Towards diversity in science - a glance at gender disparity in the Brazilian Society of Neuroscience and Behavior (SBNeC)

Gender equity is far from being achieved in most academic institutions worldwide. Women representation in scientific leadership faces multiple obstacles. Implicit bias and stereotype threat are considered important driving forces concerning gender disparities. Negative cultural stereotypes of weak scientific performance, unrelated to true capacity, are implicitly associated with women and other social groups, influencing, without awareness, attitudes and judgments towards them. Meetings of scientific societies are the forum in which members from all stages of scientific careers are brought together. Visibility in the scientific community stems partly from presenting research as a speaker. Here, we investigated gender disparities in the Brazilian Society of Neuroscience and Behavior (SBNeC). Across the 15 mandates (1978-2020), women occupied 30% of the directory board posts, and only twice was a woman president. We evaluated six meetings held between 2010 and 2019. During this period, the membership of women outnumbered that of men in all categories. A total of 57.50% of faculty members, representing the potential pool of speakers and chairs, were female. Compared to this expected value, female speakers across the six meetings were scarce in full conferences (χ2(5)=173.54, P<0.001) and low in symposia (χ2(5)=36.92, P<0.001). Additionally, women chaired fewer symposia (χ2(5)=47.83, P<0.001). Furthermore, men-chaired symposia had significantly fewer women speakers than women-chaired symposia (χ2(1)=56.44, P<0.001). The gender disparities observed here are similar to those in other scientific societies worldwide, urging them to lead actions to pursue gender balance and diversity. Diversity leads not only to fairness but also to higher-quality science.

Supplementation of lamb ewes with different protein sources in deferred marandu palisadegrass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. marandu) pasture / [Suplementação de matrizes ovinas com diferentes fontes de proteína em pasto diferido de capim-marandu (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu)]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different protein sources on the performance of lamb ewes and their offspring supplemented in deferred pasture. The treatments were the different protein sources: soybean meal, cotton cake, babassu cake and coconut cake. The ewes were weighed and evaluated for their body condition score during the gestation, parturition and weaning phases. The lambs were weighed at birth and at weaning. The structural variables and chemical composition of the pasture were evaluated during the usage period. Grass height and forage mass were higher when the ewes were in the gestation and weaning stages. The leaf mass was not altered during the pasture usage with a mean value of 566.1kg ha-1 DM. The highest levels of crude protein in the leaf blade were observed during the parturition and weaning phases. The body weight of the ewes did not differ between the sources with averages 45.0, 39.9 and 36.6kg for the gestation, parturition and weaning phases, respectively. Weights at birth and at weaning had an effect from protein sources, with the highest values observed in the lambs of ewes who received soybean meal and babassu cake supplementation. The lambs of ewes supplemented with soybean had higher average daily gain and total gain. Babassu, coconut and cotton cakes can replace soybean meal in supplementation of ewes in deferred pasture.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes fontes de proteína no desempenho de ovelhas e suas crias suplementadas em pastagem diferida. Os tratamentos foram as diferentes fontes proteicas: farelo de soja, tortas de algodão, babaçu e coco. As ovelhas foram pesadas e avaliadas quanto ao escore de condição corporal durante as fases de gestação, parição e desmame. Os cordeiros foram pesados no nascimento e no desmame. As variáveis estruturais e a composição química do pasto foram avaliadas durante o período de uso. A altura do dossel e a massa de forragem foram maiores quando as ovelhas estavam nas fases de gestação e desmame. A massa foliar não foi alterada durante o uso do pasto, com um valor médio de 566,1kg ha-1 MS. Os maiores teores de proteína bruta na lâmina foliar foram observados durante as fases de parto e desmame. O peso corporal das ovelhas não diferiu entre as fontes proteicas, com médias de 45,0, 39,9 e 36,6kg para as fases de gestação, parto e desmame, respectivamente. Os pesos ao nascimento e ao desmame tiveram efeito das fontes proteicas, com os maiores valores observados nos cordeiros de ovelhas que receberam suplementação com farelo de soja e torta de babaçu. Os cordeiros suplementados com soja apresentaram maior ganho médio diário e ganho total. As tortas de babaçu, coco e algodão podem substituir o farelo de soja na suplementação de ovelhas em pastagem diferida.(AU)

The acute effects of strength, endurance and concurrent exercises on the Akt/mTOR/p70S6K1 and AMPK signaling pathway responses in rat skeletal muscle

The activation of competing intracellular pathways has been proposed to explain the reduced training adaptations after concurrent strength and endurance exercises (CE). The present study investigated the acute effects of CE, strength exercises (SE), and endurance exercises (EE) on phosphorylated/total ratios of selected AMPK and Akt/mTOR/p70S6K1 pathway proteins in rats. Six animals per exercise group were killed immediately (0 h) and 2 h after each exercise mode. In addition, 6 animals in a non-exercised condition (NE) were killed on the same day and under the same conditions. The levels of AMPK, phospho-Thr172AMPK (p-AMPK), Akt, phospho-Ser473Akt (p-Akt), p70S6K1, phospho-Thr389-p70S6K1 (p-p70S6K1), mTOR, phospho-Ser2448mTOR (p-mTOR), and phospho-Thr1462-TSC2 (p-TSC2) expression were evaluated by immunoblotting in total plantaris muscle extracts. The only significant difference detected was an increase (i.e., 87%) in Akt phosphorylated/total ratio in the CE group 2 h after exercise compared to the NE group (P = 0.002). There were no changes in AMPK, TSC2, mTOR, or p70S6K1 ratios when the exercise modes were compared to the NE condition (P ≥ 0.05). In conclusion, our data suggest that low-intensity and low-volume CE might not blunt the training-induced adaptations, since it did not activate competing intracellular pathways in an acute bout of strength and endurance exercises in rat skeletal muscle.

Use of antibacterial agents in an intensive care unit in a hospital in Brazil

It is essential to monitor the utilisation of antibacterial drugs in order to establish appropriate measures for their control. The pattern of usage of antibacterial drugs, and its association with indicators of hospital infection, has been investigated in a non-specialized adult intensive care unit (ICU) located in Santa Luzia Hospital (Brasília, DF, Brazil). The study was conducted between January 2001 and June 2004. Data concerning the utilisation of systemic antibacterial drugs, classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical/Defined Daily Dose (ATC/DDD) system, and indicators of hospital infection, defined according to the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) system, were obtained from appropriate hospital archives. During the study period, the average utilisation of antibacterial drugs was 1918.5 DDD units per 1000 patient-day (DDD1000). The three most used drugs were penicillins/beta-lactamase inhibitors (535.3 DDD1000), third generation cephalosporins (239.1 DDD1000) and quinolones (212.5 DDD1000). The total utilisation of antibacterial drugs was correlated significantly with the incidence of hospital infection (R = 0.62; p < 0.01) and the index of invasive procedures (R = 0.41; p < 0.01). Furthermore, the latter two indicators were significantly and positively correlated with the use of recently commercialised, broad spectrum antibacterial drugs (except for carbapenems). It is concluded that improved infection control procedures, together with more rigorous criteria regarding the use of invasive procedures, should be implemented by the ICU studied in order to diminish the utilisation of antibacterial drugs.

Differential activity of a lectin from Solieria filiformis against human pathogenic bacteria

A lectin isolated from the red alga Solieria filiformis was evaluated for its effect on the growth of 8 gram-negative and 3 gram-positive bacteria cultivated in liquid medium (three independent experiments/bacterium). The lectin (500 æg/mL) stimulated the growth of the gram-positive species Bacillus cereus and inhibited the growth of the gram-negative species Serratia marcescens, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Proteus sp, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 1000 æg/mL but the lectin (10-1000 æg/mL) had no effect on the growth of the gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and B. subtilis, or on the gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. The purified lectin significantly reduced the cell density of gram-negative bacteria, although no changes in growth phases (log, exponential and of decline) were observed. It is possible that the interaction of S. filiformis lectin with the cell surface receptors of gram-negative bacteria promotes alterations in the flow of nutrients, which would explain the bacteriostatic effect. Growth stimulation of the gram-positive bacterium B. cereus was more marked in the presence of the lectin at a concentration of 1000 æg/mL. The stimulation of the growth of B. cereus was not observed when the lectin was previously incubated with mannan (125 æg/mL), its hapten. Thus, we suggest the involvement of the binding site of the lectin in this effect. The present study reports the first data on the inhibition and stimulation of pathogenic bacterial cells by marine alga lectins.

Behavioral modulation by mutilation pictures in women

Previous studies have shown that women are more emotionally expressive than men. It is unclear, however, if women are also more susceptible to the emotional modulation of behavior imposed by an affective stimulus. To investigate this issue, we devised a task in which female subjects performed six sequential trials of visual target detection following the presentation of emotional (mutilation and erotic) or neutral pictures (domestic utensils and objects) and compared the data obtained in the present study with those described in a previous study with male subjects. The experiment consisted of three blocks of 24 pictures and each block had an approximate duration of 4 min. Our sample consisted of 36 subjects (age range: 18 to 26 years) and each subject performed all blocks. Trials following the presentation of mutilation pictures (283 ms) had significantly slower reaction times than those following neutral (270 ms) pictures. None of the trials in the "pleasant block" (271 ms) was significantly different from those in the "neutral block". The increase in reaction time observed in the unpleasant block may be related in part to the activation of motivational systems leading to an avoidance behavior. The interference effect observed in this study was similar to the pattern previously described for men. Thus, although women may be more emotionally expressive, they were not more reactive to aversive stimuli than men, as measured by emotional interference in a simple reaction time task.

Perfil do câncer gástrico no Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco / Profile of gastric cancer at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Pernambuco

A partir de um estudo retrospectivo realizado no Serviço de Endoscopia do Hospital das Clínicas-UFPE, em 10.230 exames de endoscopia digestiva alta efetuados nos anos de 91, 92 e 93 foram diagnosticados 60 casos de adenocarcinoma gástrico, resultando em incidência de 0,58 por cento da amostra. Os 60 casos estudados mostram dados rigorosamente semelhantes aos publicados na literatura mundial quanto aos aspectos epidemiológicos (idade e sexo), clínicos (dor em abdome superior, perda de peso, etc.) e localizaçao da lesao (antro e corpo). Por outro lado, encontramos baixíssimo índice de diagnóstico de câncer precoce (1,6 por cento) e elevada incidência do tipo histológico difuso (46 por cento), indiferenciado. Noventa por cento das lesoes eram Bormann III e IV. Esses três fatos podem estar relacionados com baixa suspeiçao em relaçao às lesoes precoces e/ou precursoras ou ainda a comportamento biológico mais agressivo do adenocarcinoma em nossa regiao, incluindo aí fatores ambientais diferenciados quando comparados com outras áreas de elevada incidência.

Modelo de atencao integral a saude do adolescente: Projeto MAISA II - Unidade Clinica de Adolescentes - UERJ / Model of integral attention to Realth of the adolescent: Project MAISA II - Unit clinic of adolescents - UERJ

A Unidade Clinica de Adolescentes da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, atraves do Projeto Modelo de Atencao Integral a Saude do Adolescente (Projeto MAISA II), apoiado pela Fundacao W.K.Kellogg, vem desenvolvendo uma experiencia de integracao das unidades de servico de saude nas comunidades proximas ao Campus Universitario. Para tal, vem se articulando com escolas do1o. e 2o. Graus, empresas, com o Camp vila Isabel, do Programa de Patrulheirismo; com algumas instituicoes de saude e organizacoes comunitarias. Este artigo traz os primeiros resultados deste projeto, demonstrando a importancia de se garantir a populacao adolescente, formas resolutivas e desburocratizadas na atencao a sua saude .

Valor do interrogatorio no rastreamento de infeccao chagasica. / Value of the questionnaire for detection of Chagas' infection

Esse trabalho apresenta analise sobre a associacao entre interrogatorio de picada do barbeiro e resultados da reacao de fixacao de complemento. O proposito foi estimar, nas condicoes usuais de funcionamento de um servico de saude, o valor diagnostico do interrogatorio sobre picada do barbeiro em infeccao chagasica. So foram incluidos aqueles individuos cujos exames laboratoriais estavam confirmados, positivos ou negativos. Foram retirados da analise 259 pessoas com reacoes divergentes. Na anamnese, ao mesmo tempo que a pergunta sobre antecedentes de picada de inseto era feita, eram mostrados 5 insetos adultos. Os resultados foram os seguintes em 2.154 pessoas: prevalencia da infeccao pelo exame laboratorial (14,5%) e de historia positiva de contato com o barbeiro (11,5%). A coincidencia de exame e historia positivos ocorreu em 2,5% e de ambos negativos em 76,5%, perfazendo um total de concordancia de 79% (eficiencia do interrogatorio). A sensibilidade do interrogatorio foi baixa (17,3%) e a especificidade alta (89,5%). O valor preditivo de uma historia positiva de picada de barbeiro foi de apenas 21,5% e a de historia negativa, 86,5%. Esses dados apontam para a pouca utilidade de interrogatorios em rastreamento de infeccao chagasica, e poderiam mesmo nao serem realizados em bancos de sangue, ao menos que esforcos sejam feitos para que a sua precisao seja aumentada

Hepatite a virus em creche de Brasilia. / Viral hepatitis in a day-nursery in Brasilia

Nove casos de hepatite a virus foram diagnosticados durante um estudo longitudinal de morbidade em creche de Brasilia frequentada por 38 criancas em bom estado nutricional. Tres casos anictericos foram descobertos pela dosagem de transaminases sericas de criancas e adultos da creche expostos ao risco logo no inicio da epidemia. As nove criancas acometidas estavam no segundo ano de vida: das nove, tres eram do sexo masculino. Todas evoluiram para cura completa. Nao foi elucidado o mecanismo de transmissao. Gamaglobulina nao foi usada na profilaxia de novos casos pois na epoca foi descoberta a existencia no mercado de partidas do medicamento contaminadas com virus de hepatite. O trabalho apresenta discussao sobre medidas apropriadas para o controle de surtos semelhantes em instituicoes para criancas pequenas

Cuidados primarios de saude no Distrito Federal. / Primary health care in the Distrito Federal

O presenta trabalho detalha o plano de assistencia a saude no Distrito Federal para o periodo de 1979-1985. A implantacao da rede basica de saude e enfatizada e sao formuladas recomendacoes sobre regionalizacao dos servicos de saude e formacao de recursos humanos basicos para o funcionamento do sistema

Avaliacao do preenchimento de declaracoes de obitos: Brasilia, DF (Brasil), 1977-1978. / Evaluation of the fulfillment of death certificates: Brasilia, DF (Brazil), 1977-78

O preenchimento dods itens existentes nos atestados de obitos foi avaliado neste trabalho quantificando-se o numero de informacoes em brando ou ignoradas no periodo de 2 anos.Encontrou-se pequina omissao de dados sobre a identificacao do falecido.A omissao e maior com respeito a antecedentes sociais e obstetricos, assistencia medica e na parte do atestado referente a casos de obitos violentos. Uma atuacao junto a medicos e funcionarios de hospitais pode concorrer para melhorar o nivel de preenchimento dos atestados de obitos no Distrito Federal

Inquerito dietetico com base no consumo familiar: o caso de Ilheus, Bahia, Brasil, em 1979. / Diet survey on family intake: the case of Ilheus, Bahia,in 1979

Metodologia simplificada foi usada para analisar a dieta familiar de amostra representativa da populacao pobre da cidade de Ilheus, sem levar em consideracao a distribuicao intrafamiliar de alimentos. A analise foi efetuada em termos de frequencia de alimentos consumidos, densidade nutricional e adequacao nutricional teorica da dieta. Os resultados indicaram que a dieta e pouco variada, com apenas 8 dos 46 alimentos relatados sendo consumidos por 50% ou mais da familias. A densidade energetica da dieta foi baixa, sendo que o quociente de energia derivada de lipidios sobre energia derivada de proteinas (G/P) foi de 1.0, considerado inadequado. A densidade nutricional foi baixa para calcio, riboflavina, vitamina A e zinco. Observou-se consumo elevado de proteinas, que representou 16% das calorias da dieta. Criancas e mulheres gravidas e lactantes estao em maior risco nutricional