Preliminary findings on the gastrointestinal parasites of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) in the Cantabrian mountains, Spain.

No study is currently available on the parasitofauna of the population of brown bears (Ursus arctos) inhabiting the Cantabrian Mountains in Spain. The aim of the present study was to obtain novel information on diversity and prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in these individuals. During August 2016 and from May to July 2017, 14 fecal samples were collected from the western Cantabrian bear subpopulation, in the Somiedo Natural Park, in the Spanish province of Asturias. The prevalence of parasites detected was 71% and two genera were identified: Dicrocoelium sp. and Trichuris sp. Since the impact that pathogens such as endoparasites can have on the health of bears, together with other stressors, is still poorly understood, research efforts that include disease surveillance are critical to the successful protection of this emblematic species. Our preliminary findings require further investigations, with a wider sampling effort, and bring awareness for the need of carrying further studies on this area as a part of a proactive species management plan.

Probing the hydrothermal system of the Chicxulub impact crater.

The ~180-km-diameter Chicxulub peak-ring crater and ~240-km multiring basin, produced by the impact that terminated the Cretaceous, is the largest remaining intact impact basin on Earth. International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) and International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) Expedition 364 drilled to a depth of 1335 m below the sea floor into the peak ring, providing a unique opportunity to study the thermal and chemical modification of Earth's crust caused by the impact. The recovered core shows the crater hosted a spatially extensive hydrothermal system that chemically and mineralogically modified ~1.4 × 105 km3 of Earth's crust, a volume more than nine times that of the Yellowstone Caldera system. Initially, high temperatures of 300° to 400°C and an independent geomagnetic polarity clock indicate the hydrothermal system was long lived, in excess of 106 years.

Hypertriglyceridemia Induced Pancreatitis: Inpatient Management at a Single Pediatric Institution.

OBJECTIVES: Hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis is an important cause of acute pancreatitis (AP) in children, which lacks established guidelines. The aim of this study was to review management approaches at a single pediatric center. METHODS: This retrospective study included all inpatients younger than 21 years with AP and triglycerides (TG) of 1000 mg/dL or greater. A linear mixed effect model was used to calculate drop in TGs. The patient's diet, intravenous fluid (IVF) rate, insulin, and plasmapheresis were included in the model. RESULTS: Seventeen admissions were identified among 8 patients, average age 15 years (range, 6-19 years). Fifty percent had recurrent AP and 29% of admissions had complications including 1 death. The population was primarily female (75%), white (75%), and overweight, and 63% had diabetes. The median stay was 5.4 days. There were 14 approaches used with variations in IVF rates, insulin, plasmapheresis, and nill per os (NPO) versus feeds. Variables that reduced TG's were NPO, higher IVF rates, plasmapheresis, and insulin (P < 0.05). Importantly, NPO reduced TGs faster than those who started early nutrition. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertriglyceridemia is an important cause of pancreatitis in children. This study shares a management algorithm from a single institution. Larger studies are needed for more evidence-based guidelines.

Does a Minority of Children With Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Receive Formal Diet Advice?

BACKGROUND: Diet therapies may be recommended for pediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). However, little is known about the frequency with which diet therapy is recommended in FGIDs. Our aims were to determine and contrast the frequency and types of diet recommendations provided to children with FGIDs by pediatric gastroenterologists (PGIs) versus primary care pediatricians (PCPs). METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed using data from a large, metropolitan children's academic healthcare system to identify subjects meeting Rome IV criteria for functional abdominal pain, functional dyspepsia, irritable-bowel syndrome (IBS), and/or abdominal migraine over a period of 23 months. RESULTS: Of 1929 patient charts reviewed, 268 were included for further analyses. Of these, 186 patients (69%) were seen by a PGI and 82 (31%) by a PCP. The most common diagnosis was IBS (49% for PGIs and 71% for PCPs). Diet recommendations were provided to 115 (43%) patients (PGI group: 86 [75%] vs PCP group: 29 [25%]; P < .1). The most frequent recommendations were high fiber (PGI: 15%; PCP: 14%) and low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) diet (PGI: 12%; PCP: 4%). Of those provided with diet recommendations, only 20% (n = 23) received an educational consult by a dietitian. Provision of diet recommendations was not affected by years in practice. CONCLUSION: Despite increasing awareness of the role of diet in the treatment of childhood FGIDs, a minority of patients receive diet recommendations in tertiary care or primary care settings. When diet recommendations were given, there was great variability in the guidance provided.

Literature Review: Dietary Intervention Adherence and Adherence Barriers in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder Studies.

Dietary management is key in controlling functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) symptoms. However, the degree to which patients with FGIDs in clinical studies adhere to dietary recommendations is unknown. Our aim was to evaluate adherence, dietary education, and adherence-related factors in FGIDs dietary intervention trials. A literature search was performed using MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and SCOPUS for clinical trials evaluating dietary management of FGIDs. Full manuscripts published from January 2000 through August 2018 were reviewed. Data including definitions of adherence and rates, study design, dietary education, use of a dietitian, provision of study foods, potential adherence barriers, and dropouts were captured. A total of 21 publications were included. Fifteen (67%) focused on the low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAP) diet, 5 (24%) on fiber supplementation, and 1 (9%) on a low carbohydrate diet. Fifteen (71%) were randomized controlled trials. Meals/supplements were provided to the study participants in 27%, 80%, and 100%, of the low FODMAP, fiber, and low carbohydrate studies, respectively, which appeared to significantly enhance adherence (P<0.03). Eighteen studies (81%) provided either written or oral diet information to study participants. Overall, only 10 publications (48%) provided adherence data. Nine (60%) of the low FODMAP studies provided adherence data (range, 30% to 100%); ranges could not be calculated for the other dietary trials. The most common method to measure adherence was via food diaries. Therefore, adherence is not often measured in FGIDs dietary intervention clinical trials; when reported, rates of adherence range widely. Studies providing food had the highest adherence rates.

Assessment of Quality and Readability of Internet Dietary Information on Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Diet plays an important role for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). For medical conditions such as IBS, the Internet is a primary source of health information.1 However, recent evidence suggests that Internet health information may have several flaws including being extremely discrepant, of poor quality, and inaccurate.2 Therefore, our objectives were to evaluate both the quality and reading level of Internet dietary recommendations for both pediatric and adult IBS.

To understand and analyze an organization´s culture: Theoretical and methodological choices in two decades of research in Brazil / Compreender e analisar a cultura de uma organização: escolhas teórico-metodológicas em duas décadas de pesquisa no Brasil

Despite the popularity of the organizational culture construct in the organizational psychology´s practice, it is important to scrutinize the theoretical and methodological quality standards of its principles in Brazil. The present study investigated 27 articles targeting at an organization´s culture, in 18 psychology and administration top-ranked journals, issued between 1996 and 2017. The articles were classified by their theoretical and methodological characteristics, such as type of data analysis, culture definitions, among others, to be further quantified and qualitatively reviewed. The trends were discussed in face of organizational culture´s global literature standards, and according to the characteristics of national organizational behavior literature. Special attention was recommended to the alignment between method and epistemology, as well as to a convergence towards global literature´s new developments.

Apesar da popularidade do constructo "cultura organizacional" na prática do psicólogo organizacional, é preciso questionar a qualidade teórico-metodológica de seus fundamentos no Brasil. Este estudo levantou 27 pesquisas cujo objeto foi a cultura de uma organização, nos 18 periódicos de psicologia e administração mais bem avaliados no período de 1996 a 2017. Os artigos foram classificados por suas características teóricas e metodológicas, tais como tipo de análise de dados e definições de cultura, dentre outros aspectos, para então serem quantificados e analisados qualitativamente. As tendências foram discutidas frente aos padrões da literatura global sobre cultura organizacional, à luz das características da produção nacional em comportamento organizacional. Recomendou-se especial atenção ao alinhamento entre método e epistemologia, além de aproximação dos avanços da literatura global na área.

Neurocognitive profiles in adolescents and young adults with congenital heart disease.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to assess the neuropsychological performance (NP) of adolescents and young adults with congenital heart disease (CHD), comparing them with a group of healthy controls, to determine whether there are different neurocognitive phenotypes in CHD, and to identify their relation to sociodemographic, neonatal, clinical and psychological adjustment variables. METHODS: A total of 217 CHD patients (116 male, aged 15.73±2.68 years) and 80 controls (35 male, age 16.76±2.22 years) underwent an extensive neuropsychological assessment and analysis of psychological adjustment. RESULTS: CHD patients had significantly poorer NP than healthy controls in all neurocognitive domains. Three different phenotypes of NP in CHD patients were identified: non-impaired (NI), moderately impaired (MI) and globally impaired (GI). They differed in all dimensions of NP. The GI cluster showed fewer years of schooling (p=0.025) and lower neonatal indicators such as head circumference (p=0.019), 1-min Apgar score (p=0.006), birth weight (p=0.05) and length (p=0.034) than the NI cluster. In the MI and GI clusters, there were more cyanotic forms of disease, including tetralogy of Fallot and transposition of the great arteries. The GI cluster presented more difficulties with psychological adjustment, including social (p=0.038), attention (p=0.001) and aggressive (p=0.003) problems. CONCLUSIONS: CHD patients have poorer NP than controls. NP in the CHD group can be classified in three clusters that reflect different levels of neuropsychological functioning, which is sensitive to social, neonatal and psychological adjustment variables.

Rapid recovery of life at ground zero of the end-Cretaceous mass extinction.

The Cretaceous/Palaeogene mass extinction eradicated 76% of species on Earth1,2. It was caused by the impact of an asteroid3,4 on the Yucatán carbonate platform in the southern Gulf of Mexico 66 million years ago 5 , forming the Chicxulub impact crater6,7. After the mass extinction, the recovery of the global marine ecosystem-measured as primary productivity-was geographically heterogeneous 8 ; export production in the Gulf of Mexico and North Atlantic-western Tethys was slower than in most other regions8-11, taking 300 thousand years (kyr) to return to levels similar to those of the Late Cretaceous period. Delayed recovery of marine productivity closer to the crater implies an impact-related environmental control, such as toxic metal poisoning 12 , on recovery times. If no such geographic pattern exists, the best explanation for the observed heterogeneity is a combination of ecological factors-trophic interactions 13 , species incumbency and competitive exclusion by opportunists 14 -and 'chance'8,15,16. The question of whether the post-impact recovery of marine productivity was delayed closer to the crater has a bearing on the predictability of future patterns of recovery in anthropogenically perturbed ecosystems. If there is a relationship between the distance from the impact and the recovery of marine productivity, we would expect recovery rates to be slowest in the crater itself. Here we present a record of foraminifera, calcareous nannoplankton, trace fossils and elemental abundance data from within the Chicxulub crater, dated to approximately the first 200 kyr of the Palaeocene. We show that life reappeared in the basin just years after the impact and a high-productivity ecosystem was established within 30 kyr, which indicates that proximity to the impact did not delay recovery and that there was therefore no impact-related environmental control on recovery. Ecological processes probably controlled the recovery of productivity after the Cretaceous/Palaeogene mass extinction and are therefore likely to be important for the response of the ocean ecosystem to other rapid extinction events.

Utility of Direct Pancreatic Function Testing in Children.

OBJECTIVES: Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) can have a significant impact on a child's growth and nutrition. Our aim was to evaluate the utility of direct endoscopic pancreatic function testing (ePFT) in pediatrics. METHODS: A single-center retrospective chart review was performed of children who underwent ePFT from December 2007 through February 2015. Endoscopic pancreatic function testings were performed by 1 of 2 methods: (1) intravenous cholecystokinin, followed by the collection of a single duodenal aspirate at 10 minutes, or (2) intravenous cholecystokinin or secretin, followed by the collection of 3 duodenal aspirates at a 5, 10, and 15 minutes. Samples were tested for pH and enzyme activities. RESULTS: A total of 508 ePFTs were performed (481 single-sample tests, 27 multiple-sample tests). Based on the multiple-sample group, enzyme levels for chymotrypsin, amylase, and lipase peaked at 5 minutes, followed by a decrease in activity over time. Exocrine pancreatic sufficiency was identified in 373 (73.4%) and EPI in 93 (18.3%). Exocrine pancreatic sufficiency analysis found all pancreatic enzyme activities significantly increase with age: trypsin, chymotrypsin, amylase, and lipase, (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic pancreatic function testing can be used in the evaluation of EPI in children. Normative data suggest that pancreatic enzyme activities mature with age.

Comunicação pró-ambiental: estratégias informacionais, comportamentais e de framing em cartazes / Pro-environmental communication: informational, behavioral and framing strategies in posters / Comunicación pro-ambiental: estrategías informacionales, comportamentales y de framing en carteles

Usar cartazes para promover comportamentos pró-ambientais é um recurso popular e de baixo custo, mas geralmente baseado em senso comum. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi desenvolver um sistema de categorização para características persuasivas em cartazes pró-ambientais, baseado em um método misto qualitativo/quantitativo. A partir de uma amostra pública e critérios de saturação, foram selecionadas 75 peças publicitárias, identificando-se principalmente: estratégias persuasivas; tipo de ênfase sobre os impactos dos problemas ambientais; e tipo de comportamento. A maior parte dos cartazes enfatizavam consequências para a natureza, operacionalizavam comportamentos, apresentavam informações ou utilizavam framing positivo. Testes de associação mostraram que framings positivos foram associados à indicação de comportamento e ênfase na natureza. O oposto ocorreu com os framings negativos. Esses resultados são discutidos quanto às limitações na eficácia de cartazes pró-ambientais, assim como as vantagens de utilizar sistemas de categorização, como o aqui desenvolvido, para orientar pesquisa e intervenção na área.

Posters designed to promote pro-environmental behavior are a popular, low-cost resource, though often based on common sense. The objective of this research was to develop a categorization system to identify persuasive characteristics in pro-environmental posters, with a mixed methods approach. Based on a public sample and data saturation, 75 pieces of Brazilian advertising were selected, by mainly identifying: persuasive strategies; type of emphasis regarding the impacts of environmental problems; type of recommended behavior. Results revealed that the majority of posters emphasized consequences towards nature, operationalized behaviors, showed information or used positive framing. Qui-square tests showed that positive framing was associated with indication of behavior and emphasis on nature. The opposite occurred with negative framing. Efficacy limitations in pro-environmental posters are discussed, along with the advantages of using categorization systems (such as the one developed) to guide research and intervention, are advocated.

Utilizar carteles para promover comportamientos pro-ambientales es un recurso popular, de bajo costo, pero generalmente basado en el sentido común. El objetivo de esta investigación fue desarrollar un sistema de clasificación para identificar las características de persuasión en carteles pro-ambientales, con un método mixto cualitativo/cuantitativo. A partir de una grande muestra publica y criterios de saturación, se seleccionaron 75 anuncios publicitarios brasileños, identificando principalmente: las estrategias de persuasión; el tipo de énfasis sobre los efectos de problemas ambientales; y el tipo de comportamiento recomendado. Los resultados revelaron que la mayoría de los carteles enfatizó consecuencias hacia la naturaleza, con indicación operacionalizada de comportamientos, mostró información o encuadre positivo utilizado. Testes del qui-cuadrado mostraron que encuadres positivos se asociaron con indicación de la conducta y el énfasis en la naturaleza. Lo contrario ocurrió con encuadres negativos. Se discuten las limitaciones de eficacia en carteles pro-ambientales, así como las ventajas de la utilización de sistemas de categorización (como lo que se desarrolló) para guiar la investigación y la intervención.

Balance de nitrógeno, fósforo y potasio en vacas Holstein pastando praderas de kikuyo (Cenchrus clandestinus) en el norte de Antioquia / Balance de nitrógeno, fósforo y potasio en vacas Holstein pastando praderas de kikuyo (Cenchrus clandestinus) en el norte de Antioquia / Balanço de nitrogênio, fósforo e potássio em vacas holandesas pastejando capim-quicuio (Cenchrus clandestinus) no Norte de Antioquia

Abstract To aim to estimate the balance of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in Holstein cows in northern Antioquia in the three thirds of lactation and in two seasons (high and low precipitation) grazing kikuyo grass (Cenchrus clandestinus), nine cows (three by lactation third) of five herds to which they estimated forage intake, consumption of food supplements and mineralized salt, were selected and were estimated excretion of feces, urine and milk secretion during last three days of an experimental period of 14 days in every season. Food samples, feces, urine and milk were taken in which the content of N, P and K were determined and digestibility, balance and efficiency of each nutrient in milk production were calculated. Data were analyzed under a completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement 3x2. With the advancement of lactation the efficiency of N, P and K decreased (p0.89) nor forage intake (p>0.24) were affected by reduced precipitation. It was conclude that the season can affect the balance and efficiency of nutrients in lactating cows mainly because management guidelines in the food supplement.

Con la finalidad de estimar el balance de nitrógeno (N), fósforo (P) y potasio (K) en vacas Holstein del norte de Antioquia en los tres tercios de la lactancia y en dos épocas del año (alta y baja precipitación) pastando praderas de kikuyo (Cenchrus clandestinus), se seleccionaron nueve vacas (tres de cada tercio) de cinco hatos a las que se les estimó el consumo de forraje, de los suplementos alimenticios y de sal mineralizada y se les estimó la excreción de heces, orina y la secreción láctea durante los últimos tres días de los 14 días que duraba el periodo experimental en cada época. Se tomaron muestras de los alimentos, heces, orina y leche en los que se determinó el contenido de N, P y K y se calculó la digestibilidad aparente, el balance y la eficiencia en el uso de cada nutriente en la producción de leche. Los datos se analizaron bajo un diseño completamente al azar en un arreglo factorial 3 x 2. Con el avance de la lactancia se redujo la eficiencia en el uso del N, P y K (p0,89) ni el consumo de la pradera (p>0,24) se vieran afectados. Se concluye que la época del año puede afectar el balance y eficiencia en el uso de los nutrientes en vacas lactantes debido principalmente a pautas de manejo en el suplemento alimenticio.

Resumo Com a finalidade de estimar o balanço de nitrogênio (N), fósforo (P) e potássio (K) em vacas holandesas do norte de Antioquia no terceiro tercio de lactação e em dois épocas do ano (alta e baixa precipitação) pastejando capim-quicuio (Cenchrus clandestinus), selecionaram-se nove vacas (três de cada tercio) de cinco rebanhos nas quais estimou-se o consumo de forragem, dos suplementos alimentícios e de sal mineralizada e além, estimou-se a excreção de fezes, urina e a secreção láctea durante os últimos três dias dos 14 que durava o período experimental em cada época. Tomaram-se amostras dos alimentos, fezes, urina e leite nos que se determinaram o conteúdo de N, P, e K e calcularam-se a digestibilidade aparente, o balanço e a eficiência no uso de cada nutrimento na produção de leite. Os dados analisaram-se sob um desenho completamente ao acaso num desenho fatorial 3 X 2. Com o avanço da lactação se reduz a eficiência no uso de N, P e K (p0,89), nem o consumo do capim (p>0,24), foram afetados. Conclui-se que a época do ano pode afetar o balanço e a eficiência no uso dos nutrientes para vacas em lactação devido principalmente as pautas de manejo no suplemento alimentício.

The formation of peak rings in large impact craters.

Large impacts provide a mechanism for resurfacing planets through mixing near-surface rocks with deeper material. Central peaks are formed from the dynamic uplift of rocks during crater formation. As crater size increases, central peaks transition to peak rings. Without samples, debate surrounds the mechanics of peak-ring formation and their depth of origin. Chicxulub is the only known impact structure on Earth with an unequivocal peak ring, but it is buried and only accessible through drilling. Expedition 364 sampled the Chicxulub peak ring, which we found was formed from uplifted, fractured, shocked, felsic basement rocks. The peak-ring rocks are cross-cut by dikes and shear zones and have an unusually low density and seismic velocity. Large impacts therefore generate vertical fluxes and increase porosity in planetary crust.

Perfil de pacientes com transtornos mentais atendidos no centro de atenção psicossocial do Município de Candeias: Bahia / Profile of patients with mental disorders assisted in the center for psychosocial care in the City of Candeias, Bahia, Brazil

Objetivo: Descrever o conjunto de características clínicas e sociodemográficas dos usuários do Centro de Atenção Psicossocial(CAPS II) do município de Candeias, na Bahia. Material e Métodos: A população do estudo constituiu-se de 71 usuários de ambos os sexos, cadastrados no serviço, no período de janeiro de 2013 a dezembro de2014. Utilizou-se formulário próprio para a coleta de dados secundários contidos nos prontuários analisados. As variáveis pesquisadas formam o perfil dos pacientes com transtornos mentais do município, tendo como características sociodemográficas investigadas: idade, sexo,etnia, escolaridade, religião, naturalidade e aspectos clínicos a partir dos diagnósticos apresentados de acordo com a Classificação Internacional de Doenças (CID-10), o uso de medicações e as terapias frequentadas pelos usuários. Resultados: Na presente pesquisa, foram caracterizados 71 pacientes diagnosticados com doença mental, acerca de aspectos sociodemográficos, clínicos e terapêuticos, assistidos no CAPS II de Candeias. Conclusão: A população usuária do CAPS II da cidade de Candeias, estado da Bahia, é composta predominantemente de pacientes do sexo feminino, com idade média na faixa de 30 a 39 anos, seguidores da religião católica, com etnia predominante de pardos, com ensino fundamental completo, com naturalidade da cidade de Candeias e diagnosticados predominantemente com patologias mentais relacionadas ao CID F20 –F29 correspondente da esquizofrenia, transtornos esquizotípicos e transtornos delirantes para ambos os sexos.

Objective: To describe the set of clinical features and sociodemographic status of users of the Center for Psychosocial Care (CAPS II) in the city of Candeias, Bahia, Brazil. Material and Methods: The study population consisted of 71 health care users of both sexes assisted from January 2013 to December 2014. A form was used to collect secondary data contained in medical records. The surveyed variables composed the profile of patients with mental disorders in this municipality. The sociodemographic characteristics investigated were:age, sex, ethnicity, schooling, religion, nationality, clinical features based on the diagnosis in accordance with the International Classification of Diseases (CID-10), use of medications, and therapies accessible to users. Results: Herein, 71 patients diagnosed with mental disorders assisted in CAPS II Candeias were profiled as to their sociodemographic status, and clinical and therapeutic features.Conclusion: The users of CAPS II in the city of Candeias, Bahia state, are predominantly females, with an average age of 30 to 39 years, Catholics, mostly brown, with complete primary education, naturally from the city of Candeias. The users of both sexes were predominantly diagnosed with mental disorders related to CIDs F20-F29, which correspond to schizophrenia, and schizotypal and delusional disorders.

Early Enteral Nutrition and Aggressive Fluid Resuscitation are Associated with Improved Clinical Outcomes in Acute Pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether recommendations for treatment of acute pancreatitis (AP) in adults impact the outcomes of pediatric AP. STUDY DESIGN: Adult guidelines regarding early management of AP were implemented through an admission order set at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center at the beginning of the year 2014. Recommendations included administering high rates of intravenous fluid (IVF) within 24 hours of admission and enteral nutrition within 48 hours of admission. A retrospective chart review of AP admissions before and after the implementation of the recommendations was undertaken. Outcomes studied were: hospital length of stay, intensive care unit transfer rates, development of severe AP, pulmonary complications, and readmission rates post discharge from the hospital. RESULTS: The study included 201 patients. Children who received feeds within the first 48 hours and received greater than maintenance IVF within 24 hours had a shorter length of stay, less intensive care unit admissions and severe AP rates compared with the patients who remained nil per os during the first 48 hours and received lower rates of IVF. CONCLUSION: Our data support that early enteral nutrition and early aggressive IVF improve outcomes of pediatric AP.

Morphological changes of Ascaris spp. eggs during their development outside the host.

Information on the infective stage of Ascaris lumbricoides and the pathology caused by the parasite is widely available in the literature. However, information about early embryonic development of A. lumbricoides and its life cycle outside the host is limited. The purpose of this study was to describe the morphological changes within the developing embryo during incubation in vitro at 28 C, as well as to explore differences in egg viability during incubation. Ascaris suum eggs (4,000 eggs/ml), used as a model for A. lumbricoides , were placed for incubation in 0.1N H(2)SO(4) at 28 C in the dark for 21 days. Every day, sub-samples of approximately 100 A. suum eggs were taken from the incubation solution for microscopic evaluation. Development, morphological changes, and viability of the first 40 eggs were observed and documented with photos. During this study, 12 stages were identified in the developing embryo by standard microscopy, 2 of which had not been previously reported. By the end of the first wk, most developing embryos observed were in the late-morula stage (72.5%). On day 14 of incubation, 90% had developed to larva-1 stage, and by day 21, 100% had developed to larva-2 stage. No significant differences were found in the viability recorded in a continuum from day 5 to day 21 of incubation (chi-square, P > 0.05). The result of this study complements and expands the stages of development of Ascaris spp. outside the host previously reported in the literature. It also suggests the potential use of early stages of development of the nematode to determine viability and safety of sewage sludge, wastewater, or compost after treatment recommended by USEPA.

Prevalência de dor crônica em estudantes universitários de enfermagem / Prevalence of chronic pain in nursing undergraduate students / La prevalencia del dolor crónico en estudiantes de enfermería

A dor crônica é uma das principais causas de incapacidade entre os indivíduos. O objetivo do estudo foi estimar a prevalência deste tipo de dor em estudantes universitários de enfermagem e caracterizá-la segundo a ocorrência, localização, duração, intensidade e qualidade. Estudo transversal, desenvolvido em uma Faculdade de Enfermagem de Goiás, entre maio e junho de 2008, com 211 estudantes. A prevalência de dor crônica autorrelatada foi de 59,7 por cento, frequentemente localizada na cabeça (38,1 por cento), região lombar (11,9 por cento) e ombros/ membros superiores (11,9 por cento). Em 46 por cento dos casos, o convívio com a dor variou de um a cinco anos; a intensidade foi caracterizada como forte (Mediana do escore de dor=7,0) e descrita como latejante, pontada, cansativa, enjoada, que incomoda e aperto. A alta prevalência de dor entre jovens universitários de enfermagem aponta o futuro da saúde dessa população, a necessidade de intervenções para redução de agravos e adequado alívio dessa experiência.

Chronic pain is one of the major causes of disability among individuals. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of this type of self-reported pain by undergraduate nursing students and characterize it concerning its occurrence, location, duration, intensity, and quality. This cross-sectional study was developed at a Nursing College in Goiás, Brazil, between May and June of 2008 with 211 students. The prevalence of self-reported chronic pain was 59.7 percent, frequently located in the head (38.1 percent), lower back (11.9 percent) and shoulder/upper members (11.9 percent). In 46 percent of the cases, living with the pain ranged from one to five years with a strong intensity (Median pain scores=7) and was described as throbbing, stabbing, tiring, sickening, that bothers, and tight. The prevalence of pain is higher than that estimated in similar studies, pointing to the future health of this generation and the need for disease prevention and health promotion programs for adequate relief among this population.

El dolor crónico es una de las principales causas de discapacidad entre las personas. Los objetivos de este estudio: estimar la prevalencia este tipo de dolor en los estudiantes universitarios de enfermería, caracterizar el dolor según la aparición, localización, duración, intensidad y calidad. Se trata de un estudio transversal desarrollado en un Facultad de Enfermería de Goiás, de mayo a junio de 2008, con 211 estudiantes. La prevalencia del dolor crónico informado fue del 59,7 por ciento, localizado a menudo en la cabeza (38,1 por ciento), en la región lumbar (11,9 por ciento) y en el hombro/extremidades superiores (11,9 por ciento). En el 46 por ciento de los casos, la convivencia con el dolor varió de uno a cinco años, la intensidad se caracterizó por ser muy fuerte (puntación de dolor media=7,0) y se describe como palpitante, agudo, agotador, repugnante, y que incomoda y aprieta. La alta prevalencia de dolor entre los estudiantes de enfermería indica la salud futura de esta población, la necesidad de intervenciones para reducir las lesiones y el alivio adecuado de esta experiencia.