Evaluation of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins in Marine Oyster Farming and Microalgae in the Atlantic Amazon Evidences Safety but Highlights Potential Risks of Shellfish Poisoning.

Marine phycotoxins are organic compounds synthesized by some species of microalgae, which accumulate in the tissues of filter-feeder organisms such as bivalve mollusks. These toxins can cause acute intoxication episodes in humans, a severe threat to aquaculture and fisheries. In the State of Pará, Brazil, oyster farming has community, artisanal and sustainable bases, using mangroves as cultivation environment and seed banks. In small-scale production, there are often no established methods of safeguarding the health of consumers elevating the potential risks of shellfish poisoning outbreaks. Our study evaluated the presence of phycotoxins in oysters cultivated in five municipalities in the region of the Atlantic Amazon (Pará, Brazil) assessing the quality of the final product. We further evaluated the microalgae, water quality, and the spatio-temporal variation of physicochemical factors in the same area. Diatoms dominated the microalgae composition, followed by dinoflagellates, some of which are reported to be potentially toxic and producers of paralytic shellfish toxins. For the first time, we describe the occurrence of the potentially toxic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis sp. in the Amazon region. Furthermore, for the first time, toxins were detected in oyster farming in the northeast of the State of Pará, namely GTX2,3, STX, and dc-STX nevertheless, with nontoxic values. The identified toxins represent a potential threat to shellfish consumers.

Investigations on Storage and Oxidative Stability of Biodiesel from Different Feedstocks Using the Rancimat Method, Infrared Spectroscopy, and Chemometry.

Biodiesel can be altered when exposed to air, light, temperature, and humidity. Other factors, such as microbial or inorganic agents, also interfere with the quality of the product. In the present work, the Rancimat method and mid-infrared spectroscopy associated with chemometry, were used to identify the oxidation process of biodiesel from different feedstocks and to evaluate the antioxidant activity of butylated hydroxytoluene. The study was carried out in four steps: preparation of biodiesel samples with and without the antioxidant agent, degradation of the samples under the effect of light and heating at 70 °C, measurements of the induction period, obtention of infrared spectra, and multivariate analysis. The Fourier transform mid-infrared spectroscopy was used in combination with multivariate analysis, using techniques such as principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA). The Rancimat results showed that babassu biodiesel has a higher resistance to oxidative degradation, while chicken biodiesel is the most susceptible to degradation; on the other hand, the antioxidant activity was more effective with chicken biodiesel, demonstrating that the antioxidant effect depends on the feedstock used in the production of biodiesel. The oxidative stability of babassu oil-, corn oil-, and chicken fat-based biodiesels decreased during storage both in the presence of light and at high temperature. Prior to PCA, all spectra were pre-processed with a combination of Savitzky-Golay smoothing filter with a 7-point window, baseline correction, and mean-centered data. The use of mid-infrared spectroscopy associated with PCA revealed the first two components to explain the greater variability of data, representing over 75% of total variation for all analyzed systems. In addition, it was able to separate the biodiesel samples according to the fatty acid profile of its feedstock, as well as the type of degradation to which it was subjected, the same being confirmed by HCA.

Respect for the Donated Corpse in the View of Dentistry and Medicine Students / Respeto por el Cadáver Donado en la Visión de los Estudiantes de Odontología y Medicina

The teaching of human anatomy in universities in Brazil and around the world is accomplished mainly through the use of donated corpses. However, this methodology is threatened due to the progressive reduction of the number of corpses donated to educational institutions. This research aimed to investigate the ethical profile of undergraduate students of Medicine and Dentistry when working with the corpses during practical classes in anatomy, and to compare the students' knowledge of the law that regulates the donation and use of human cadavers as a means of learning in educational institutions. For this purpose, a sample of 106 students, 63 from the Faculty of Dentistry of Piracicaba - UNICAMP -, and 43 from the Faculty of Medicine of Jundiaí (both in the state of São Paulo, Brazil) filled a questionnaire. The data were statistically analyzed using the chi-square test, and there were virtually no statistically significant difference between the responses of the students of Dentistry and Medicine. Most students did not know the law, and 81 % (Dentistry) and 68 % (Medicine) would not donate their bodies to educational institutions. Although nearly 75 % of students have claimed that teachers emphasized the importance of respect to the donated body, 56 % of future dentists and 46 % of future physicians ensure they have heard some kind of joke about the cadaver during class, although only 4.76 % and 13.95 %, respectively, have confessed to have already presented this inappropriate behavior. Thus, it can be inferred that there is an urgent need for dissemination of the importance of body donation programs, and the teaching of ethical principles concerning to the corpse, to ensure continuity of quality of education offered in biomedical field.

La enseñanza de la anatomía humana en las universidades en Brasil y en el mundo se lleva a cabo principalmente a través del uso de partes de cadáveres. Sin embargo, esta metodología está amenazada debido a la reducción progresiva del número de cadáveres transferidos a las instituciones educativas. El objetivo de este trabajo fue investigar el perfil ético de los estudiantes de odontología y medicina sobre el cuerpo durante las lecciones prácticas de anatomía, y comparar el conocimiento de la ley que regula la donación y utilización de cadáveres humanos como un medio de aprendizaje en las instituciones educativas. Una muestra de 106 estudiantes, 63 del curso de Odontología de la Facultad de Odontología de Piracicaba - UNICAMP - y 43 estudiantes de medicina de la Facultad de Medicina de Jundiaí (ambas ubicadas en São Paulo ­ Brasil), respondió a un cuestionario. Los datos fueron sometidos a un análisis estadístico mediante la prueba de chi-cuadrado. Se observó que no había diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre las respuestas. La mayoría de los estudiantes no conocen la ley, y 81 % (Odontología) y 68 % (Medicina) no donarían su cuerpo a las instituciones educativas. Aunque aproximadamente 75 % de los estudiantes afirman que los profesores enfaticen el respeto por el cuerpo, 56 % de los futuros dentistas y 46 % de los futuros médicos aseguran que han escuchado chistes y comentarios desagradables sobre el cuerpo durante las clases, aunque sólo 4,76 % y 13,95 %, respectivamente, han confesado haber cometido tal práctica. Conclusiones: Por lo tanto, se puede inferir que hay una necesidad apremiante para la divulgación de las leyes que rigen la donación de órganos y la conciencia de los cadáveres de donación, así como la enseñanza de los principios éticos de respeto por el cuerpo, para asegurar la continuidad de la calidad de la educación que se ofrece en las ciencias biomédicas.

A new species of Equinoxiodus (Dipnoi: ?Neoceratodontidae) from the Late Cretaceous of Brazil.

A noteworthy diversity of Dipnoi tooth plates has been collected in the fossiliferous conglomerates of the Alcântara Formation, early Cenomanian (Cretaceous) of Brazil. This sequence was deposited under transitional (estuarine) conditions, gathering reworked dissociated fossils represented by plants, fishes, crocodylomorphs, pterosaurs and dinosaurs. A new species of Dipnoi is reported in this work, Equinoxiodus schultzei sp. nov. whose genus is endemic of northern South America and lived probably in fresh water. The presence of several species of dipnoan in the mid-Cretaceous of north/northeastern Brazil indicates that the environmental conditions were very suitable to this group, confirming the well-marked seasonality of the climate, with frequent prolonged droughts, as interpreted in previous publications. 

Migratory and carnivorous birds in Brazil: reservoirs for Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species?

In order to investigate new hosts for Anaplasmataceae agents in Brazil, we collected blood samples from 21 wild birds. Using molecular techniques, we detected the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, and an Ehrlichia species closely related to Ehrlichia canis in carnivorous avian blood samples. In addition, an Ehrlichia species closely related to an Ehrlichia species found in wild felines in Brazil was also detected in a goose blood sample. Wild birds may play a role as carriers of Anaplasmataceae agents in Brazil.

[Nursing education: interface between the curriculum guidelines and content of primary health attention]. / Formação em enfermagem: interface entre as diretrizes curriculares e os conteúdos de atenção básica.

This study aimed to analyze the Political and Pedagogical Projects (PPP) of three nursing courses older Ceará, showing how the National Curriculum Guidelines for Nursing are expressed in them, and the changes occurring in nursing as a profession in Brazil. This is a documentary research, in which he noted the influence of the National Curriculum Guidelines for Nursing in training professionals to work in Primary Care. From the study it was concluded that the PPP analysis are concerned with the training focused on the but two of the universities concerned have a curriculum more focused on the principles of primary care and only one of them brings the proposal of the whole curriculum, an aspect that contributes to discussions in education when considering the professional training for Single Health System.

Prevalence of Salmonella spp. antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii, and Newcastle disease virus in feral pigeons (Columba livia) in the city of Jaboticabal, Brazil.

The rock pigeon (Columba livia) may serve as a reservoir for several pathogenic agents that can be transmitted to poultry, wildlife, domesticated pets, and/or humans via excreta, secretions, or dust from feathers. In addition, ingestion of infected pigeons by wild and domestic animals can also transmit these pathogenic agents. The health status of 126 free-living pigeons in an urban area was evaluated by microbiologic culture for Salmonella and serologic testing for the presence of antibodies for Toxoplasma gondii and for Newcastle disease virus (NDV) from 120 and 109 pigeons, respectively. After drawing blood, the birds were euthanized, and fragments of the liver, spleen, lungs, and gonads, and feces were cultured for Salmonella spp. Salmonella spp. was isolated from 10 birds (7.94%), of which 8 were Salmonella typhimurium, one was Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serotype 4,12 and one was Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serotype 4,12,i. Six of 109 pigeons (5.50%) were positive for NDV antibodies when using the hemagglutination inhibition test. Toxoplasma gondii antibodies were detected by immunofluorescence in one of 120 sera tested (0.83%). The results indicate that feral rock pigeons were exposed to NDV and T. gondii, although the exposure was low. In addition, these birds had Salmonella spp. and could disseminate this pathogen in the environment.

Síndrome de Eagle: revisión de la literatura / Eagle´s syndrome: a review of the literature

El síndrome de Eagle, también conocido como el síndrome estiloide, síndrome de la arteria carótida o síndrome del proceso estiloide alargado y huesificado, consiste en el alargamiento del proceso estiloide o en la hosificación del ligamento estilóideo, produciendo dolores estimulados por los nervios cranianos y sensoriales. El objetivo del presente estudio es realizar una revisión de literatura, enfatizando peculiaridades sobre la anatomía, embriología, etiología, diagnóstico diferencial, sintomatología y tratamiento de este síndrome.

The Eagle Syndrome, also known as Styloid Syndrome, Arteria Carotus Syndrome and Syndrome of the elongated and ossified styloid process, consists in an elongated styloid process or a calcified stylohyoid ligament, causing pain due to stimulation of cranial and sensorial nerves. The objective of this study is to realize a literature review of this syndrome, emphasizing peculiarities of its anatomy, embryology, etiology, differential diagnosis, symptomatology and treatment.

A Síndrome de Eagle, também conhecida como a síndrome estilóide, síndrome da artéria carótida ou síndrome do processo estilóide alongado e ossificado, consiste no alongamento do processo estilóide ou na ossificação do ligamento estiloióideo, produzindo dores estimuladas pelos nervos cranianos e sensoriais. O objetivo do presente estudo é realizar uma revisão de literatura, enfatizando peculiaridades sobre a anatomia, embriologia, etiologia, diagnóstico diferencial, sintomatologia e tratamento desta síndrome.