RESUMO
Fipronil, a pesticide widely used to control agricultural and household insect pests, blocks insect GABAA and glutamate (GluCl) ionotropic receptors, resulting in uncontrolled hyperexcitation and paralysis that eventually leads to death. The use of fipronil is controversial because unintentional exposure to this compound may contribute to the ongoing global decline of insect pollinator populations. Although the sublethal effects of fipronil have been linked to aberrant behavior and impaired olfactory learning in insects, the precise mechanisms involved in these responses remain unclear. In this article, we highlight recent studies that have investigated the interaction among different pathways involved in the ability of fipronil to modulate insect behavior, with particular emphasis on the role of GABAergic neurotransmission in fine-tuning the integration of sensorial responses and insect behavior. Recent findings suggest that fipronil can also cause functional alterations that affect synaptic organization and the availability of metal ions in the brain.
Assuntos
Comportamento Animal , Insetos , Inseticidas , Pirazóis , Animais , Pirazóis/toxicidade , Insetos/efeitos dos fármacos , Insetos/fisiologia , Inseticidas/toxicidade , Comportamento Animal/efeitos dos fármacos , Transmissão Sináptica/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
Disorders of gastrointestinal motility are the major physiologic problem in chagasic megacolon. The contraction mechanism is complex and controlled by different cell types such as enteric neurons, smooth muscle, telocytes, and an important pacemaker of the intestine, the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs). The role of ICCs in the progression of acute and chronic Chagas disease remains unclear. In the present work, we investigate the aspects of ICCs in a long-term model of Chagas disease that mimics the pathological aspects of human megacolon. Different subsets of ICCs isolated from Auerbach's myenteric plexuses and muscle layers of control and Trypanosoma cruzi infected animals were determined by analysis of CD117, CD44, and CD34 expression by flow cytometer. Compared with the respective controls, the results showed a reduced frequency of mature ICCs in the acute phase and three months after infection. These results demonstrate for the first time the phenotypic distribution of ICCs associated with functional dysfunction in a murine model of chagasic megacolon. This murine model proved valuable for studying the profile of ICCs as an integrative system in the gut and as a platform for understanding the mechanism of chagasic megacolon development.
Assuntos
Doença de Chagas , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Células Intersticiais de Cajal , Megacolo , Animais , Células Intersticiais de Cajal/patologia , Doença de Chagas/patologia , Doença de Chagas/fisiopatologia , Megacolo/parasitologia , Megacolo/patologia , Megacolo/fisiopatologia , Camundongos , Citometria de Fluxo , Masculino , Trypanosoma cruzi/fisiologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The challenges faced by caregivers of the elderly with chronic diseases are always complex. In this context, mobile technologies have been used with promising results, but often have restricted functionality, or are either difficult to use or do not provide the necessary support to the caregiver - which leads to declining usage over time. Therefore, we developed the Mobile System for Elderly Monitoring, SMAI. The purpose of SMAI is to monitor patients with functional loss and to improve the support to caregivers' communication with the health team professionals, informing them the data related to the patients' daily lives, while providing the health team better tools. METHOD: SMAI is composed of mobile applications developed for the caregivers and health team, and a web portal that supports management activities. Caregivers use an Android application to send information and receive care advice and feedback from the health team. The system was constructed using a refinement stage approach. Each stage involved caregivers and the health team in prototype release-test-assessment-refinement cycles. SMAI was evaluated during 18 months. We studied which features were being used the most, and their use pattern throughout the week. We also studied the users' qualitative perceptions. Finally, the caregiver application was also evaluated for usability. RESULTS: SMAI functionalities showed to be very useful or useful to caregivers and health professionals. The Focus Group interviews reveled that among caregivers the use of the application gave them the sensation of being connected to the health team. The usability evaluation identified that the interface design and associated tasks were easy to use and the System Usability Scale, SUS, presented very good results. CONCLUSIONS: In general, the use of SMAI represented a positive change for the family caregivers and for the NAI health team. The overall qualitative results indicate that the approach used to construct the system was appropriate to achieve the objectives.
Assuntos
Cuidadores , Doença Crônica/terapia , Assistência Domiciliar , Aplicativos Móveis , Monitorização Fisiológica/métodos , Atividades Cotidianas , Idoso , Atitude Frente aos Computadores , Comunicação , Feminino , Grupos Focais , Humanos , Internet , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
Studies concerning persons living with HIV (PLWH) report that stressful life events (SLEs) contribute to an exacerbation of symptoms and reduced antiretroviral (ARV) adherence and quality of life (QOL). Little is known about whether these findings are site-specific. Our study's aims were to characterize the type and frequency of SLEs for PLWH in Puerto Rico, South Africa, and the United States, and to assess the impact of SLEs by national site, symptoms, and ARV adherence concerns on QOL. The sample consisted of 704 participants. The total number of SLEs correlated significantly with the total number of symptoms, adherence concerns, and QOL (p ≤ .001). Overall, 27.2% of the variance in QOL was explained by the aforementioned variables. Although SLEs were of concern to PLWH, worries about ARV adherence were of even greater concern. Routine assessment of ARV concerns and SLEs can promote ongoing ARV adherence and improved QOL.
Assuntos
Antirretrovirais/uso terapêutico , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções por HIV/psicologia , Acontecimentos que Mudam a Vida , Adesão à Medicação/psicologia , Qualidade de Vida/psicologia , Adaptação Psicológica , Adulto , Idoso , Comparação Transcultural , Feminino , Infecções por HIV/etnologia , Inquéritos Epidemiológicos , Humanos , Masculino , Adesão à Medicação/etnologia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Porto Rico/epidemiologia , Perfil de Impacto da Doença , Fatores Socioeconômicos , África do Sul/epidemiologia , Estresse Psicológico/psicologia , Inquéritos e Questionários , Estados Unidos/epidemiologia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Several reports have shown that cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions are painless, suggesting that Leishmania infection interferes with pain perception. Comparisons of inflammation-induced hyperalgesia between BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice have been little explored in the literature, and comparative data regarding nociception in leishmaniasis are non-existent. In susceptible BALB/c mice and resistant C57BL/6 mice that were intradermally inoculated with a low dose of Leishmania major in the ear, we investigated the variation in nociception over a 12-wk period post-infection and this variation's association with the structure of nerve fibres and the presence of endogenous cytokines that are classically considered hyper- or hypo-nociceptive. Infected BALB/c mice presented susceptibility and severe lesions. Infected C57BL/6 mice exhibited resistance and healing lesions. The immune response involved pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine secretion, respectively. The infection-induced hypoalgesia in BALB/c mice after wks 9 was accompanied by decreased levels of IL-6 and IL-10 in ear tissue with intact nerves. C57BL/6 mice showed short-lived hyperalgesia in wks 2, which was related to increased local levels of IL-6, KC/CXCL-1, TNF-α and IL-10 and a decrease in nerve density. The increase in pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6, KC/CXCL-1 and TNF-α levels during hyperalgesia suggested a role for these mediators in afferent nerve sensitisation, which was secondary to the inflammatory damage of nerve fibres stained by PGP 9.5. In contrast, the mechanisms of hypoalgesia may include the downregulation of cytokines, the preservation of the structure of nerve endings, and as yet uninvestigated unidentified differences in neurotransmitter release or a direct role of the parasites in the context of the progressive and permissive inflammatory response of BALB/c mice.
Assuntos
Citocinas/análise , Orelha Externa/parasitologia , Leishmania major/imunologia , Leishmaniose Cutânea/fisiopatologia , Nociceptividade/fisiologia , Animais , Citocinas/metabolismo , Regulação para Baixo , Orelha Externa/imunologia , Orelha Externa/inervação , Feminino , Imuno-Histoquímica , Leishmania major/patogenicidade , Leishmaniose Cutânea/complicações , Leishmaniose Cutânea/imunologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Dor Nociceptiva/etiologia , Dor Nociceptiva/imunologia , Dor Nociceptiva/fisiopatologia , Limiar da Dor/fisiologia , Ubiquitina Tiolesterase/análiseRESUMO
OBJETIVO: Relatar o caso de adolescente que procurou serviço odontológico de um ambulatório de medicina do adolescente por apresentar atraso de erupção dentária. A atuação multiprofissional permitiu chegar ao diagnóstico de hipotireoidismo. DESCRIÇÃO DO CASO: Paciente de 16 anos e 4 meses cuja queixa inicial foi atraso na erupção dentária. Na avaliação odontológica, chamava atenção o importante atraso na erupção dentária, o que poderia estar relacionado a alguma moléstia orgânica. Desta forma, solicitou-se a intervenção da equipe médica, que, no acompanhamento, constatou se tratar de hipotireoidismo. COMENTÁRIOS: Chama-se a atenção o fato de que adolescentes prezam a aceitação pelos seus pares e as questões estéticas e, muitas vezes, a procura por um serviço de saúde envolve queixas que podem parecer triviais. Porém, o olhar atento não deixará que problemas orgânicos mais graves passem despercebidos. Salienta-se ainda a importância da atuação da equipe multiprofissional.
OBJECTIVE: To report the case of an adolescent with undiagnosed hypothyroidism who sought dental clinic care due to delayed tooth eruption. Multiprofessionalwork enabled the diagnosis. CASE DESCRIPTION: This is a 16 years and 4 month-old patient whose initial complaint was delayed tooth eruption. Dental evaluation drew attention to the significant delay in tooth eruption as it could be related to organic diseases. This has prompted the intervention of medical professionals who diagnosed hypothyroidism in the follow-up. COMMENTS: Teenagers typically value acceptance by their peers and may have aesthetic concerns that lead them to seek health services for seemingly trivial complaints. A high degree of surveillance in these cases can detect more serious underlying organic problems. We highlight the importance of the multidisciplinary team in this approach.
OBJETIVO: Relatar caso de adolescente que buscó servicio odontológico de un ambulatorio de medicina del adolescente, por presentar retardo en la erupción dental y cuya actuación multiprofesional permitió llegar al diagnóstico de hipotiroidismo. DESCRIPCIÓN DEL CASO: Se describe la historia de una paciente de 16 años y 4 meses de edad cuya queja fue retardo en la erupción dental. En la evaluación odontológica, llamaba la atención el importante retardo en la erupción dental, lo que podría estar relacionado a alguna enfermedad orgánica. De este modo, se solicitó la intervención del equipo médico que, en el seguimiento, constató tratarse de hipotiroidismo. COMENTARIOS: Se llama la atención para el hecho de que adolescentes estiman mucho la aceptación por sus pares y las cuestiones estéticas y, muchas veces, la búsqueda por un servicio de salud implica quejas que pueden parecer comunes, pero una mirada atenta no dejará que problemas orgánicos más graves pasen desapercibidos. Se subraya además la importancia de la actuación del equipo multiprofesional.
Assuntos
Humanos , Feminino , Adolescente , Erupção Dentária , Hipotireoidismo/complicações , Saúde do AdolescenteRESUMO
Neural precursor differentiation from mouse ES (embryonic stem) cells have been demonstrated using EB (embryoid body), co-culture on stromal feeder layers, and in the absence of external inducing signals. Most of available mouse ES cell original research articles have worked with only six different cell lines. Our goals were to isolate one new mouse ES lineage, and perform a detailed immunocytochemistry study during neural differentiation, making use of an EB strategy protocol following the generation of neural progenitors, glial cells and postmitotic neurons. The dynamics of differentiation of ES cell derived neuronal precursors into differentiated glia cells and neurons were followed in vitro and correlated to exposure to specific elements of feeder medium. Morphological aspects of generated cellular types, including its immunocytochemical expression of differentiation markers were studied. Immuno-positivity against ß-III tubulin, PGP and TH (tyrosine hydroxylase) was observed from stage I. Approximately 80% of cells were positive for TH at stage I. The first glial cell type appears in stage III. TH, PGP or ß-III tubulin-positive cells with neuronal typical morphology only being seen in stage III when TH-positive cells corresponded to approximately 12% of total cells. Variations among other literature findings can be explained by the choice we made to use a newly isolated ES cell line. As colonies may behave differently during neuronal differentiation, it reinforces the necessity of studying original ES cell lines.
RESUMO
This paper describes the research lines of an interdisciplinary group composed by two government universities in Rio de Janeiro. The first research line, a Virtual Environment for testing the acceptance of Virtual Reality equipment by schizophrenia patients, has stimulated a growing interest in this area in the country and abroad. The second research line, in progress now, develops a virtual environment to improve the learning abilities of children with Attention-Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Another study is related to the use of Virtual Reality in the cognitive treatment of common city phobias, beginning with the reproduction of some tunnels of our city to treatment of claustrophobic patients. The last of the research lines in progress in this group develops a virtual square for stimulating autistic patients.