Lack of evidence for regulation of cardiac P-type ATPases and MAP kinases in transgenic mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of constitutively active á1B-adrenoceptors

The regulatory function of á1B-adrenoceptors in mammalian heart homeostasis is controversial. The objective of the present study was to characterize the expression/activity of key proteins implicated in cardiac calcium handling (Na+/K+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPases) and growth (ERK1/2, JNK1/2 and p38) in mice with cardiac-selective overexpression of constitutively active mutant á1B-adrenoceptor (CAMá1B-AR), which present a mild cardiac hypertrophy phenotype. Immunoblot assays showed that myocardial plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase (PMCA) expression was increased by 30 percent in CAMá1B-AR mice (N = 6, P < 0.05), although there was no change in sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA2) expression. Moreover, total Ca2+-ATPase activity was not modified, but a significant increase in the activity of the thapsigargin-resistant (PMCA) to thapsigargin-sensitive (SERCA) ratio was detected. Neither Na+/K+-ATPase activity nor the expression of á1 and á2 subunit isoforms was changed in CAMá1B-AR mouse hearts. Moreover, immunoblot assays did not provide evidence for an enhanced activation of the three mitogen-activated protein kinases studied in this stage of hypertrophy. Therefore, these findings indicate that chronic cardiac á1B-AR activation in vivo led to mild hypertrophy devoid of significant signs of adaptive modifications concerning primary intracellular calcium control and growth-related proteins, suggesting a minor pathophysiological role of this adrenergic receptor in mouse heart at this stage of development.

Reflexões bioéticas nos dilemas do fim da vida / End life care bioethics conflicts considerations

O século XX trouxe para humanidade a possibilidade de curar muitas doenças e a mudança na percepção da morte. Morre-se nos hospitais e em outras instituições de saúde, às vezes depois de penoso e prolongado sofrimento. Tornou-se imprescindível precisar o momento exato da morte. Os autores trouxeram para reflexão bioética na perspectiva latino-americana os dilemas relacionados à terminalidade da vida. Consideram como ferramentas éticas importantes, autonomia, pluralidade moral, diálogo, comunicação, necessidade da garantia dos cuidados, respeito aos valores das pessoas e de seus familiares. Nos casos irreversíveis, em que se questiona a continuidade dos meios avançados de suporte à vida, indicam os autores o parecer de outros médicos ou da comissão de ética na busca demais precisão no julgamento da situação clínica.

The XX century brought humanity the possibility of curing many illnesses and a change in the perception of the death. One dies in the hospitals and other health institutions, after a laborious and drawn out suffering. To establish the precise moment of the death has became essential. The authors had brought up, for bioethic reflexion, the dilemas related to the terminality of life in the Latin American perspective. They consider autonomy, moral plurality, dialogue, communication, care guarantee needs, respect to the values of the people and of their relatives as important ethical tools. In the irreversible cases, when continuity of the advanced life support procedures is questioned, the authors indicate the appraisal of other doctors, or of ethics committee, in the search for more precision in the clinical situation judgment.

Evaluación estacional de la riqueza y abundancia de especies de mamíferos en la Reserva Biológica Municipal [quot ]Máirio Viana[quot], Mato Grosso, Brasil / Seasonal evaluation of mammal species richness and abundance in the [quot]Mário Viana[quot] municipal reserve, Mato Grosso, Brasil

We evaluated seasonal species presence and richness, and abundance of medium and large sized mammalian terrestrial fauna in the [quot ]Mário Viana[quot ] Municipal Biological Reserve, Nova Xavantina, Mato Grosso, Brazil. During 2001, two monthly visits were made to an established transect, 2,820 m in length. Records of 22 mammal species were obtained and individual footprint sequences quantified for seasonal calculation of species richness and relative abundance index (x footprints/km traveled). All 22 species occurred during the rainy season, but only 18 during the dry season. Pseudalopex vetulus (Lund, 1842) (hoary fox), Eira barbara (Linnaeus, 1758) (tayra), Puma concolor (Linnaeus, 1771) (cougar) and Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris (Linnaeus, 1766) (capybara) were only registered during the rainy season. The species diversity estimated using the Jackknife procedure in the dry season (19.83, CI = 2.73) was smaller than in the rainy season (25.67, CI = 3.43). Among the 18 species common in the two seasons, only four presented significantly different abundance indexes: Dasypus novemcinctus Linnaeus, 1758 (nine-banded armadillo), Euphractus sexcinctus (Linnaeus, 1758) (six-banded armadillo), Dasyprocta azarae Lichtenstein, 1823 (Azara's Agouti) and Tapirus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758) (tapir). On the other hand, Priodontes maximus (Kerr, 1792) (giant armadillo) and Leopardus pardalis (Linnaeus, 1758) (ocelot) had identical abundance index over the two seasons. Distribution of species abundance in the sampled area followed the expected pattern for communities in equilibrium, especially in the rainy season, suggesting that the environment still maintains good characteristics for mammal conservation. The present study shows that the reserve, although only 470 ha in size, plays an important role for conservation of mastofauna of the area as a refuge in an environment full of anthropic influence (mainly cattle breeding in exotic pasture).

Epidemiologia do dengue em Salvador-Bahia, 1995-1999 / Epidemiology of dengue in Salvador-Bahia, 1995-1999

Since 1981, Brazil has registered dengue epidemic and simultaneous circulation of the DEN-1 and DEN-2 serotypes in over 2,700 municipalities. In Salvador- Bahia, located in the Northeastern region of the Country, two epidemic outbreaks occurred in the years of 1995 and 1996, with further endemic spread of the disease. This study analyses the incidence of the virosis within this municipal area, from 1995 to 1999, considering, among other variables, its distribution in the Sanitary Districts and density of Aedes aegypti. Registers of notified cases and the city's Vectorial Control Program were used as data source. The incidence rate of notified cases of dengue in 1995 and 1996, which were 691.4 and 393.5 per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively, decreased to 65 per 100,000 inhabitants in 1998. In the poorer Sanitary Districts, this index reached figures of over 800 per 100,000 inhabitants. The Premise Index for Aedes aegypti reached 54.1% in one of the Districts. Bearing in mind the relevance of the re-emergence of dengue in the world, the authors discuss the possible factors which condition the virus introduction, its epidemiological presentation over the course of four years, and the effectiveness of the vectorial combat (eradication) program.

Desde 1981, o Brasil tem registrado epidemias de dengue de grande magnitude e atualmente circulam simultaneamente dois sorotipos DEN-1 e DEN¾2, em mais de 2.700 municípios. Em Salvador - Bahia, situada na Região Nordeste do país, ocorreram duas epidemias nos anos de 1995 e 1996, e posterior endemização da doença. Este estudo analisa a incidência desta virose nesse município, no período de 1995 a 1999, considerando entre outras variáveis, sua distribuição nos Distritos Sanitários e a situação de densidade do Aedes aegypti. Utiliza como fonte de dados registros oficiais de notificação e do programa de combate vetorial da cidade. A taxa de incidência de dengue foi de 691,4 e 393,5 por 100.000 habitantes, respectivamente, em 1995 e 1996, reduziu-se para 65 por 100.000 em 1998. Nos Distritos Sanitários mais carentes, este indicador alcançou valores superiores a 800 por 100.000 habitantes. O Índice de Infestação Predial pelo Aedes chegou a atingir 54,1% em um dos seus bairros. Considerando a importância da reemergência do dengue no mundo os autores discutem os possíveis fatores que condicionaram a introdução do vírus, as suas apresentações epidemiológicas no curso de 4 anos, e a efetividade do programa de combate vetorial.

Aspectos eletrencefalograficos e da glutaminorraquia nas encefalopatias porto-sistemicas. / Electroencephalographic and CSF glutamine aspects in portal-systemic encephalopathies

Foi estudado um grupo de pacientes com encefalopatia porto-hepatica, tendo sido realizada uma analise dos disturbios da consciencia, dos achados eletrencefalograficos e dos niveis liquoricos da glutamina.Baseados nos resultados encontrados, os autores verificaram que o eletrencefalograma pode ser um exame util na determinacao do grau do coma hepatico e pode fornecer dados para a avaliacao do prognostico. Concluiram tambem que a dosagem liquorica da glutamina e o exame mais importante na caracterizacao do grau de encefalopatia hepatica