RESUMO

Arsenic in groundwater constitutes an agronomic problem due to its potential accumulation in the food chain. Among the agro-sustainable tools to reduce metal(oid)s toxicity, the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) becomes important. For that, and based on previous results in which significant differences of As translocation were observed when inoculating maize plants with Az39 or CD Azospirillum strains, we decided to decipher the redox metabolism changes and the antioxidant system response of maize plants inoculated when exposed to a realistic arsenate (AsV ) dose. Results showed that AsV caused morphological changes in the root exodermis. Photosynthetic pigments decreased only in CD inoculated plants, while oxidative stress evidence was detected throughout the plant, regardless of the assayed strain. The antioxidant response was strain-differential since only CD inoculated plants showed an increase in superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase (GST), and glutathione reductase (GR) activities while other enzymes showed the same behavior irrespective of the inoculated strain. Gene expression assays reported that only GST23 transcript level was upregulated by arsenate, regardless of the inoculated strain. AsV diminished the glutathione (GSH) content of roots inoculated with the Az39 strain, and CD inoculated plants showed a decrease of oxidized GSH (GSSG) levels. We suggest a model in which the antioxidant response of the maize-diazotrophs system is modulated by the strain and that GSH plays a central role acting mainly as a substrate for GST. These findings generate knowledge for a suitable PGPB selection, and its scaling to an effective bioinoculant formulation for maize crops exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Assuntos

Arsênio , Azospirillum brasilense , Água Subterrânea , Arsênio/toxicidade , Oxirredução , Raízes de Plantas , Zea mays

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to verify if the presence of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) could be a risk factor precluding corticoamygdalohippocampectomy (CAH) in patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) (TLE-MTS). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study analyzed medical data of patients with refractory TLE-MTS accompanied in a Brazilian epilepsy surgery center. Presurgical psychiatric evaluations were performed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria. Engel's I classification two years after surgery was considered as a favorable outcome. RESULTS: Of the 81 patients initially included (65 females; 56.5%), 49 (60.5%) had TLE-MTS without PNES, 24 (29.7%) with TLE-MTS and PNES, and eight (9.8%) with PNES only, who were excluded from further statistical comparisons. Nine patients with PNES (37.5%) underwent CAH versus 35 (71.4%) without PNES (p = 0.005). Five patients (55.5%) with PNES versus 26 (74.3%) without PNES presented Engel I (p = 0.54). The relative risk (RR) was of 1.90 for patients without PNES to undergo CAH and of 1.33 to be at Engel I. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, PNES were associated with less CAH. There were no differences, however, regarding favorable postsurgical outcomes. These results highlight that the sole presence of PNES should not preclude CAH in patients with TLE-MTS, despite the necessity of careful presurgical psychiatric evaluation.

Assuntos

Epilepsia Resistente a Medicamentos/cirurgia , Epilepsia do Lobo Temporal/cirurgia , Transtornos Mentais/complicações , Procedimentos Neurocirúrgicos , Convulsões/psicologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Epilepsia Resistente a Medicamentos/psicologia , Epilepsia do Lobo Temporal/psicologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Transtornos Mentais/diagnóstico , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Seleção de Pacientes , Estudos Retrospectivos , Fatores de Risco , Convulsões/diagnóstico , Convulsões/etiologia , Resultado do Tratamento , Adulto Jovem

RESUMO

PURPOSE: Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are paroxysmal episodes superficially resembling epileptic seizures but are not associated with any electrical abnormalities. Despite the existence of recent evidence addressing psychological interventions on PNES, there is a scarcity of studies investigating such interventions on patients with dual diagnoses, such as in temporal lobe epilepsy/mesial temporal sclerosis (TLE-MTS) with comorbid PNES; TLE-MTS is a very frequent epilepsy syndrome found in tertiary centers. We aimed to investigate the effects of a group psychotherapeutic intervention program based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on patients dually diagnosed with TLE-MTS and PNES treated in a tertiary center. METHOD: Patients with TLE-MTS and PNES who were followed-up in a tertiary center were invited. The intervention consisted of eight weekly, semi-structured group meetings. The Brazilian versions of the Quality of Life Scale (SF-36), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D), the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A), and the Ways of Coping Checklist (WCC) were applied before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients were enrolled (25 females; 53.2%). Psychiatric disorders (PD) were observed in all 47 patients (100%); Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) was the most frequent PD (24; 51.0%). There were improvements on quality of life (P = 0.003), decreased depression (P<0.0001) and anxiety symptoms (P = 0.02), decreased levels of alexithymia (P = 0.02) and a reduction in seizure frequency (P = 0.02) after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Present data suggest a positive impact of a group psychological intervention based on CBT in patients with TLE-MTS and PNES, highlighting this therapeutic possibility for this specific subgroup.

Assuntos

Epilepsia Resistente a Medicamentos/terapia , Epilepsia do Lobo Temporal/terapia , Transtornos Psicofisiológicos/terapia , Psicoterapia de Grupo , Convulsões/terapia , Adulto , Ansiedade/complicações , Ansiedade/epidemiologia , Ansiedade/terapia , Terapia Cognitivo-Comportamental , Comorbidade , Depressão/complicações , Depressão/epidemiologia , Depressão/terapia , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/complicações , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/epidemiologia , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/terapia , Epilepsia Resistente a Medicamentos/complicações , Epilepsia Resistente a Medicamentos/epidemiologia , Epilepsia do Lobo Temporal/complicações , Epilepsia do Lobo Temporal/epidemiologia , Feminino , Seguimentos , Humanos , Masculino , Escalas de Graduação Psiquiátrica , Transtornos Psicofisiológicos/complicações , Transtornos Psicofisiológicos/epidemiologia , Psicoterapia de Grupo/métodos , Psicotrópicos/uso terapêutico , Convulsões/complicações , Convulsões/epidemiologia , Resultado do Tratamento

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the psychological aspects and psychiatric disorders (PDs) in patients dually diagnosed with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy and mesial temporal sclerosis (TLE-MTS) with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) treated in a tertiary center in order to find any gender differences in psychiatric, clinical, and sociodemographic characteristics. METHOD: Psychiatric assessment was performed through the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Psychiatric Disorders - 5th edition (DSM-5). The Brazilian versions of the Medical Outcomes Study 36 (SF-36), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A), and Ways of Coping Checklist (WCC) were applied. RESULTS: Of the 47 patients enrolled (25 females; 53.2%), females were significantly more likely to have a history of previous psychiatric treatment (P=0.02), family history of epilepsy (P=0.01), and family history of PD (P=0.03). They also presented earlier onset of PNES (P=0.01) and higher PNES duration (P=0.02) compared with males. Major depressive disorder (MDD) was the most frequent PD (24; 51.0%). Females presented more psychiatric diagnoses (P<0.001), more diagnoses of MDD (P<0.001), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (P<0.001). Several differences regarding quality of life, levels of alexithymia, anxiety/depressive symptoms, and coping strategies were observed between groups. CONCLUSIONS: There are significant gender differences in psychiatric, clinical, and sociodemographic aspects in a group of patients with TLE-MTS and PNES, as well as in quality of life, levels of alexithymia, anxiety/depressive symptoms, and coping strategies. These gender differences suggest that specific approaches might be adopted depending on the patient's gender and, consequently, their distinct psychological/psychiatric profile.

Assuntos

Adaptação Psicológica , Sintomas Afetivos/epidemiologia , Epilepsia Resistente a Medicamentos/epidemiologia , Epilepsia do Lobo Temporal/epidemiologia , Convulsões/epidemiologia , Caracteres Sexuais , Adaptação Psicológica/fisiologia , Adulto , Sintomas Afetivos/diagnóstico , Sintomas Afetivos/psicologia , Brasil/epidemiologia , Comorbidade , Epilepsia Resistente a Medicamentos/diagnóstico , Epilepsia Resistente a Medicamentos/psicologia , Epilepsia do Lobo Temporal/diagnóstico , Epilepsia do Lobo Temporal/psicologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Transtornos Mentais/diagnóstico , Transtornos Mentais/epidemiologia , Transtornos Mentais/psicologia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prevalência , Escalas de Graduação Psiquiátrica , Qualidade de Vida/psicologia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Convulsões/diagnóstico , Convulsões/psicologia , Adulto Jovem

RESUMO

Drought stress is one of the most important environmental factors that adversely affect the productivity and quality of crops. Most studies focus on elucidating plant responses to this stress but the reversibility of these effects is less known. The aim of this work was to evaluate whether drought-stressed peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) plants were capable of recovering their metabolism upon rehydration, with a focus on their antioxidant system. Peanut plants in the flowering phase (30 days after sowing) were exposed to drought stress by withholding irrigation during 14 days and subsequent rehydration during 3 days. Under these conditions, physiological status indicators, reactive oxygen species production and antioxidant system activity were evaluated. Under drought stress, the stomatal conductance, photosynthetic quantum yield and 13C:12C ratio of the peanut plants were negatively affected, and also they accumulated reactive oxygen species. The antioxidant system of peanut plants showed increases in superoxide dismutase-, ascorbate peroxidase- and glutathione reductase-specific activities, as well as the total ascorbate content. All of these responses were reversed upon rehydration at 3 days. The efficient and dynamic regulation of variables related to photosynthesis and the antioxidant system during a drought and rehydration cycle in peanut plants was demonstrated. It is suggested that the activation of the antioxidant system could mediate the signalling of drought stress responses that enable the plant to survive and recover completely within 3 days of rehydration.

RESUMO

A identificação humana é um processo de fundamental importância para a sociedade. As análisesantropológicas na Odontologia fornecem informações para a estimativa de sexo, idade, ancestralidade,estatura, dentre outros. Com base na análise de determinados dentes é possível ter um parâmetro daestatura do indivíduo e com isto auxiliar no processo investigativo de identidade. O objetivo deste trabalhofoi verificar a eficácia do método de estimativa de estatura de Carrea em indivíduos residentes na regiãoNoroeste do Estado do Paraná, considerando sexo e faixa etária. Foram avaliados 180 indivíduos deambos os sexos, estando na faixa etária de 12 a 69 anos. Mensurou- se a estatura de cada um delesatravés do uso de um antropômetro. Para a estimativa pelo método de Carrea, foram feitas mensuraçõesna arcada inferior. Os resultados demonstraram que o método de Carrea estimou em 91,6% a estaturareal dos indivíduos. Entretanto, para alguns casos foi grande a diferença entre estatura máxima e mínima.Não houve associação estatística entre a eficácia do método com sexo e/ou faixa etária dos indivíduosavaliados. Com base nestes achados conclui-se que o referido método pode ser auxiliar na investigaçãode estatura, mas deve ser associado a outros métodos para conferir maior credibilidade.

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Human identification is a process essential importance for society. Anthropological analysis in dentistryprovides information for an estimate of sex, age, racial group, stature among others. Based on the analysisof certain dental elements can have an individual's height parameter and thereby assist in the investigativeprocess identity. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of Carrea height estimationmethod for individuals residing in the State of Paraná Northwest, considering sex and age. They evaluated180 individuals of both sexes, being in the age group 12-69 years. A stature of each individual wasmeasured by an anthropometer. To estimate the Carrea method, measurements were made on the lowerarch. The results showed that the method Carrea estimated at 91.6% the actual height of the individual.However, some cases there were great differences between maximum and minimum height there was nostatistical association between the efficacy of the method to sex and / or age of the individuals. Based onthese findings, it was finished that the methodology can be assist in stature research, but it must beassociated with other methods to bring greater credibility.

Assuntos

Criança , Adolescente , Adulto Jovem , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Antropologia Forense/estatística & dados numéricos , Estatura , Etnicidade/classificação , Odontologia Legal/métodos

RESUMO

Given the high frequency of psychiatric disorders (PDs) observed among patients with epilepsy, studies have highlighted the necessity of psychiatric evaluation for these patients, especially for those with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy with mesial temporal sclerosis (TLE-MTS) who are surgical candidates. Current evidence highlights the safety of video-electroencephalography (VEEG) as a means of investigation in patients with TLE-MTS and PDs. However, the presence of such disorders has still been seen as a contraindication for presurgical evaluation with VEEG in some epilepsy centers mainly because of the risk of negative behavioral events. The present retrospective cohort study performed in a Brazilian tertiary epilepsy center aimed to identify whether the presence of a PD remains a contraindication for presurgical VEEG. Clinical, sociodemographic, and psychiatric data from 41 patients who underwent VEEG as part of their presurgical evaluation were compared to data from 32 patients with refractory TLE-MTS who had not undergone VEEG. Psychiatric diagnoses were determined using the DSM-IV and ILAE criteria. Psychiatric disorders were diagnosed in 34 patients (46.6%). Major depressive disorder was the most frequent PD and was observed in 22 patients (30.1%). Anxiety disorders were observed in 14 patients (19.2%). Of the 41 patients (56.2%) who underwent presurgical VEEG, only 12 (29.2%) were found to have a PD during the presurgical psychiatric evaluation compared to 22 of the 32 (68.7%) who did not undergo VEEG (p=0.001; RR=2.35). The present findings suggest that the presence of a PD alone should not be a contraindication for VEEG monitoring and epilepsy surgery.

Assuntos

Transtornos de Ansiedade/complicações , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/induzido quimicamente , Epilepsia Resistente a Medicamentos/cirurgia , Eletroencefalografia , Epilepsia do Lobo Temporal/cirurgia , Adulto , Transtornos de Ansiedade/diagnóstico , Brasil , Estudos de Coortes , Contraindicações , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/diagnóstico , Manual Diagnóstico e Estatístico de Transtornos Mentais , Epilepsia Resistente a Medicamentos/complicações , Epilepsia do Lobo Temporal/complicações , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Retrospectivos

RESUMO

Salt stress conditions lead to increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plant cells. Halophytes have the ability to reduce these toxic ROS by means of a powerful antioxidant system that includes enzymatic and non-enzymatic components. In this research, we used the halophytic shrub Prosopis strombulifera to investigate whether the ability of this species to grow under increasing salt concentrations and mixtures was related to the synthesis of polyphenolic compounds and to the maintenance of leaf pigment contents for an adequate photosynthetic activity. Seedlings of P. strombulifera were grown hydroponically in Hoagland's solution, gradually adding Na2SO4 and NaCl separately or in mixtures until reaching final osmotic potentials of -1, -1.9 and -2.6 MPa. Control plants were allowed to develop in Hoagland's solution without salt. Oxidative damage in tissues was determined by H2O2 and malondialdehyde content. Leaf pigment analysis was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet, and total phenols, total flavonoids, total flavan-3-ols, condensed tannins, tartaric acid esters and flavonols were spectrophotometrically assayed. Treatment with Na2SO4 increased H2O2 production and lipid peroxidation in tissues and induced a sharp increase in flavonoid compounds (mainly flavan-3-ols) and consequently in the antioxidant activity. Also, Na2SO4 treatment induced an increased carotenoid/chlorophyll ratio, which may represent a strategy to protect photosystems against photooxidation. NaCl treatment, however, did not affect H2O2 content, lipid peroxidation, pigments or polyphenols synthesis. The significant accumulation of flavonoids in tissues under Na2SO4 treatment and their powerful antioxidant activity indicates a role for these compounds in counteracting the oxidative damage induced by severe salt stress, particularly, ionic stress. We demonstrate that ionic interactions between different salts in salinized soils modify the biochemical and morpho-physiological responses of P. strombulifera plants to salinity.

RESUMO

Drought stress is one of the most important environmental factors that affect plant growth and limit biomass production. Most studies focus on drought stress development but the reversibility of the effects receives less attention. Therefore, the present work aims to explore the biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) of the symbiotic association between peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and Bradyrhizobium sp. during a drought-recovery cycle with a focus on the response of enzyme activity and gene expression of the antioxidant system. Peanuts exposed to drought stress had impaired BNF, as indicated by lower nitrogenase activity, and decreased leghaemoglobin content; the latter was reversed to control values upon rehydration. Previous results demonstrated that reactive oxygen species (O2·- and H2O2) were accumulated as a consequence of drought stress, suggesting that nodules experience oxidative stress. In addition, marker transcripts responsive to drought, abscisic acid and H2O2 were upregulated. Increased transcript levels of glutathione reductase were associated with an increased enzyme activity but superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase activities were unchanged, despite upregulated gene transcription. In contrast, increased activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) was unrelated with changes in cytosolic APX transcript levels suggesting isogene specificity. In conclusion, the work exemplarily demonstrates the efficient and dynamic regulation of antioxidant enzymes and marker compounds during drought cycling, which is likely to be a prerequisite for functional optimisation of nodule metabolism.

Assuntos

Cuidados Paliativos

RESUMO

Como sujeitos foram utilizados doze ratos albinos, wistar, divididos em dois grupos, com seis sujeitos em cada um. Um grupo foi submetido a desnutriçäo protéico-calórica durante o período de amamentaçäo, enquanto o outro grupo permaneceu como controle. Aos 22 dias de idade, introduziu-se na gaiola-viveiro do rato uma proveta contendo leite condensado comercial, uma soluçäo de cheiro e sabor desconhecidos para os sujeitos. A latência para os ratos desnutridos aproximarem-se da proveta e beber foi de 93,8 + 18,1 s., com 5,3 + 2,9 tentativas. Os ratos bem-nutridos apresentaram uma latência de 23,5 + 6,5 s., com uma única tentativa para aproximar-se. Após a reabilitaçäo nutricional, os ratos foram testados ao 71 dias de idade. A latência do grupo desnutrido caiu para 25,0 + 8,5 s., com 1,3 + 0,2 tentativas. A análise estatística mostrou que há diferenças entre os grupos e entre as sessöes (p , 0.01 para a latência e p < 0.05 para o número de aproximaçöes). Os resultados mostram que o método é sensível para demonstrar efeitos da desnutriçäo, até o momento näo relacionados na literatura

Assuntos

Ratos , Animais , Masculino , Desnutrição Proteico-Calórica , Transtornos Fóbicos