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Introdução: Na pandemia desencadeada pela COVID-19, o desenvolvimento progressivo de sintomas de ansiedade e a má qualidade do sono devem ser investigados em profissionais e estudantes da área da saúde para o adequado manejo. Objetivo: Identificar a prevalência de problemas de sono e sintomas ansiosos em profissionais e estudantes da saúde, e analisar o efeito de variáveis sociodemográficas-clínicas na ansiedade e sono dessa população.Metodologia: Neste estudo transversal de caráter quantitativo aplicou-se um formulário online a 3.337 profissionais e estudantes da saúde do Brasil participantes de um congresso virtual, contendo 51 perguntas subdivididas em três categorias: Perfil sociodemográfico-clínico, Escala de Sono de Jenkins e Inventário de Ansiedade de BECK.Resultados: Dentre os participantes, 81,4% eram estudantes da área da saúde e 12,8% profissionais de saúde. Os achados obtidos indicam que 41% dos participantes apresentaram problemas de sono muito frequentes e 46,6% sinais de ansiedade moderada a grave. Houve associação estatisticamente significativa entre as variáveis sociodemográficas-clínicas e os questionários validados de sono e ansiedade. Conclusão: Essa pesquisa identificou importante prevalência de problemasde sono e sintomas ansiosos em profissionais e estudantes da saúde, sendo primordial a identificação precoce dessas alterações para um manejo efetivo (AU).

Introduction: In the pandemic triggered by COVID-19, the progressive development of anxiety symptoms and poor sleep quality should be investigated in healthcare professionals and students for proper management.Objective: To identify the prevalence of sleep problems and anxious symptoms in healthcare professionals and students, and to analyze the effect of sociodemographic-clinical variables on anxiety and sleep in this population. Methodology: In this cross-sectional quantitative study, an online form was applied to 3,337 healthcare professionals and students from Brazil participating in a virtual congress, containing 51 questions subdivided into three categories: Sociodemographic-clinical profile, Jenkins Sleep Scale and BECK Anxiety Inventory.Results: Among the participants, 81.4% were healthcare students and 12.8% were healthcare professionals. The findings indicate that 41% of the participants had very frequent sleep problems and 46.6% showed signs of moderate to severe anxiety. There was a statistically significant association between the sociodemographic-clinical variables and the validated sleep and anxiety questionnaires. Conclusion:This study identified a high prevalence of sleep problems and anxiety symptoms among healthcare professionals and students, and early identification of these alterations is essential for effective management (AU).

Introducción: En la pandemia desencadenada por el COVID-19, el desarrollo progresivo de síntomas de ansiedad y la mala calidad del sueño deben ser investigados en profesionales y estudiantes de la salud para su adecuado manejo. Objetivo: Identificar la prevalencia de problemas de sueño y síntomas ansiosos en profesionales y estudiantes de la salud, y analizar el efecto de las variables sociodemográficas-clínicas sobre la ansiedad y el sueño en esta población. Metodología:En este estudio transversal y cuantitativo, se aplicó un formulario línea 3.337 profesionales y estudiantes de la salud de Brasil que participaron en un congreso virtual, conteniendo 51 preguntas subdivididas en tres categorías: perfil sociodemográfico-clínico, Escala de Sueño de Jenkins e Inventario de Ansiedad de BECK. Resultados: Entre los participantes, 81,4% eran estudiantes de salud y 12,8% profesionales de la salud. Los resultados indican que el 41% de los participantes tenía problemas de sueño muy frecuentes y el 46,6% mostraba signos de ansiedad de moderada a grave. Hubo una asociación estadísticamentesignificativa entre las variables sociodemográficas-clínicas y los cuestionarios validados de sueño y ansiedad. Conclusión:Este estudio identificó una alta prevalencia de problemas de sueño y síntomas de ansiedad en profesionales de la salud y estudiantes, y la identificación precoz de estas alteraciones es esencial para un manejo eficaz (AU).

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INTRODUCTION: The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of high-intensity light-emitting diode (LED) light from a curing device on the retinas of Wistar rats. METHODS: Six male Wistar rats were used, and their ocular structures were the focus of this study. During the photostimulation of each animal, the right eye of the animal, considered the control sample, was covered with a removable polyvinyl chloride cap, and the contralateral eye, the experimental sample, was exposed to high-intensity LED light, 3200 mW/cm2 (VALO Ortho; Ultradent Products, South Jordan, Utah) for 144 seconds from a distance of 30 cm. The animals were exposed to the LED light 3 times on the same day to investigate if any acute inflammatory changes in the retina occurred. Seven days after the photostimulation sessions, the animals were anesthetized and perfused with paraformaldehyde solution. After which, the eyes were resected and processed histologically. The histologic sections were analyzed stereologically and histomorphometrically to measure the parameters of the retina under investigation. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant increase in total retinal volume in the experimental group because of the increased volume of the ganglion cell layers, inner plexiform layers, outer nuclear layers, and the cone and rod extensions. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of density. However, there was a statistically significant increase in the nuclear area of the cells in all the studied layers in the group exposed to high-intensity LED light. In addition, hyperchromatic cells that are suggestive of pyknosis were observed. CONCLUSIONS: An acute but short protocol of exposure of high-intensity LED light to the eye caused morphometric alterations in the retinal structures, specifically in the nuclear area of the photosensitive cells.

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In a recent paper, we described the distribution of Nitric oxide (NO) in the diencephalon of the rock cavy (Kerodon rupestris). This present paper follows this work, showing the distribution of NO synthesizing neurons in the rock cavy's brainstem. For this, we used immunohistochemistry against the neuronal form of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and NADPH diaphorase histochemistry. In contrast to the diencephalon in the rock cavy, where the NOS neurons were seen to be limited to some nuclei in the thalamus and hypothalamus, the distribution of NOS in the brainstem is widespread. Neurons immunoreactive to NOS (NOS-ir) were seen as rostral as the precommissural nuclei and as caudal as the caudal and gelatinous parts of the spinal trigeminal nucleus. Places such as the raphe nuclei, trigeminal complex, superior and inferior colliculus, oculomotor complex, periaqueductal grey matter, solitary tract nucleus, laterodorsal tegmental nucleus, pedunculopontine tegmental, and other nuclei of the reticular formation are among the locations with the most NOS-ir neurons. This distribution is similar, but with some differences, to those described for other rodents, indicating that NO also has an important role in rock cavy's physiology.

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The amygdaloid complex (AC) is a heterogeneous aggregate of nuclei located in the rostromedial region of the temporal lobe. In addition to being partly connected among themselves, the AC nuclei are strongly interconnected with the cerebral cortex, striatum, basal forebrain, hypothalamus and brainstem. Animal and human functional studies have established that the AC is a central hub of the neuronal networks supporting emotional responsivity, particularly its negative/aversive components. Dysfunction of AC circuits in humans has been implicated in anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The small New-World marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus) has recently become a key model for neuroscience research. However, the nuclear and fiber tract organization of marmoset AC has not been examined in detail. Thus, the extent to which it can be compared to the AC of Old-World (human and macaque) primates is yet unclear. Here, using Nissl and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) histochemical stains as a reference, we analyzed the cytoarchitecture and nuclear parcellation of the marmoset AC. In addition, given the increasing relevance of tractographic localization for high-resolution in vivo imaging studies in non-human primates, we also identified the myelin fiber tracts present within and around the AC as revealed by the Gallyas method. The present study provides a detailed atlas of marmoset AC. Moreover, it reveals that, despite phylogenetic distance and brain size differences, every nucleus and myelinated axon bundle described in human and macaque studies can be confidently recognized in marmosets.

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Nitric oxide (NO) is a highly soluble and membrane-permeable neurotransmitter, so it does not need to be packed in vesicles or have a membrane receptor. In the nervous system, NO is synthesized by the neuronal form of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzyme and has been considered as a local neurotransmitter. NOS distribution is widespread in the nervous system of various vertebrate species, which may explain its participation in many functions such as memory, blood pressure regulation and sexual behavior. Here we used immunohistochemistry against NOS and NADPH diaphorase histochemistry to map the distribution of NO in the diencephalon of the rock cavy (Kerodon rupestris), a rodent endemic to the Brazilian Northeast. Rock cavy has crepuscular habits and is adapted to ecological conditions such as heat and scarcity of water and food. This study found that NOS distribution was more concentrated in the hypothalamus of this animal. Among the hypothalamic nuclei, the median preoptic, supraoptic, paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus, ventral and dorsal premammillary nucleus, supramammillary nucleus, lateral mammillary nucleus and dorsal hypothalamic nucleus had the largest collections of NOS immunoreactive (NOS-ir) neurons. Some nuclei of the thalamus and epithalamus such as the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus, the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus, the medial geniculate nucleus and the lateral habenula showed NOS-ir neurons. This distribution is similar to that described in other rodents, indicating that NO also has an important role in rock cavy's physiology.

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Studies from the last two decades have pointed to multiple mechanisms of fear. For responding to predators, there is a group of highly interconnected hypothalamic nuclei formed by the anterior hypothalamic nucleus, the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus and the dorsal premammillary nucleus­the predator-responsive hypothalamic circuit. This circuit expresses Fos in response to predator presence or its odor. Lesion of any component of this system blocks or reduces the expression of fear and consequently defensive behavior when faced with a predator or its cue. However, most of the knowledge about that circuit has been obtained using the rat as a model of prey and the cat as a source of predator cues. In the present study, we exposed mice to strong cat or snake odors, two known mice predators, and then we used the rat exposure test (RET) to study their behavior when confronted with the same predator's odor. Our data point to a differential response of mice exposed to these odors. When Swiss mice were exposed to the cat odor, they show defensive behavior and the predator-responsive hypothalamic circuit expressed Fos. The opposite was seen when they faced snake's odor. The acute odor exposure was not sufficient to activate the mouse predator-responsive hypothalamic circuit and the mice acted like they were not in a stressful situation, showing almost no sign of fear or defensive posture. This leads us to the conclusion that not all the predator cues are sufficient to activate the predator-responsive hypothalamic circuit of mice and that their response depends on the danger that these predators represent in the natural history of the prey.

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Traditional retinal projections target three functionally complementary systems in the brain of mammals: the primary visual system, the visuomotor integration systems and the circadian timing system. In recent years, studies in several animals have been conducted to investigate the retinal projections to these three systems, despite some evidence of additional targets. The aim of this study was to disclose a previously unknown connection between the retina and the parabrachial complex of the common marmoset, by means of the intraocular injection of cholera toxin subunit b. A few labeled retinal fibers/terminals that are detected in the medial parabrachial portion of the marmoset brain show clear varicosities, suggesting terminal fields. Although the possible role of these projections remains unknown, they may provide a modulation of the cholinergic parabrachial neurons which project to the thalamic dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus.

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