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BACKGROUND: Microplastics comprise a significant group of emerging environmental contaminants with the capacity to adsorb several contaminants. These, in turn, undergo bioaccumulation and biomagnification processes throughout aquatic trophic chains. METHODS: Glitter, a microplastic powder composed of a combination of polymers, and raw glitter materials were investigated herein concerning metal and metalloid content, bioavailability, and sorption processes by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). RESULTS: Metal and metalloid concentrations were higher in glitter than in raw glitter materials, but all were below the limits established by the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency. Elements present in glitter originate mainly from pigments and, thus, depend on glitter color. The bioavailability of the determined elements concerning human skin was assessed. Low desorbed concentrations in solution indicate that glitter does not represent a health risk through dermal contact concerning metal and metalloid contamination. However, several elements were shown to undergo significant desorption and adsorption processes. CONCLUSION: The findings reported herein indicate seemingly low human health risks from dermal glitter contact but reinforce glitter risks as aquatic environment metal and metalloid transport vectors.

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Resumen INTRODUCCIÓN: En determinadas circunstancias clínicas, la exotropia intermitente básica requiere resolución quirúrgica. Existen dos técnicas para ello: el retroceso bilateral de rectos laterales y el retroceso/resección unilateral. Aunque el retroceso bilateral es la técnica más utilizada, no está claro cuál de estas técnicas tiene mejores resultados. MÉTODOS: Para responder esta pregunta utilizamos Epistemonikos, la mayor base de datos de revisiones sistemáticas en salud, la cual es mantenida mediante búsquedas en múltiples fuentes de información, incluyendo MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, entre otras. Extrajimos los datos desde las revisiones identificadas, reanalizamos los datos de los estudios primarios, realizamos un metanálisis y preparamos una tabla de resumen de los resultados utilizando el método GRADE. RESULTADOS Y CONCLUSIONES: Identificamos cinco revisiones sistemáticas que en conjunto incluyeron siete estudios primarios, de los cuales tres son ensayos aleatorizados. Concluimos que el retroceso/resección unilateral podría tener un mayor éxito quirúrgico y probablemente disminuiría la tasa de subcorrección/recurrencia, cuando se le compara al retroceso bilateral de rectos laterales.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Intermittent exotropia requires surgical resolution under some clinical circumstances. The main techniques are bilateral lateral rectus recession and unilateral recess/resection. Although bilateral recession is the most widely used, it is not clear whether it leads to better results. METHODS: To answer this question we used Epistemonikos, the largest database of systematic reviews in health, which is maintained by screening multiple information sources, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, among others. We extracted data from the systematic reviews, reanalyzed data of primary studies, conducted a meta-analysis and generated a summary of findings table using the GRADE approach. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: We identified five systematic reviews including seven studies overall, of which three were randomized trials. We concluded unilateral recess/resection might achieve greater surgical success and probably decrease the rate of undercorrection/recurrence when compared to bilateral lateral rectus recession.

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In the pre-experimental period of a clinical trial, an apparently clinically healthy sheep fitted with ruminal and abomasal cannulas showed changes in the reticular contraction pattern visualized in M-mode ultrasonogram. Radiographic examination revealed a blunt metal screw in its reticulum. By the time change in the reticular motility through the ultrasound examination was detected, the animal had still not expressed any behavioral changes. A description of the clinical case, follow-up of the findings and laboratory data, like white blood cell count, serum pepsinogen and fibrinogen concentrations, were presented. The foreign body was removed through the ruminal cannula and reticular contraction tended to normal. An association of the contraction pattern with measured clinical data was possible, leading to the conclusion that use of M-mode ultrasonography has a potential application in similar clinical situations.

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Leishmune is the industrialized version of the FML-saponin vaccine which has been shown to develop 92-95% protection in vaccinated dogs and 76-80% vaccine efficacy against field canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in Brazil. Leishmune has been proven to be safe and tolerable and a transmission-blocking vaccine which renders vaccinated dogs non-infectious to sand fly vectors. In the present investigation, 550 healthy seronegative dogs of endemic and epidemic areas of Brazil were monitored for Leishmune-induced immunogenicity during a 2-year trial. Another group of 588 untreated exposed dogs was also studied in parallel. Both groups were seronegative on day 0. The strong immunogenicity induced by Leishmune vaccine was demonstrated by the 98% of FML-seroconversion, increase in absorbencies, the 82.7% DTH positive reactions and increase in skin test size diameters, the average increase in CD8+ total lymphocytes population in blood (27.1%), expected for QS21 saponin-containing vaccine, the sustained proportions of CD4+ T cells, and the average increased proportions of CD21+ B lymphocytes (42.3%). The Leishmune-induced protection against CVL is demonstrated by the results: 98.8% asymptomatic dogs (at the end of first year) and 99% healthy survivors (at the end of the second year) among vaccinated dogs, compared to the 79.4% asymptomatic and 61% survivor dogs (p<0.001) monitored in the untreated exposed cohort. In spite of the low vaccine coverage, it was possible to detect a 66.1% (p<0.005) reduction in Belo Horizonte and an 80.2% (p<0.005) reduction in Araçatuba of the incidence of CVL among vaccinated dogs, when compared to the global incidence of CVL of each town, respectively. Our preliminary results support the potential use of Leishmune to prevent CVL epidemics.

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The energetic metabolism and its relationship with body weight generated a vivid controversy, since the Rubner's surface law was introduced into biology. Recently, the multifactor theory (Darveau et al) has caused again a revival of this polemic topic. Moreover, the investigations concerning metabolism and body weight include all terrestrial mammals, from the shrew (3 grams) to the elephant (three tons). The corresponding allometric exponent for standard metabolic rate, both theoretical and empirical, fluctuates around an average value of 0.75, in contrast with the surface law, which postulated a value of 0.67. The "metabolic range" (rest vs maximal exercise) does vary from 1 to 10, due to the prevalent influence of the skeletal muscle activity. Recent investigations have emphasized the fact that the allometric exponent is not unique (0.75), but it should be subjected to statistical variability, both in standard and in maximal exercise.

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BACKGROUND: The number of homeless people of any country is a major social and health issue, but to date only a few descriptive and focused studies have been undertaken in Brazil on the matter. METHOD: In order to fill this gap, a cross-sectional study was carried out in a random representative sample (n=330) out of 1,977 homeless people lodged in the five public hostels of the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area. Full data were collected by two trained researchers in a face-to-face interview with 319 (96.7 %) out of the 330 lodgers, using the CIDI (Composite International Development Interview) to assess psychiatric diagnosis. RESULTS: The main findings concern prevalence rate of major mental illness, which was 19.4% for the 12 months before data collection, and 22.6% lifetime prevalence rate. Other 12-month prevalence rates were 31% for alcohol abuse/dependence, 4.1% for drug abuse/addiction, 15% for severe cognitive impairment, and 49.2% for any mental disorder. The rate was 65.2% when organic mental disorders were added. Moreover, 23.9% of the sampled lodgers reported previous psychiatric admission. Their demographic characteristics were a mean age of 44.8 years old, 75.8% of them were male, 78.9% were single, 94.7% had a low level of schooling, and 79.2% were long-term unemployed. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the high rates of psychiatric morbidity in the homeless, but these rates are exceeded by the apparent poverty and illiteracy of the sample. Given the lack of delivery of community services now in Brazilian cities, this group is likely to be marginalized. Some special teams to assess the hostel residents need to be created.

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Os autores descrevem um caso de lesäo traumática do pescoço num homem de 34 anos, do qual resultou secçäo do bulbo carotídeo de 34 anos, do qual resultou secçäo do bulbo carotídeo. Após dificil controle da hemorragia, que levou à realizaçäo de procedimentos pouco habituais, procederam a reconstruçäo da carotida interna tendo laqueado a carotida externa. O pós-operatório decorreu sem complicaçöes e sem alteraçöes neurológicas significativas. Terminam fazendo uma revisäo da literatura sobre estes casos

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Las patologías genéticas humanas más frecuentes se deben a la falla de un gen único que puede alterar la estructura de una proteína importante, modificando su funcionalidad. Este cambio estructural tendrá efectos distintos según el tipo de proteína involucrada. Cada tipo de defecto parece tener un patrón propio de transmisión que permite interpretar la Genética clásica desde un punto de vista molecular. En la segunda parte de ésta revisión se explican los patrones mendelianos de herencia y se consideran algunas patologías de herencia autosómica recesiva que altera la función respiratoria. Se describen algunas excepciones a los patrones clásicos de herencia y se considera brevemente el impacto de la Genética molecular en la interpretación de las aberraciones cromosómicas, como también sus proyecciones al diagnóstico prenatal, el consejo genético y la terapia génica

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La Genética estudia la herencia y la variación. Sus leyes básicas fueron establecidas por Gregor Mendel en 1865 y son el fundamento de la Genética clásica. En el siglo XX la Bioquímica ha provocado una explosión en los conocimientos de Genética. Se ha podido establecer la naturaleza química de los genes. Los mecanismos de replicación, transmisión y expresión génica. Más recientemente han podido explicarse rasgos mendelianos por mecanismos moleculares. Estos avances han modificado los conceptos clásicos de patología genética. El conocimiento de los mecanismos moleculares facilita el diagnóstico, el consejo genético y eventualmente la terapia. En la primera parte de esta revisión se describen los aspectos más elevado del genoma humano, las técnicas de estudio del material genético y como estas han influido en nuestra comprensión de la patología genética. La segunda parte trata los desórdenes monogénicos, sus mecanismos moleculares y las relaciones entre los tipos de defectos y el modo como se heredan. Cuando es posible, se toman como ejemplo desórdenes que afectan la función respiratoria. Se consideran también casos especiales que alteran los patrones mendelianos de herencia. Se revisan brevemente las aberraciones cromosónicas. Se discute brevemente el impacto de la técnicas de Biología molecular en el diagnóstico prenatal, el consejo genético y la terapia génica

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This article presents an anthropological approach to the symbolic aspects of the disease, considering traditional representations about the puberty seclusion syndrome which affects adolescent indians from the Upper Xingu region (Central Brazil), in a comparative perspective with the clinical-epidemiological approach. The traditional nosological category and its etiological implications in indigenous medicine and culture are contrasted with the western medical category - a peripheral neuropathy, possibly of toxic origin - identified in some cases of the syndrome. An epidemiological analysis of the data collected from the traditional point of view shows relations with events of cultural origin, associated with social and political contexts and with the nature of cross-cultural relations. Moreover, this culture-bound syndrome presents some methological issues for western medicine, particularly for biomedical and social-epidemiological approaches. Finally, the authors make explicit some cultural assumptions characteristic of modern western society, underlying the procedures used by the scientific disciplines involved.

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The change in the morbidity profile of the Yanomámi Indians admitted to the Casa do Indio, at Boa Vista, Roraima, from January 1987 to August 1989, is reported. The most frequent diseases observed in 495 patients were malaria, acute respiratory infections, tuberculosis, severe under nutrition, and sexually transmitted diseases. Malaria was the main cause of death of 114 Indians throughout the period. A striking increase in hospital admissions was noted in the population from the villages which were in closer contact with gold miners. The global impact of the invasion of the Yanomámi territory by miners on the quality of life and health levels of the Yanomámi is discussed.

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The suicide of six young Guaraní-Kaiwá Indians within the timespan of two weeks is enough to fulfill any criteria to define an epidemic. In a total population of 7,500 individuals, the available data account for 52 cases of suicide between 1987 and August 1991. The epidemic is more dramatic among the Kaiwá subgroup among which 14 individuals died in 1990 and a number of suicides were reported for the first semester of 1991. For both sexes, most deaths were observed in the age group 12-20 years. The author advances the hypothesis of the impossible return according to which, under extreme pressure exerted by western society, they see no possibility of returning to their traditional way of living. Under circumstances of extreme self-devaluation, suicide becomes the last alternative for the survival of their culture. Suicide epidemics have been reported among Amerindians in other countries suffering from the same kind of pressure. In Brazil and also in other countries, other tribes have been urbanized and yet did not experience the tragedy which the Kaiwá are going through because they had some kind of acceptable insertion in the national society.

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The extent to which patients' reports of maladjustment is influenced by depressive symptoms was estimated in 25 acute depressed patients responding to pharmacotherapy. Their social adjustment over the same four-month period immediately prior to hospitalization was assessed on two separate occasions: firstly when they were acutely depressed, and again a mean of 20 days later when clinically recovered. Significant differences between the two reports were found in mean score of maladjustment in four out of five fields of social adjustment (work, social/leisure life, family of origin, marriage, and sex). The reduction in depressive symptoms scores (of pessimism considered separately), correlated significantly with changes in the total maladjustment score. The reduction in pessimism scores correlated with changes in the scores for both work and social/leisure fields, and also accounted for 40% of the total variance in maladjustment score. These results indicate that impaired social adjustment as assessed during the height of the depressive illness arises in part from a symptom--related overreporting bias leading patients to make a harsh appraisal of themselves.

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Foram estudados 36 individuos habitantes de uma fazenda do Estado de Minas Gerais nove dos quais adquiriram a forma linfonodular de toxoplasmose entre maio e agosto de 1976, apresentando titulos de anticorpos pela imunofluorescencia indireta - IF - entre 1:4096 e 1:32000 na classe IgG e entre 1:16 e 1:8000 na classe IgM. Doze das 36 pessoas da fazenda foram consideradas como casos "duvidosos", assim definidos ou por apresentarem quadro clinico compativel com toxoplasmose adquirida apesar de baixos titulos de anticorpos, ou por apresentarem nitido quadro clinico, mas com evidencias sorologicas de infeccao recente pelo T. gondii. As outras 15 pessoas estudadas nao mostraram evidencias clinicas principais formas de transmissao: a) carne de porco mal cozida durante um churrasco na fazenda; b) solo e vegetais contaminados com oocistos de T. gondii (ciclo gato-rato). O acompanhamento sorologico da populacao humana, nove meses apos, demonstrou titulos ainda elevados na classe IgG embora com tendencia ao declinio e soros nao reagentes na classe IgM.Apos os titulos na classe IgG eram quase compativeis com os titulos observados en inqueritos sorologicos em outras populacoes brasileiras

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