RESUMO
INTRODUCTION:: Agonistic behaviors help to ensure survival, provide advantage in competition, and communicate social status. The resident-intruder paradigm, an animal model based on male intraspecific confrontations, can be an ethologically relevant tool to investigate the neurobiology of aggressive behavior. OBJECTIVES:: To examine behavioral and neurobiological mechanisms of aggressive behavior in male Swiss mice exposed to repeated confrontations in the resident intruder paradigm. METHODS:: Behavioral analysis was performed in association with measurements of plasma corticosterone of mice repeatedly exposed to a potential rival nearby, but inaccessible (social instigation), or to 10 sessions of social instigation followed by direct aggressive encounters. Moreover, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BNDF) were measured in the brain of these animals. Control mice were exposed to neither social instigation nor aggressive confrontations. RESULTS:: Mice exposed to aggressive confrontations exhibited a similar pattern of species-typical aggressive and non-aggressive behaviors on the first and the last session. Moreover, in contrast to social instigation only, repeated aggressive confrontations promoted an increase in plasma corticosterone. After 10 aggressive confrontation sessions, mice presented a non-significant trend toward reducing hippocampal levels of CRF, which inversely correlated with plasma corticosterone levels. Conversely, repeated sessions of social instigation or aggressive confrontation did not alter BDNF concentrations at the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. CONCLUSION:: Exposure to repeated episodes of aggressive encounters did not promote habituation over time. Additionally, CRF seems to be involved in physiological responses to social stressors.
Assuntos
Agressão/fisiologia , Fator Neurotrófico Derivado do Encéfalo/metabolismo , Corticosterona/sangue , Hormônio Liberador da Corticotropina/metabolismo , Sistema Límbico/metabolismo , Córtex Pré-Frontal/metabolismo , Análise de Variância , Animais , Comportamento Animal/fisiologia , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Habituação Psicofisiológica/fisiologia , Abrigo para Animais , Masculino , CamundongosRESUMO
Abstract Introduction: Agonistic behaviors help to ensure survival, provide advantage in competition, and communicate social status. The resident-intruder paradigm, an animal model based on male intraspecific confrontations, can be an ethologically relevant tool to investigate the neurobiology of aggressive behavior. Objectives: To examine behavioral and neurobiological mechanisms of aggressive behavior in male Swiss mice exposed to repeated confrontations in the resident intruder paradigm. Methods: Behavioral analysis was performed in association with measurements of plasma corticosterone of mice repeatedly exposed to a potential rival nearby, but inaccessible (social instigation), or to 10 sessions of social instigation followed by direct aggressive encounters. Moreover, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BNDF) were measured in the brain of these animals. Control mice were exposed to neither social instigation nor aggressive confrontations. Results: Mice exposed to aggressive confrontations exhibited a similar pattern of species-typical aggressive and non-aggressive behaviors on the first and the last session. Moreover, in contrast to social instigation only, repeated aggressive confrontations promoted an increase in plasma corticosterone. After 10 aggressive confrontation sessions, mice presented a non-significant trend toward reducing hippocampal levels of CRF, which inversely correlated with plasma corticosterone levels. Conversely, repeated sessions of social instigation or aggressive confrontation did not alter BDNF concentrations at the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Conclusion: Exposure to repeated episodes of aggressive encounters did not promote habituation over time. Additionally, CRF seems to be involved in physiological responses to social stressors.
Resumo Introdução: Comportamentos agonísticos ajudam a garantir a sobrevivência, oferecem vantagem na competição e comunicam status social. O paradigma residente-intruso, modelo animal baseado em confrontos intraespecíficos entre machos, pode ser uma ferramenta etológica relevante para investigar a neurobiologia do comportamento agressivo. Objetivos: Analisar os mecanismos comportamentais e neurobiológicos do comportamento agressivo em camundongos Swiss machos expostos a confrontos repetidos no paradigma residente-intruso. Métodos: A análise comportamental foi realizada em associação com medidas de corticosterona plasmática em camundongos expostos repetidamente a um rival em potencial próximo, porém inacessível (instigação social), ou a 10 sessões de instigação social seguidas de encontros agressivos diretos. Além disso, o fator de liberação de corticotrofina (CRF) e o fator neurotrófico derivado do cérebro (BNDF) foram medidos no encéfalo desses animais. Camundongos controles não foram expostos à instigação social ou confrontos agressivos. Resultados: Os camundongos expostos a confrontos agressivos exibiram um padrão semelhante de comportamentos agressivos e não agressivos típicos da espécie na primeira e na última sessão. Em contraste com instigação social apenas, confrontos agressivos repetidos promoveram aumento na corticosterona plasmática. Após 10 sessões de confrontos agressivos, os camundongos apresentaram uma tendência não significativa de redução dos níveis de CRF no hipocampo, que se correlacionaram inversamente com os níveis plasmáticos de corticosterona. Por outro lado, sessões repetidas de instigação social ou confronto agressivo não alteraram as concentrações de BDNF no córtex pré-frontal e hipocampo. Conclusão: A exposição a episódios repetidos de encontros agressivos não promoveu habituação ao longo do tempo. Adicionalmente, o CRF parece estar envolvido nas respostas fisiológicas aos estressores sociais.
Assuntos
Animais , Masculino , Corticosterona/sangue , Hormônio Liberador da Corticotropina/metabolismo , Córtex Pré-Frontal/metabolismo , Fator Neurotrófico Derivado do Encéfalo/metabolismo , Agressão/fisiologia , Sistema Límbico/metabolismo , Comportamento Animal/fisiologia , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Análise de Variância , Habituação Psicofisiológica/fisiologia , Abrigo para Animais , CamundongosRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To study Candida albicans genotypes using RAPD and their susceptibility to fluconazole in healthy pregnant women and in vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) patients after topical treatment with clotrimazole. METHODS: Vaginal swabs were collected at t = 0 and t = 1 (1 month later) in pregnant women (control group, n = 33), and before (t = 0), at 1 month (t = 1) and at 2 months (t = 2) after clotrimazole treatment in pregnant women with VVC. RESULTS: Candida albicans was isolated in 30% of healthy pregnant women and 80% of patients with VVC. A high genetic heterogeneity was observed in C. albicans genotypes between individuals. In patients with VVC, topical antifungal treatment with clotrimazole was clinically effective, but only in a 62% C. albicans was eradicated. In patients in which C. albicans was not eradicated, this microorganism persisted for 1 or 2 months after the antifungal treatment. The persistent colonies were not associated with a specific genotype, but they were associated with higher MICs in comparison with colonies isolated from the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Therapy with topical clotrimazole, despite a good clinical outcome, could not eradicate completely C. albicans allowing the persistence of genotypes, with higher MICs to fluconazole. More studies with higher number of patients are needed to validate this preliminary finding.
Assuntos
Candida albicans/classificação , Candida albicans/genética , Candidíase Vulvovaginal/microbiologia , Genótipo , Técnicas de Genotipagem , Complicações Infecciosas na Gravidez/microbiologia , Administração Tópica , Adolescente , Adulto , Antifúngicos/farmacologia , Antifúngicos/uso terapêutico , Candida albicans/efeitos dos fármacos , Candida albicans/isolamento & purificação , Candidíase Vulvovaginal/tratamento farmacológico , Clotrimazol/uso terapêutico , Feminino , Fluconazol/farmacologia , Humanos , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Gravidez , Complicações Infecciosas na Gravidez/tratamento farmacológico , Técnica de Amplificação ao Acaso de DNA Polimórfico , Resultado do Tratamento , Adulto JovemRESUMO
INTRODUCTION:: The aim of neuropsychological assessment is to understand the multifaceted relationship between behavior, cognition and brain organization. The main objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature on impulsivity and inhibitory control in healthy adolescents and preadolescents. METHOD:: Three researchers conducted a systematic review on November 25, 2014. The first step was to conduct searches on the Web of Knowledge and PubMed databases for articles in English using the following keywords: child; adolescents; impulsivity; inhibition; inhibitory control; and neuropsychology. The second step was to analyze all the references cited in the articles selected from the search results in order to identify further literature. RESULTS:: Just 13 articles met all the inclusion criteria. There was no consistency in the aims of these studies, or in the instruments or procedures employed. CONCLUSION:: There was no uniformity among the articles that met all the criteria in terms of any of the items analyzed. There was considerable heterogeneity in these studies of impulsivity and inhibitory control, and few of them evaluated healthy samples.
Assuntos
Comportamento Impulsivo , Inibição Psicológica , Testes Neuropsicológicos , Adolescente , Função Executiva , Humanos , Escalas de Graduação PsiquiátricaRESUMO
Abstract Introduction: The aim of neuropsychological assessment is to understand the multifaceted relationship between behavior, cognition and brain organization. The main objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature on impulsivity and inhibitory control in healthy adolescents and preadolescents. Method: Three researchers conducted a systematic review on November 25, 2014. The first step was to conduct searches on the Web of Knowledge and PubMed databases for articles in English using the following keywords: child; adolescents; impulsivity; inhibition; inhibitory control; and neuropsychology. The second step was to analyze all the references cited in the articles selected from the search results in order to identify further literature. Results: Just 13 articles met all the inclusion criteria. There was no consistency in the aims of these studies, or in the instruments or procedures employed. Conclusion: There was no uniformity among the articles that met all the criteria in terms of any of the items analyzed. There was considerable heterogeneity in these studies of impulsivity and inhibitory control, and few of them evaluated healthy samples.
Resumo Introdução: O objetivo da avaliação neuropsicológica é compreender a relação multifacetada entre comportamento, cognição e organização cerebral. O principal objetivo deste estudo foi conduzir uma revisão sistemática da literatura sobre impulsividade e controle inibitório em pré-adolescentes e adolescentes saudáveis. Métodos: Três pesquisadores conduziram uma revisão sistemática em 25 de novembro de 2014. O primeiro passo foi fazer pesquisas nas bases de dados Web of Knowledge e PubMed buscando artigos em inglês usando as seguintes palavras-chave: child; adolescents; impulsivity; inhibition; inhibitory control; e neuropsychology. O segundo passo foi analisar todas as referências citadas nos artigos selecionados a fim de identificar mais literatura. Resultados: Apenas 13 artigos preencheram todos os critérios de inclusão. Não houve consistência nos objetivos desses estudos, ou nos instrumentos ou procedimentos empregados. Conclusões: Não houve uniformidade entre os artigos que preencheram todos os critérios em termos de qualquer um dos itens analisados. Houve uma heterogeneidade considerável nesses estudos sobre impulsividade e controle inibitório, e poucos deles avaliaram amostras saudáveis.
Assuntos
Humanos , Adolescente , Comportamento Impulsivo , Inibição Psicológica , Testes Neuropsicológicos , Escalas de Graduação Psiquiátrica , Função ExecutivaRESUMO
Estudos mostram que mulheres jovens, com idade entre 12 e 28 anos são as mais atingidas pelos transtornos alimentares. Para transtornos alimentares, um tratamento eficaz é a terapia cognitivo-comportamental (TCC). Este estudo buscou analisar os tratamentos que têm sido utilizados na área da terapia cognitivo-comportamental para anorexia e bulimia nos últimos 5 anos, por meio de uma revisão sistemática conduzida no dia 24 de junho de 2014. As bases de dados utilizadas foram PubMed, PsychINFO e SCIELO nos idiomas inglês, espanhol e português, e incluíam os termos cognitive therapy, behavior therapy, anorexia e bulimia. Foram utilizados estudos empíricos e revisões teóricas com humanos e disponibilizados gratuitamente. A análise foi feita por dois juízes independentes. A busca nas bases de dados forneceram 2066 artigos. Foram analisados resumos de 26 estudos que cumpriram os critérios propostos. Foram incluídos mais 3 estudos identificados através de outras fontes. Após a análise na íntegra, 5 estudos foram eliminados e 24 completaram todos os critérios. Desses, 11 com o termo anorexia e 13 com bulimia, entretanto, muitos não tratavam exclusivamente sobre essas patologias. Concluiu-se que a TCC se mostra eficaz no tratamento dos transtornos alimentares e estudos sugerem que técnicas atuais abrangem uma gama ampliada de sintomas.(AU)
Studies show that young women aged between 12 and 28 years are most affected by eating disorders. An effective treatment for eating disorders is the cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This study aimed to analyzed the treatments that have been used in the area of cognitive-behavioral therapy for anorexia and bulimia in the past 5 years, through a systematic review conducted on June 24, 2014. The databases used were PubMed, PsychINFO and SCIELO in English, Spanish and Portuguese languages, and the search terms included cognitive therapy, behavior therapy, anorexia and bulimia. Were considered empirical studies and theory reviews with humans that were freely available. The analysis was done by two independent judges. A search in the databases provided 2066 articles. Abstracts of 26 studies that met the proposed criteria were analyzed. Were included 3 other studies identified from other sources. After analyzing in full, another 5 studies were eliminated and 24 completed all criteria. Of those, eleven with the term anorexia and 13 with bulimia, however, many did not address solely on these pathologies. It was concluded that CBT still proves to be effective in the treatment of eating disorders and studies suggest that current techniques cover a greater range of symptoms.(AU)
Assuntos
Terapia Cognitivo-Comportamental , Terapia Comportamental , Anorexia Nervosa , Bulimia NervosaRESUMO
Estudos mostram que mulheres jovens, com idade entre 12 e 28 anos são as mais atingidas pelos transtornos alimentares. Para transtornos alimentares, um tratamento eficaz é a terapia cognitivo-comportamental (TCC). Este estudo buscou analisar os tratamentos que têm sido utilizados na área da terapia cognitivo-comportamental para anorexia e bulimia nos últimos 5 anos, por meio de uma revisão sistemática conduzida no dia 24 de junho de 2014. As bases de dados utilizadas foram PubMed, PsychINFO e SCIELO nos idiomas inglês, espanhol e português, e incluíam os termos cognitive therapy, behavior therapy, anorexia e bulimia. Foram utilizados estudos empíricos e revisões teóricas com humanos e disponibilizados gratuitamente. A análise foi feita por dois juízes independentes. A busca nas bases de dados forneceram 2066 artigos. Foram analisados resumos de 26 estudos que cumpriram os critérios propostos. Foram incluídos mais 3 estudos identificados através de outras fontes. Após a análise na íntegra, 5 estudos foram eliminados e 24 completaram todos os critérios. Desses, 11 com o termo anorexia e 13 com bulimia, entretanto, muitos não tratavam exclusivamente sobre essas patologias. Concluiu-se que a TCC se mostra eficaz no tratamento dos transtornos alimentares e estudos sugerem que técnicas atuais abrangem uma gama ampliada de sintomas.
Studies show that young women aged between 12 and 28 years are most affected by eating disorders. An effective treatment for eating disorders is the cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This study aimed to analyzed the treatments that have been used in the area of cognitive-behavioral therapy for anorexia and bulimia in the past 5 years, through a systematic review conducted on June 24, 2014. The databases used were PubMed, PsychINFO and SCIELO in English, Spanish and Portuguese languages, and the search terms included cognitive therapy, behavior therapy, anorexia and bulimia. Were considered empirical studies and theory reviews with humans that were freely available. The analysis was done by two independent judges. A search in the databases provided 2066 articles. Abstracts of 26 studies that met the proposed criteria were analyzed. Were included 3 other studies identified from other sources. After analyzing in full, another 5 studies were eliminated and 24 completed all criteria. Of those, eleven with the term anorexia and 13 with bulimia, however, many did not address solely on these pathologies. It was concluded that CBT still proves to be effective in the treatment of eating disorders and studies suggest that current techniques cover a greater range of symptoms.
Assuntos
Anorexia Nervosa , Terapia Comportamental , Bulimia Nervosa , Terapia Cognitivo-ComportamentalRESUMO
Hydrogen sulfide is a highly corrosive, harmful, and toxic gas produced under anaerobic conditions within industrial processes or in natural environments, and plays an important role in the sulfur cycle. According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the permissible exposure limit (during 8 hours) is 10 ppm. Concentrations of 20 ppm are the threshold for critical health issues. In workplace environments with human subjects frequently exposed to H2S, e.g., during petroleum extraction and refining, real-time monitoring of exposure levels is mandatory. Sensors based on electrochemical measurement principles, semiconducting metal-oxides, taking advantage of their optical properties, have been described for H2S monitoring. However, extended response times, limited selectivity, and bulkiness of the instrumentation are common disadvantages of the sensing techniques reported to date. Here, we describe for the first time usage of a new generation of compact gas cells, i.e., so-called substrate-integrated hollow waveguides (iHWGs), combined with a compact Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer for advanced gas sensing of H2S. The principle of detection is based on the immediate UV-assisted conversion of the rather weak IR-absorber H2S into much more pronounced and distinctively responding SO2. A calibration was established in the range of 10-100 ppm with a limit of detection (LOD) at 3 ppm, which is suitable for occupational health monitoring purposes. The developed sensing scheme provides an analytical response time of less than 60 seconds. Considering the substantial potential for miniaturization using e.g., a dedicated quantum cascade laser (QCL) in lieu of the FTIR spectrometer, the developed sensing approach may be evolved into a hand-held instrument, which may be tailored to a variety of applications ranging from environmental monitoring to workplace safety surveillance, process analysis and clinical diagnostics, e.g., breath analysis.
Assuntos
Técnicas Biossensoriais/métodos , Sistemas Computacionais , Sulfeto de Hidrogênio/análise , Espectroscopia de Infravermelho com Transformada de Fourier/métodos , Sulfeto de Hidrogênio/metabolismo , Especificidade por Substrato/fisiologiaRESUMO
A fully automated multipumping flow system (MPFS) using water-soluble CdTe quantum dots (QD) as sensitizers is proposed for the chemiluminometric determination of the anti-diabetic drugs gliclazide and glipizide in pharmaceutical formulations. The nanocrystals acted as enhancers of the weak CL emission produced upon oxidation of sulphite by Ce(IV) in acidic medium, thus improving sensitivity and expanding the dynamical analytical concentration range. By interacting with the QD, the two analytes prevented their sensitizing effect yielding a chemiluminescence quenching of the Ce(IV)-SO(3)(2-)CdTe QD system. The pulsed flow inherent to MPFS assured a fast and efficient mixing of all solutions inside the flow cell, circumventing the need for a reaction coil and facilitating the monitoring of the short-lived generated chemiluminescent species. QD crystal size, concentration and spectral region for measurement were investigated.
RESUMO
A novel flow-based strategy for implementing simultaneous determinations of different chemical species reacting with the same reagent(s) at different rates is proposed and applied to the spectrophotometric catalytic determination of iron and vanadium in Fe-V alloys. The method relies on the influence of Fe(II) and V(IV) on the rate of the iodide oxidation by Cr(VI) under acidic conditions; the Jones reducing agent is then needed. Three different plugs of the sample are sequentially inserted into an acidic KI reagent carrier stream, and a confluent Cr(VI) solution is added downstream. Overlap between the inserted plugs leads to a complex sample zone with several regions of maximal and minimal absorbance values. Measurements performed on these regions reveal the different degrees of reaction development and tend to be more precise. Data are treated by multivariate calibration involving the PLS algorithm. The proposed system is very simple and rugged. Two latent variables carried out ca 95% of the analytical information and the results are in agreement with ICP-OES.
RESUMO
Multi-pumping flow systems exploit pulsed flows delivered by solenoid pumps. Their improved performance rely on the enhanced radial mass transport inherent to the pulsed flow, which is a consequence of the establishment of vortices thus a tendency towards turbulent mixing. This paper presents several evidences of turbulent mixing in relation to pulsed flows, such as recorded peak shape, establishment of fluidized beds, exploitation of flow reversal, implementation of relatively slow chemical reactions and/or heating of the reaction medium. In addition, Reynolds number associated with the GO period of a pulsed flow is estimated and photographic images of dispersing samples flowing under laminar regime and pulsed flow conditions are presented.
RESUMO
The concept of multi-commutation in flow analysis is revisited, and emphasis is given to recent methodological and applicative achievements. Multi-commutation is compatible with different flow patterns (unsegmented, segmented, pulsed, tandem) and amenable to concentration-oriented feedback mechanisms. Its exploitation has led to significant attainments mainly in relation to versatility of the flow system. Characteristics and potentialities of the multi-commuted flow systems are discussed, and guidelines for assisting methodological implementation are given. The number of applications has experienced remarkable increase during last years; therefore, the applicative part of this review is focused on the recent noteworthy applications, mainly in relation to environmental, agronomical, pharmaceutical, biological, food and industrial samples.
Assuntos
Análise de Injeção de Fluxo , Animais , Simulação por Computador , Desenho de Equipamento , Análise de Injeção de Fluxo/instrumentação , Análise de Injeção de Fluxo/métodos , Humanos , Hidroquinonas/análise , Metais/análise , Compostos Orgânicos/análise , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Sulfetos/análise , Ácido Úrico/urinaRESUMO
Differential kinetic analysis can be implemented in a multi-pumping flow system, and this was demonstrated in relation to an improved spectrophotometric catalytic determination of iron and vanadium in Fe-V alloys. The method exploited the influence of Fe(II) and V(IV) on the rate of iodide oxidation by Cr(VI) under acidic conditions; therefore the Jones reductor was needed. The sample was inserted into an acidic KI stream that acted also as carrier stream, and a Cr(VI) solution was added by confluence. Successive measurements were performed during sample passage through the detector, each one related to a different yet reproducible condition for reaction development. Data treatment involved multivariate calibration by the PLS algorithm. The proposed system is very simple and rugged, allowing about 50 samples to be run per hour, meaning 48 mg KI per determination. The first two latent variables carry ca. 94% of the analytical information, pointing out that the intrinsic dimensionality of the data set is two. Results are in agreement with inductively coupled argon plasma-optical emission spectrometry.
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A flow-injection procedure for simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of tungsten and molybdenum in steel alloys is proposed. The method exploits the catalytic effects of Mo(VI) and W(VI) on the rate of iodide oxidation by hydrogen peroxide under acidic conditions. A novel strategy for ion-exchange separation of the potential interfering species is proposed, and an AG50W-X8 cationic resin mini-column is used. The sample is injected twice, originating two sequential plugs, citrate being added to one of them in order to suppress the W(VI) catalytic activity thus providing the kinetic discrimination. The system handles 70 samples per hour and requires 1.6mg KI per determination. A linear response is verified up to 10mgl(-1) Mo (or W) in the injectate, and signal additivity is 98-103%. Results are precise (R.S.D.<0.04) and in agreement with ICP-OES. Running a standard reference material (IPT-50) assessed also accuracy.