Ethanol withdrawal induces anxiety-like effects: Role of nitric oxide synthase in the dorsal raphe nucleus of rats.

Nitric oxide (NO) mediated transmission in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) has been shown to be involved in the modulation of anxiety-like behaviors. We investigated whether inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the DRN would prevent anxiety-like behavior induced by ethanol withdrawal. Male Wistar rats were treated with ethanol 2-6% (v/v) for a period of 21 days. Ethanol withdrawal was induced by abrupt discontinuation of the treatment. Experiments were performed 48 h after ethanol discontinuation. Rats with a guide cannula aimed at the DRN received intra-DRN injections of the non-selective NOS inhibitor NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME), selective neuronal NOS (nNOS) inhibitor N(ω)-propyl-l-arginine (NPLA), or selective inhibitor of inducible NOS (iNOS) N-([3-(aminomethyl)phenyl] methyl) ethanimidamidedihydrochloride (1400W). Five minutes later, the animals were tested in the elevated plus maze (EPM). Plasma ethanol levels were determined by gas chromatography. There was a reduction in plasma ethanol levels 48 h after ethanol withdrawal. Rats from the ethanol withdrawal group showed decreased exploration of the open arms of the EPM with no change in the exploration of enclosed arms. Intra-DRN treatment with l-NAME (100 nmoles/0.2 µL) and 1400W (1 nmol/0.2 µL), but not NPLA (10 nmoles/0.2 µL) in the DRN attenuated the decrease in the exploration of the open arms of the EPM induced by ethanol withdrawal. The major new finding of the present study is that iNOS in the DRN plays a role in the anxiety-like behavior induced by ethanol withdrawal.

Environmental enrichment reverses reduction in glucocorticoid receptor expression in the hippocampus of and improves behavioral responses of anxiety in early malnourished rats.

We compared glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene expression in the hippocampus of rats subjected to a low protein, "malnourished" diet (M; 6% protein) or a control, "well-nourished" diet (W; 16% protein), exposed to different environmental stimulation (environmental enrichment, E; no enrichment, N) between postnatal day 8 (P8) and P35. Rats were tested on the elevated plus maze (EPM) on P36. Male Wistar rats were split into two groups at birth according to diet (M or W) and subdivided according to environmental stimulation (E or N). GR expression was determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction and GR immunohistochemistry in the hippocampus. Our results showed that MN rats spent more time and made more entries into the open arms of the EPM compared to W rats. On the other hand, ME rats spent a similar percentage of time, and made a similar number of entries, in the open arms as WN rats. Following the EPM test, GR mRNA expression in the hippocampus was different in MN rats compared to W rats; expression was also different between M and ME rats; mRNA and expression of GR receptors in WN rats was similar to that observed in WE rats. These data also show that the effects of malnutrition on risk assessment in the EPM were reversed by E. Early malnutrition may alter GR expression in the hippocampus and environmental enrichment may exert a neuroprotective effect on malnutrition-induced brain injury.

Recreação hospitalar: o papel do profissional de educação física na equipe multidisciplinar / Recreation in hospitals: the role of physical education professional in multidisciplinary attendance

Este estudo qualitativo investigou as perspectivas metodológicas, os conteúdos, os possíveis resultados e o papel dos profissionais de Educação Física atuantes em equipes multidisciplinares com a recreação hospitalar. O estudo constou de pesquisa exploratória, do tipo survey, aplicada a 20 sujeitos adultos, voluntários, de ambos os sexos, atuantes em equipe multidisciplinar de um hospital em Leme, SP. Os dados analisados descritivamente, por Análise de Conteúdo Temático, indicam que o tempo de engajamento desse profissional nessa equipe foi, em média, 12,8 meses. O profissional de Educação Física age com alegria, frente aos pacientes, o que o torna bem aceito. Os conteúdos utilizados por esses profissionais nas intervenções foram brincadeiras, fantoches, dramatizações e música. A equipe percebeu alterações positivas nos pacientes, depois da atuação do Profissional de Educação Física, sendo seu papel considerado importante na equipe multidisciplinar. Sugerem-se novas ações para ampliar a participação deste profissional em equipes multidisciplinares de saúde.

This qualitative study aimed to investigate the methodological perspective, the contents, possible outcomes and the role of Physical Education professionals in multidisciplinary staff of Recreation in hospitals. The study consisted of a survey applied to 20 adults of both sexes, volunteers, working in multidisciplinary team at a hospital in Leme, SP. Data were descriptively analyzed through content analysis technique, indicating that the time of engagement of that professional in that team was on average 12.8 months. Physical Education Professionals act mainly with joy faced the patients, making them well accepted. In relation to the contents used by these professionals, toys were the most mentioned, followed by books, puppets, role play and music. The team noticed some positive changes in patients after Physical Education Professional performances, and his engagement in the health team was considered very important, highlighting the urgency of new shares to enlarge this Professional participation in health multidisciplinary teams.

[Cause-specific mortality in populations exposed and unexposed to outdoor emissions of formaldehyde and wood dust: the Viadana study]. / Confronto dell'esperienza di mortalità per cause specifiche di popolazioni esposte e non esposte a fonti emissive esterne di formaldeide e polveri di legno: lo studio di Viadana.

AIM: to describe the mortality risk for all causes and chronic diseases among people living in the industrial district of Viadana (Mantua), where wooden furniture factories producing formaldehyde and wood dust are situated. DESIGN: mortality for the years 1996-2005 among residents in the municipalities where the industrial plants are located (exposed areas) was compared with the mortality among people living in the areas without plants (non-exposed areas). MAIN OUTCOMES: standardized mortality ratios (SMR), using as reference the total population of the Province of Mantua. RESULTS: overall mortality risk was slightly higher in the non-exposed areas and in the district of Viadana than in the Province of Mantua. Mortality risk for all cancers in the exposed areas was lower than in the Province of Mantua (SMR=0.93; 95% IC 0.87-0.99). Mortality for prostate cancer was significantly increased in the exposed areas compared to non-exposed areas (RR=1.83; 95% IC 1.08-3.09) and to the Province of Mantua as a whole (SMR=1.39; 95% IC 1.06-1.79). Mortality maps suggest a higher mortality risk for prostate cancer, mainly among exposed areas. An excess of mortality for leukaemia (non-statistically significant) and for respiratory diseases (statistically significant) was found in Gazzuolo and Sabbioneta, both located in the exposed area. CONCLUSION: no statistically significant excess risk of mortality for cancer of upper aerodigestive tract was found among residents in municipalities where wood dust and formaldehyde producing factories were active. The increased mortality risk for prostate cancer and leukaemia needs to be deeply analyzed.

inibição da iNOS do núcleo dorsal da rafe atenua o efeito ansiogênico induzido pela abstinência ao consumo crônico de etanol

A abstinência ao consumo crônico de etanol leva ao desenvolvimento de diversas fisiopatologias. Dentre elas, alterações no funcionamento do sistema nervoso central (SNC) parecem envolver processos de neurodegeneração, os quais são desencadeados por processos inflamatórios decorrentes do consumo crônico de etanol. O Óxido Nitrico (NO) tem sido apontado como um importante fator no desencadeamento de processos neurodegenerativos e no SNC é sintetizado principalmente por micróglias pela enzima induzida da Sintase do Óxido Nítrico (iNOS), que são ativadas por fatores inflamatórios diversos. Além disso, o NO também está envolvido na fisiopatologia dos Transtornos de Ansiedade, os quais podem ser observados na abstinência ao consumo crônico de etanol. Assim, o objetivo desse trabalho é investigar se a inibição da iNOS no Núcleo Dorsal da Rafe (NDR), uma das estruturas pertencestes ao substrato neural da Ansiedade, é capaz de atenuar os efeitos ansiogênicos induzidos pela abstinência ao consumo crônico de etanol. Após 48 horas de abstinência ao consumo crônico de etanol, os animais receberam uma injeção de 1400 W (inibidor seletivo da iNOS) intra-NDR ou Salina intra-NDR e foram submetidos ao labirinto em cruz elevado. Os dados evidenciaram que a ansiedade induzida pela abstinência ao consumo crônico de etanol envolve um aumento na produção de NO pela ação da iNOS, sugerindo o envolvimento da mesma na ansiedade induzida pela abstinência ao consumo crônico de etanol.(AU)

The abstinence from chronic consumption of ethanol (CCE) leads to the development of different pathophysiologies. Among them, changes in the functioning of the central nervous system appear to involve processes of neurodegeneretion wich are triggered by inflammatory processes due to CCE. Nitric Oxide (NO) has been considered an important factor in the onset of neurodegenerative disorders and mainly synthesized by microglial cells induced by the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), wich are activated by various inflammatory factors. Furthermore, NO is also involved in the pathophysioiogy of anxiety disorders, wich can be observed in the CCE abstinence. The objective of this study is to investigate whether inhibition of iNOS in the Dorsal Raphe Nucleus (DRN), one of the structures within the neural substrate of anxiety, is able to attenuate the effects anxiogenics induced by withdrawal of CCE. After 48 hours of abstinence from CCE, the animals were injected intraDRN of 1400W (selective inhibitor of iNOS) or saline and were submitted to the Elevated Plus-Maze. In conclusion, the anxiety induced by withdrawal from chronic consumption of ethanol involves an increase in NO production by action of iNOS, suggesting involvement of NO in the anxiety induced by withdrawal of chronic ethanol consumption.(AU)