Sex-related differences in retinal function in Wistar rats: implications for toxicity and safety studies.

Introduction: Wistar Han rats are a preferred strain of rodents for general toxicology and safety pharmacology studies in drug development. In some of these studies, visual functional tests that assess for retinal toxicity are included as an additional endpoint. Although the influence of gender on human retinal function has been documented for more than 6 decades, preclinically it is still uncertain if there are differences in retinal function between naïve male and female Wistar Han rats. Methods: In this study, sex-related differences in the retinal function were quantified by analyzing electroretinography (ERG) in 7-9-week-old (n = 52 males and 51 females) and 21-23-week-old Wistar Han rats (n = 48 males and 51 females). Optokinetic tracking response, brainstem auditory evoked potential, ultrasonic vocalization and histology were tested and evaluated in a subset of animals to investigate the potential compensation mechanisms of spontaneous blindness. Results/Discussion: Absence of scotopic and photopic ERG responses was found in 13% of 7-9-week-old (7/52) and 19% of 21-23-week-old males (9/48), but none of female rats (0/51). The averaged amplitudes of rod- and cone-mediated ERG b-wave responses obtained from males were significantly smaller than the amplitudes of the same responses from age-matched females (-43% and -26%, respectively) at 7-9 weeks of age. There was no difference in the retinal and brain morphology, brainstem auditory responses, or ultrasonic vocalizations between the animals with normal and abnormal ERGs at 21-23 weeks of age. In summary, male Wistar Han rats had altered retinal responses, including a complete lack of responses to test flash stimuli (i.e., blindness), when compared with female rats at 7-9 and 21-23 weeks of age. Therefore, sex differences should be considered when using Wistar Han rats in toxicity and safety pharmacology studies with regards to data interpretation of retinal functional assessments.

Non-Human Primate Husbandry and Impact on Non-Human Primates Health: Outcomes From an IQ DruSafe/3RS Industrial Benchmark Survey.

The presence of health issues (diarrhea, poor body condition) in non-human primates can impact animal welfare, confound toxicity study data, and lead to animal exclusion from studies. A working group cosponsored by DruSafe and 3Rs Translational and Predictive Sciences Leadership Groups of the IQ Consortium conducted a survey to benchmark quarantine, pre-study screening, husbandry, and veterinary care practices and their impact on NHP health. Nineteen companies participated in the survey providing separate responses for studies conducted in-house and at Contract Research Organizations from 3 regions (North America (NA), Europe and Asia) for an aggregate of 33 responses. A majority of responding companies conducted studies at North America CROs (39%) or in-house (36%) using primarily Chinese (33%) or Cambodian (27%) and to a lesser extent Vietnam (18%) or Mauritian (15%) origin NHPs. Forty-Five percent of responses had pre-study health issues (fecal abnormalities, etc.) on ≥ 1 studies with the highest incidence observed in Vietnam origin NHPs (80%). The survey suggested variable pre-screening and quarantine practices across facilities. Husbandry practices including behavioral assessments, environmental enrichment and consistent diets were associated with a lower incidence of health issues. The survey also benchmarked approaches used to diagnose and manage abnormal feces in NHPs and has provided strategies to minimize impact on NHP health. The survey highlighted opportunities for harmonizing screening criteria across industry and for improving tracking and sharing of health screening results, leading to further refinement of NHP veterinary care practices, higher quality studies, and reduced NHP use.

Biology and postnatal development of organ systems of cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis).

BACKGROUND: The cynomolgus macaque has become the most used non-human primate species in nonclinical safety assessment during the past decades. METHODS: This review summarizes the biological data and organ system development milestones of the cynomolgus macaque available in the literature. RESULTS: The cynomolgus macaque is born precocious relative to humans in some organ systems (e.g., nervous, skeletal, respiratory, and gastrointestinal). Organ systems develop, refine, and expand at different rates after birth. In general, the respiratory, gastrointestinal, renal, and hematopoietic systems mature at approximately 3 years of age. The female reproductive, cardiovascular and hepatobiliary systems mature at approximately 4 years of age. The central nervous, skeletal, immune, male reproductive, and endocrine systems complete their development at approximately 5 to 9 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: The cynomolgus macaque has no meaningful developmental differences in critical organ systems between 2 and 3 years of age for use in nonclinical safety assessment.

Method of measuring effects of study procedures in single and pair housed New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Social housing of laboratory rabbits is encouraged and thought to improve animal welfare due to the social nature of this species. However, there is limited published information comparing the physiologic and cardiovascular (CV) effects of paired and single housed adult female rabbits in commonly used laboratory caging. This study describes measurement of heart rate, systolic blood pressure, activity level, body temperature and pairing methods in four female New Zealand White rabbits that were previously implanted with M10 cardiovascular telemetry devices. Data was collected in single housed rabbits having no history of social housing while they were undisturbed in the home cage, during restraint, intramuscular injections and intravenous blood collection. The same animals were then placed in compatible pairs and housed in conventional Allentown caging. As expected, we found increased activity in paired rabbits but no significant differences in body temperatures, and CV parameters in single and paired rabbits undergoing the same procedures. These data suggest that paired rabbits can be used for safety pharmacology studies with minimal impact to data, while supporting improved animal welfare.

Increasing the Reuse of Protein Non-Naïve Nonhuman Primates in Pharmaceutical Drug Discovery and Development: An Overview and Industry Position on the Challenges and Benefits.

The IQ Consortium NHP Reuse Working Group (WG) comprises members from 15 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. In 2020, the WG developed and distributed a detailed questionnaire on protein non-naïve NHP reuse to the WG member companies. The WG received responses from key stakeholders including principal investigators, facility managers, animal welfare officers and research scientists. This paper's content reflects the consolidated opinion of the WG members and the questionnaire responses on the subject of NHP reuse within nonclinical programs at all stages of research and development. Many of the pharmaceutical companies represented in the working group or participating in the questionnaire have already achieved some level of NHP reuse in their nonclinical programs, but the survey results suggested that there is significant potential to increase NHP reuse further and a need to understand the considerations involved in reuse more clearly. The WG has also focused carefully on the inherent concerns and risks of implementing protein non-naive NHP reuse and has evaluated the best methods of risk assessment and decision-making. This paper presents a discussion on the challenges and opportunities surrounding protein non-naïve NHP reuse and aims to stimulate further industry dialogue on the subject and provide guidance for pharmaceutical companies to establish roadmaps and decision trees enabling increased protein non-naïve NHP reuse. In addition, this paper represents a solid basis for collaborative engagement between pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies with contract research organizations (CROs) to discuss how the availability of protein non-naïve NHP within CROs can be better leveraged for their use within nonclinical studies.

Age- and sex-related changes in body weights and clinical pathology analytes in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca Fascicularis) of Mauritius origin.

BACKGROUND: Clinical pathology and body weight information for the cynomolgus monkey in the literature is primarily derived from a small number of animals with limited age ranges, varying geographic origins, and mixed genders. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to summarize the age- and sex-related changes in clinical pathology analytes and body weights in cynomolgus monkeys of Mauritian origin. METHODS: Pre-study age and body weight data were reviewed in 1819 animals, and pre-study hematologic, coagulation, and serum biochemical analytes were reviewed in 1664 animals. RESULTS: Body weights were statistically higher (P < 0.01) in males than females in all age groups (2-10 years). These measurements became prominent after 4 years of age and peaked at 7 to 8 years of age in both sexes. Sex-related differences were noted in reticulocyte (RETIC) counts, creatinine, cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities. Age-related differences were noted in RETIC and lymphocyte counts, creatinine, triglyceride, phosphorus, and globulin concentrations, and ALP and GGT activities. The youngest (2 to <3 year) age group had the fewest number of clinical pathologic analyte differences including ALP and GGT activity differences which occurred in all age groups from 2 to 10 years; they also had age-related lower globulin concentrations. There were no age- or sex-related differences in coagulation measurands. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual dimorphism in body weight was apparent for all ages from 2 to 10 years of age. The only difference in clinical pathology analytes unique to the 2 to <3 years of age group were age-related lower globulin levels.

Grupo de apoio psicológico aos trabalhadores em situação de desemprego / Support group for unemployed workers / Grupo de apoyo psicológico a trabajadores desempleados

Resumo A legislação do trabalho em vigência no Brasil intensificou formas mais flexíveis de contratação de força de trabalho e métodos de produção mais ajustáveis ao mercado, o que contribui para o aumento do desemprego no país. As mudanças afetaram diretamente a saúde mental dos trabalhadores, que passaram a se submeter a pressões e formas mais rígidas de contratação. Diante do cenário atual, este artigo objetiva analisar uma experiência de um grupo de apoio psicológico com trabalhadores em situação de desemprego, desenvolvido em uma clínica-escola de Psicologia da região Norte do Brasil. Foram realizados sete encontros, com média de duração de 90 minutos cada, o aceite foi estabelecido por meio do Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido. Os participantes tinham idades entre 37 e 51 anos, sendo dois homens e três mulheres; o tempo mínimo de desemprego foi de oito meses e o máximo de dois anos. Verificou-se que estes valorizavam o trabalho formal em detrimento do informal, pois o primeiro representava maior reconhecimento social, segurança e estabilidade profissional. A situação de desemprego gerou sentimentos de perda, humilhação e exclusão social que repercutiram no estado de humor, no aumento da ansiedade e do estresse. Conclui-se que a Psicologia pode oferecer suporte baseado em uma escuta acolhedora e compreensiva dos fenômenos ligados ao mundo do trabalho e/ou nas repercussões ligadas à subjetividade dos trabalhadores em situação de desemprego.(AU)

Abstract The labor legislation in force in Brazil has improved flexible forms of employment recruitment and labor-intensive production techniques, which contributes to the increase in the country unemployment rates. With the pressure and more rigid forms of hiring, these changes directly affected the mental health of workers. Considering that, this article aims to analyze the experience of a support group for unemployed workers developed in a school psychology clinic in Northern Brazil. The intervention consisted of seven meetings with an average duration of 90 minutes each, and the group was formed by two men and three women aged from 37 to 51 years, with minimum unemployment time of eight months and maximum of two years; all individuals agreed to participate by signing the Informed Consent Term. The participants reported preferring formal work over the informal one, for it represents greater social recognition, security, and professional stability. Unemployment evoked feelings of loss, humiliation, and social exclusion, besides impacting humor and heightening anxiety and stress. The results indicate that psychology can offer support based on a welcoming and comprehensive listening of phenomena related to the world of work and/or consequences of unemployment on workers' subjectivity.(AU)

Resumen La nueva legislación laboral en Brasil intensificó formas más flexibles de contratación de fuerza laboral y métodos de producción más ajustables al mercado de trabajo, lo que contribuye al aumento del desempleo en el país. Los cambios afectaron directamente la salud mental de los trabajadores que pasaron a someterse a presiones y formas más rígidas de contratación. Ante el escenario actual, este artículo tiene como objetivo analizar la experiencia de un grupo de apoyo psicológico a trabajadores en situación de desempleo, desarrollado en una clínica-escuela de psicología de la región Norte de Brasil. Se realizaron siete reuniones, con media de duración de 90 minutos cada una, y se obtuvo el consentimiento por medio de la firma del documento de consentimiento informado. Los participantes tenían edades entre 37 y 51 años, siendo dos hombres y tres mujeres; el tiempo mínimo de desempleo fue de ocho meses y el máximo de dos años. Se observó que los participantes valoraban el trabajo formal en relación a lo informal, pues aquel les garantía un mayor reconocimiento social, seguridad y estabilidad profesional. La situación de desempleo les generó sentimientos de pérdida, humillación y exclusión social, que repercutieron en el estado de humor, en el aumento de la ansiedad y el estrés. Se concluye que la psicología puede brindar soporte por medio de una escucha acogedora y comprensiva de los fenómenos relacionados al mundo laboral y/o a las repercusiones asociadas a la subjetividad de los trabajadores en situación de desempleo.(AU)

Fernando Pessoa: precursor das inteligências múltiplas / Fernando Pessoa: precursor das inteligencias múltiples / Fernando Pessoa: precursor of multiple intelligences

Este artigo trata das relações passíveis de serem estabelecidas entre a teoria da inteligência e a prosa de Fernando Pessoa. Para tanto, aborda como argumentação e inteligência se relacionam cientificamente e são trabalhadas pelo autor na elaboração de sua obra em prosa. Destaca características peculiares da atividade em prosa em tempos da Geração de Orpheu que fundamentam a apresentação das formas de inteligência no autor, a saber, Inteligência Filosófica, Inteligência Científica e Inteligência Crítica. Na sequência, objetiva discorrer sobre a possibilidade de Pessoa ser um precursor das inteligências múltiplas

This article deals with the relations that can be established between the theory of intelligence and the prose of Fernando Pessoa. To this end, it discusses how argumentation and intelligence are scientifically related and are worked on by the author in the elaboration of his prose work. Addresses peculiar characteristics of prose activity at the time of the Generation of Orpheu, proceeding to the presentation of forms of intelligence, namely, philosophical intelligence, scientific intelligence and critical intelligence. In the sequence, objective deals about the possibility of Pessoa being a precursor of multiple intelligences.

Este artículo trata sobre las relaciones que pueden establecerse entre la teoría de la inteligencia y la prosa de Fernando Pessoa. Com este fin, analiza cómo la argumentación y la inteligencia están cientificamente relacionadas y el autor las trabaja en la elaboración de su trabajo em prosa. Aborda las formas de inteligencia, a saber, inteligencia filosófica, inteligencia científica e inteligencia crítica cómo características peculiares de la actividad en prosa en el momento de lá generación de Orpheu. En la secuencia, trata la possibilidad de Pessoa sea un precursor de inteligencias múltiples.

Efeito Kuleshov: a influência do contexto emocional no processamento de faces / Kuleshov Effect: the influence of emotional context on face processing / Efecto Kuleshov: la influencia del contexto emocional en el procesamiento facial

Em 1920, Lev Vladimirovitch Kuleshov relatou que o contexto emocional quando justaposto à face neutra poderia afetar a percepção da face, tornando-a emocional. Na área do cinema este fenômeno foi denominado de efeito Kuleshov. A existência do efeito tem sido cientificamente questionada, e desde então, neurocientistas tentam validar o efeito Kuleshov. Neste artigo iremos sumarizar os diferentes modelos experimentais que têm sido utilizados na investigação do efeito Kuleshov e os resultados encontrados até o momento por meio do método científico; mais precisamente em pesquisas experimentais e da neurociência. Os resultados desses estudos mostram indícios do efeito Kuleshov a nível comportamental e de processamento neuronal, entretanto, nenhum estudo conseguiu comprová-lo.

In 1920, Lev Vladimirovitch Kuleshov reported that the emotional context juxtaposed with the neutral face could affect the face perception making it reported as emotional. In the cinema area, this phenomenon was denominate of Kuleshov effect. The existence of the effect is scientifically questionable, and neuroscientists are engaged in validating the Kuleshov effect. In this article we will summarize the different experimental models that have been used in the investigation of the Kuleshov effect and the results found so far through the scientific method; more precisely in experimental and neuroscience research.The results of these studies show some evidence, however, there is no complete proof of the Kuleshov effect.

En 1920, Lev Vladimirovitch Kuleshov demostró que el contexto emocional, cuando se yuxtaponía con un rostro neutro, afectaba la percepción del rostro, haciéndolo emocional. En el área del cine, este fenómeno se denominaba efecto Kuleshov. La existencia del efecto es científicamente cuestionable, y los neurocientíficos se dedican a validar el efecto Kuleshov. En este artículo resumiremos los diferentes modelos experimentales que se han utilizado en la investigación del efecto Kuleshov y los resultados encontrados hasta ahora a través del método científico; más precisamente en investigación experimental y neurociencia. Los resultados de estos estudios mostran alguna evidencia, sin embargo, no hay una prueba completa del efecto Kuleshov.

Psicologia da Literatura e Psicologia na Literatura / Psicología de la Literatura y Literatura en Psicología / Psychology of Literature and Literature in Psychology

Resumo Este trabalho efetua a leitura da relação temática que se estabelece entre Psicologia e Literatura em duas perspectivas: através das considerações estabelecidas nos Estudos Literários por René Wellek e Austin Warren (Psicologia da Literatura) e nos Estudos Psicológicos por Dante Moreira Leite (Psicologia na Literatura). Na primeira, ocupa-se do estudo psicológico do escritor como tipo ou indivíduo e dos tipos e das leis presentes em obras literárias; na segunda, da Psicologia como perspectiva para a recepção da Literatura, do processo criador, da análise psicológica do texto e das relações do leitor com seu público. O artigo apresenta os resultados parciais obtidos com o desenvolvimento da pesquisa bibliográfica necessária ao curso denominado Psicologia da Literatura e Psicologia na Literatura, ministrado na 43ª Reunião Anual da Sociedade Brasileira de Psicologia, em Aracaju (Sergipe), em 2013. Apresenta, também, a esquematização detalhada do processo de leitura observada no processo de recepção textual e na interação organismo-ambiente.

Resumen En este trabajo se realiza la lectura de la relación temática que se establece entre la psicología y la literatura en dos perspectivas: através de las consideraciones expuestas en Estudios Literarios de René Wellek y Austin Warren (Psicología de la Literatura) y Estudios Psicológicos de Dante Moreira Leite (Psicología de Literatura). La primera se ocupa del estudio psicológico del escritor como un individuo y el tipo o los tipos y las leyes actuales sobre las obras literarias, en el segundo, la psicología como una perspectiva para la enseñanza de la literatura, el proceso creativo, el análisis psicológico de texto y relaciones del lector con su público. O artículo presenta los resultados parciales obtenidos en el desarrollo de la literatura necesaria para el curso llamada la Psicología de la Literatura y Psicología en literatura, ha enseñado en la 43ª Reunión anual de la Sociedad de Psicólogos en Aracaju (Sergipe), en 2013. Se presenta, también, la esquematización detallada del proceso de lectura observada en el proceso de recepción textual y en la interacción organismo-ambiente.

Abstract This paper performs the reading the thematic relationship established between Psychology and Literature in two perspectives: through the considerations set out in Literary Studies by René Wellek and Austin Warren (Psychology of Literature) and Psychological Studies by Dante Moreira Leite (Psychology in Literature). The first one deals with the psychological study of the writer as an individual and the type or types and laws present in literary works, in the second, psychology as a perspective for the teaching of literature, the creative process, the psychological analysis of text and reader relationships with your audience. O article presents the partial results obtained from the development of literature necessary to the course called the Psychology of Literature and Psychology in Literature, taught at the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Society of Psychologists in Aracaju (Sergipe), in 2013. It also presents the detailed schematization of the reading process observed in the textual reception process and in the organism-environment interaction.

Spontaneous Ectopic Choroid Plexus with Sclerosis in Adult Beagle Dogs.

Microscopic examination of the brain of adult Beagle dogs from four different general toxicity studies revealed the presence of ectopic choroid plexus tissue in six individual dogs (4 females and 2 males) with ages ranging from 12 to 18 months. In each dog, this finding was characterized by a well-circumscribed mass localized to a region above and along the corpus callosum without any apparent compression of adjacent brain tissue. Each mass was composed of columnar ependymal cells forming tubular structures surrounded by variable amounts of fibrovascular connective tissue and had the appearance of small rests of ependymal cells that had been penetrated by the leptomeninges during neural development. There were no associated clinical signs or macroscopic correlates. Based on morphologic appearance, a diagnosis of spontaneous ectopic choroid plexus with secondary sclerosis was made. To the authors' knowledge, ectopic choroid plexus has not been reported in Beagle dogs and is rare in humans and horses.

Immunogenicity and performance of an enterovirus 71 virus-like-particle vaccine in nonhuman primates.

A vaccine against human enterovirus 71 (EV-A71) is urgently needed to combat outbreaks of EV-A71 and in particular, the serious neurological complications that manifest during these outbreaks. In this study, an EV-A71 virus-like-particle (VLP) based on a B5 subgenogroup (EV-A71-B5 VLP) was generated using an insect cell/baculovirus platform. Biochemical analysis demonstrated that the purified VLP had a highly native procapsid structure and initial studies in vivo demonstrated that the VLPs were immunogenic in mice. The impact of VLP immunization on infection was examined in non-human primates using a VLP prime-boost strategy prior to EV-A71 challenge. Rhesus macaques were immunized on day 0 and day 21 with VLPs (100 µg/dose) containing adjuvant or with adjuvant alone (controls), and were challenged with EV-A71 on day 42. Complete blood counts, serum chemistry, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and histopathology results were mostly normal in vaccinated and control animals after virus challenge demonstrating that the fatal EV-A71-B3 clinical isolate used in this study was not highly virulent in rhesus macaques. Viral genome and/or infectious virus were detected in blood, spleen or brain of two of three control animals, but not in any specimens from the vaccinated animals, indicating that VLP immunization prevented systemic spread of EV-A71 in rhesus macaques. High levels of IgM and IgG were detected in VLP-vaccinated animals and these responses were highly specific for EV-A71 particles and capsid proteins. Serum from vaccinated animals also exhibited similar neutralizing activity against different subgenogroups of EV-A71 demonstrating that the VLPs induced cross-neutralizing antibodies. In conclusion, our EV-A71-B5 VLP is safe, highly immunogenic, and prevents systemic EV-A71-B3 infection in nonhuman primates making it a viable attractive vaccine candidate for EV-A71.

Streptococcus agalactiae in Brazil: serotype distribution, virulence determinants and antimicrobial susceptibility.

BACKGROUND: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) remains a major cause of neonatal sepsis and is also associated with invasive and noninvasive infections in pregnant women and non-pregnant adults, elderly and patients with underlying medical conditions. Ten capsular serotypes have been recognized, and determination of their distribution within a specific population or geographical region is important as they are major targets for the development of vaccine strategies. We have evaluated the characteristics of GBS isolates recovered from individuals with infections or colonization by this microorganism, living in different geographic regions of Brazil. METHODS: A total of 434 isolates were identified and serotyped by conventional phenotypic tests. The determination of antimicrobial susceptibility was performed by the disk diffusion method. Genes associated with resistance to erythromycin (ermA, ermB, mefA) and tetracycline (tetK, tetL, tetM, tetO) as well as virulence-associated genes (bac, bca, lmb, scpB) were investigated using PCR. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to examine the genetic diversity of macrolide-resistant and of a number of selected macrolide-susceptible isolates. RESULTS: Overall, serotypes Ia (27.6%), II (19.1%), Ib (18.7%) and V (13.6%) were the most predominant, followed by serotypes IV (8.1%) and III (6.7%). All the isolates were susceptible to the beta-lactam antimicrobials tested and 97% were resistant to tetracycline. Resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin were found in 4.1% and 3% of the isolates, respectively. Among the resistance genes investigated, tetM (99.3%) and tetO (1.8%) were detected among tetracycline-resistant isolates and ermA (39%) and ermB (27.6%) were found among macrolide-resistant isolates. The lmb and scpB virulence genes were detected in all isolates, while bac and bca were detected in 57 (13.1%) and 237 (54.6%) isolates, respectively. Molecular typing by PFGE showed that resistance to erythromycin was associated with a variety of clones. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that GBS isolates circulating in Brazil have a variety of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, and suggest that macrolide-resistant isolates may arise by both clonal spread and independent acquisition of resistance genes.

Inteligência humana e suas implicações / Human intelligence and its implications

Qual a relação entre competência cognitiva individual e/ou de uma população, em âmbito nacional, com diferentes indicadores da qualidade de vida individual ou coletiva? Revisando diferentes estudos que pontuam, contemporaneamente, o papel relevante que inteligência individual ou coletiva tem desempenhado, nossa análise demonstra que os QI(s), individual e/ou nacional estão significativamente associados a uma grande variedade de atributos sociais, econômicos, educacionais, políticos, geográficos, epidemiológicos, tecnológicos e de saúde. Em outras palavras, QI é positivamente correlacionado com um vasto, e variável, conjunto de relevantes indicadores para nossa qualidade de vida.(AU)

What is the relation between the individual or national cognitive competence with different indicators of quality of life for an individual or for a nation? We reviewed several studies which provide that individual, our national, intelligence, has had, actually, um very important role in the modern society. Our analysis indicated that the IQ(s), individual or national, are associated with a large range of social, economic, educational, political, demographic, epidemiological, technological, and health indicators, both for individuals and for nations. In other words, IQ(s) are positively correlated with a wide range and important indicators of our quality of life.(AU)

Specific pathogen-free status alters immunophenotype in rhesus macaques: implications for the study of simian immunodeficiency virus.

The repertoire of viruses to which research primates are exposed, even in the absence of clinical disease, may contribute to experimental confounding. In this study we examined whether standard specific pathogen-free (SPF) rhesus macaques exposed to a wider spectrum of enzootic viruses and expanded SPF macaques derived to exclude a greater number of viral agents would display alterations in immune activation or immune cell populations. Given the impact of immunophenotype on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) progression and the importance of the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) model for the study of HIV pathogenesis, we elected to additionally examine the impact of SPF status on the capacity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to support SIV replication. The expanded SPF group displayed significant immune alterations including increased serum interleukin (IL)-15 and a greater in vitro elaboration of GM-CSF, IL1ra, VEGF, IL-10, IL12/23, and MIP-1b. Consistent with reduced viral antigenic exposure in expanded SPF macaques, decreased CD4(+) and CD8(+) transitional and effector memory (T(EM)) cell populations were observed. Expanded SPF PBMC cultures also demonstrated an increased peak (192.61 ng/ml p27) and area under the curve in in vitro SIV production (1968.64 ng/ml p27) when compared to standard SPF macaques (99.32 ng/ml p27; p=0.03 and 915.17 ng/ml p27; p=0.03, respectively). In vitro SIV replication did not correlate with CD4(+) T(EM) cell counts but was highly correlated with serum IL-15 in the subset of animals examined. Findings suggest that an altered immunophenotype associated with the maintenance of primates under differing levels of bioexclusion has the potential to impact the outcome of SIV studies and models for which the measurement of immunologic endpoints is critical.

Prevalence of anemia in under five-year-old children in a children's hospital in Recife, Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Anemia is a nutritional problem of global importance. It is estimated that at least one-third of the population has been at one time anemic. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of anemia and associated factors in patients of a children's hospital in Recife. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was developed involving 595 male and female children aged from 6 to 59 months old, who were hospitalized in 2007. RESULTS: Children with a hemoglobin concentration less than 11 g/dL were considered anemic. The relationship between studied variables and anemia was evaluated by Poisson regression analysis. There was a 56.6% prevalence of anemia (95% CI: 46.6-54.6). Anemia was significantly correlated with low weight (Prevalence ratio - PR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.18-1.64), young age (PR = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.57-2.56) and a diagnosis of acute lower respiratory disease (PR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.27-1.96). CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of anemia suggests that it may contribute as a causal factor for hospitalization, especially because the period of hospitalization was short and the patient was likely to be anemic at the time of admission. This study stresses the importance of evaluating the overall nutritional status of patients, including their ingestion of microelements. This is especially important in children, because of their greater susceptibility to anemia. Measures directed at the prevention and control of anemia, including increased coverage of supplementation and fortification programs are strongly recommended.

Prevalence of anemia in under five-year-old children in a children's hospital in Recife, Brazil

INTRODUCTION: Anemia is a nutritional problem of global importance. It is estimated that at least one-third of the population has been at one time anemic. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of anemia and associated factors in patients of a children's hospital in Recife. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was developed involving 595 male and female children aged from 6 to 59 months old, who were hospitalized in 2007. RESULTS: Children with a hemoglobin concentration less than 11 g/dL were considered anemic. The relationship between studied variables and anemia was evaluated by Poisson regression analysis. There was a 56.6 percent prevalence of anemia (95 percent CI: 46.6-54.6). Anemia was significantly correlated with low weight (Prevalence ratio - PR = 1.39; 95 percent CI: 1.18-1.64), young age (PR = 2.01; 95 percent CI: 1.57-2.56) and a diagnosis of acute lower respiratory disease (PR = 1.57; 95 percent CI: 1.27-1.96). CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of anemia suggests that it may contribute as a causal factor for hospitalization, especially because the period of hospitalization was short and the patient was likely to be anemic at the time of admission. This study stresses the importance of evaluating the overall nutritional status of patients, including their ingestion of microelements. This is especially important in children, because of their greater susceptibility to anemia. Measures directed at the prevention and control of anemia, including increased coverage of supplementation and fortification programs are strongly recommended.

Educação sanitária em 16mm: memória audiovisual do Serviço Especial de Saúde Pública - SESP / Health education in 16mm: audiovisual memory of the Special Office of Public Health - SESP / Educación sanitaria en 16mm: memoria audiovisual del Servicio Especial de Salud Pública (SESP)

Testemunho da história, peça da memória social, fonte valiosa para produção de conhecimento em várias áreas, o filme educativo em saúde ainda espera por seu resgate e promoção como objeto de pesquisa. No âmbito da colaboração Brasil-Estados Unidos da América, que redundou na criação do Serviço Especial de Saúde Pública - SESP, em 1942, a Fundação Rockefeller trouxe para o país sua experiência prévia na produção e uso desses filmes para ações de educação em saúde. Este projeto destinou-se à recuperação de um conjunto de filmes em 16mm pertencente ao acervo SESP que, por décadas, jazeu e avinagrou perdido nos cantos escuros da burocracia nacional. Seus objetivos foram a recuperação física das películas, sua descrição e organização temática para alimentação de um repositório institucional de memória digital, com vistas à posterior disponibilização e à socialização para pesquisadores e a sociedade em geral por meio de um espaço virtual na internet.

Health education movies are witnesses to history, pieces of social memory and valuable sources for producing knowledge in different fields. They still await rescue and promotion as a research subject. Within the scope of Brazil-USA cooperation that originated the Special Public Health Service (SESP) in 1942, the Rockefeller Foundation brought to Brazil its previous experience in producing and using these movies for health education actions. The present project had the aim of recovering a set of 16 mm films from the SESP collection that, over decades, had become buried, rotting away and lost in dark corners of the national bureaucracy. The objectives were to physically restore the films and to describe and thematically organize them, in order to put them into an institutional digital memory repository, with a view to subsequently making them available and socializing them, among researchers and society in general, through a virtual space on the internet.

Testimonio de la historia, pieza de la memoria social, fuente valiosa para producción de conocimiento en varias áreas, el filme educativo en salud todavía espera su rescate y promoción como objeto de investigación. En el àmbito de la colaboración Brasil-Estados Unidos de América, que redundó en cración del Servicio Especial de Salud Pública (SESP) en 1942, la Fundación Rockefeller llevó al país su experiencia previa en producción y uso de esos filmes para acciones de educación en salud. Este proyecto se destinó a la recuperación de un conjunto de filmes en 16 mm perteneciente al acervo SESP que, durante décadas, yació y se avinagró, perdido en los rincones oscuros de la burocracia nacional. Sus objetivos fueran la recuperación física de las películas, su descripción y organización temática para alimentación de un repositorio institucional de memoria digital con vistas a posterior disponibilidad y a la socialización con investigadores y la sociedad en general por medio de un espacio virtual en la internet.