 (fall) and 24M: 11/04 - 12/21 (spring). The traits analyzed were live weight (LW) and body condition score (BCS) at the beginning of the mating season and the average daily gain (ADG) on the pregnancy rate (PR). The PR were 73.3 percent (18MP), 72.4 percent (24ML), 83.3 percent (24MP) (P>0.05) and the 18ML heifers have shown lower PR (26.7 percent) (P<0.05). The 24M heifers showed higher ADG (0.664 vs 0.537kg/d) than the 18M heifers and in this group the open heifers had lower ADG (0.429 vs 0.621kg/d) than the pregnant heifers. The BCS were higher (P<0.10) for the pregnant heifers (3.50) than the open (3.24) heifers. A quadratic effect of LW on the PR (Y= -993.03 + 6.4543LW - 0.0097LW²; R²=0.98) was observed.

Study of heavy metal content in HIV-infected blood using X-ray fluorescence technique.

The objective of this work was to study the sensitivity of energy dispersion X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) in the elemental analysis of blood samples. Using this technique, blood samples (0.03 ml) from infected and non-infected patients were evaluated. It was possible to point out that blood samples from patients infected by HIV present deficiencies in Fe, Zn and K concentrations when compared to non-infected ones. The results emphasized EDXRF as a important technique for detection of heavy metals in blood using small volume of samples, without the need of any specific sample pre-preparation, and leading to an important reduction in the final cost of the analyses.

Mineralizaçäo óssea com quatro fontes de fósforo na terminaçäo de suínos / Bone mineralization with four phosphorus sources in finishing pigs

Avaliou-se a inclusäo de quatro fontes de fósforo (P), considerando-se seu fósforo disponível, sobre a mineralizaçäo óssea de suínos em terminaçäo (60 a 100 kg). As fontes avaliadas foram fosfato bicálcico padräo (FBP), superfosfato supertriplo (FST), fosfato monoamônio (FMA) e consorciaçäo de FBP (80 por cento) com fosfato de Patos de Minas (FPM - 20 por cento). Foram utilizados 32 leitöes machos castrados, mestiços de raça tipo carne, com média de peso de 60kg. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente ao acaso, constituído de quatro tratamentos, com quatro repetiçöes, cada uma com dois animais e um grupo controle de seis animais sacrificados ao início do experimento. As dietas foram isoprotéicas e isoenergéticas, adequadas para a fase de terminaçäo. Avaliaram-se os teores de matéria seca, cinzas, cálcio, fósforo, flúor e relaçäo Ca:P dos ossos. Os animais que receberam dietas suplementadas com FBP e FPM apresentaram maior (P<0,05) e menor porcentagem de P nas cinzas ósseas (P<0,05), respectivamente. Maior deposiçäo de flúor nos ossos (P<0,05) ocorreu em suínos alimentados com a dieta suplementada com FPM, em relaçäo aos demais tratamentos. Nos tratamentos com FBP e FMA, os níveis de deposiçäo de F nos ossos foram menores (P<0,05) do que nos tratamentos que usaram FST e 20 por cento de FPM+80 por cento de FBP. As fontes de fósforo avaliadas, nas condiçöes experimentais adotadas, podem ser utilizadas em raçöes de suínos em teminaçäo, ressalvando-se que a indicaçäo do fosfato de Patos de Minas deve ser em associaçäo com outro fosfato de qualidade superior

Estimulaçäo magnética transcraniana - uma propedêutica neurológica e uma terapêutica psiquiatriátrica / Transcranial magnetic stimulation - A neurologic propedeutic and a psychiatric therapy

A estimulaçäo magnética transcraniana é um método neurofisiológico que surgiu como uma alternativa técnica para a estimulaçäo elétrica cerebral na propedêutica neurológica de investigaçäo das lesöes dos tratos motores. A grande vantagem desta técnica é a estimulaçäo direta do córtex e talvez de regiöes subcorticais com ausência de contato de eletrodod, e por ser um procedimento näo invasivo é indolor. Recentemente também tem sido usada como método terapêutico em psiquiatria, principalmente nos quadros de transtornos afetivos, com uso potencial para outros quadros

Influência do flúor de fontes de fósforo sobre o desempenho de frangos de corte / Effect of fluorine from sources of rock phosphate on perfomance of broilers

Avaliou-se o desempenho produtivo de frangos de corte alimentados com dois tipos de fosfatos de Araxá (FA). Os valores de biodisponibilidades do fósforo e do cálcio das fontes, determinados previamente, foram utilizados para formular as duas dietas experimentais. As dietas foram fornecidas em três diferentes períodos (1 a 45, 21 a 45 e 35 a 45 dias de idade). Observou-se efeito negativo do flúor presente nos FA, sobre o ganho de peso e consumo de raçäo nos frangos que receberam FA nos primeiros 21 dias de idade. A utilizaçäo dos FA na dieta de frangos de corte, a partir dos 21 dias de idade näo afetou o ganho de peso, consumo de raçäo e conversäo alimentar. Níveis superiores a 300ppm de flúor, disponível na dieta de frangos de corte desde o primeiro dia prejudicam o consumo de raçäo e o ganho de peso. A utilizaçäo de FA a partir de 21 dia de idade näo afetou o teor de cinzas ósseas nem o de fósforo nos ossos de frangos de corte

Reabilitacao pos-mastectomia. / Postmastectomy rehabilitation

Apresenta-se programa para reabilitacao da paciente mastectomizada. Foi ele adaptado as condicoes do Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, porque a maioria dos usuarios e de baixo estado socio-economico e cultural. Esse programa tem por objetivo alcancar a recuperacao fisica, o reajuste psicossocial e a retomada das atividades domesticas da enferma, o que exigiu a criacao de uma equipe multidisciplinar, formada por medicos, assistentes-sociais, psicologas e enfermeiras. A aplicacao completa do programa varia de caso para caso, em media demorando 8 semanas apos a alta hospitalar