Factors associated with the time taken for diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in Brazil. An online population-based inquiry. / Factores asociados al tiempo necesario para el diagnóstico de esclerosis lateral amiotrófica (ELA) en Brasil. Una encuesta poblacional en línea.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated factors associated with the time, in months, between the onset of symptoms and the diagnosis (time taken for diagnosis) of ALS for patients in Brazil, in the year 2014. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An electronic questionnaire composed of 38 questions was developed and applied through internet-based social networks of patients. From the 210 replies, 194 were considered (86 from women, 108 from men). Most respondents were 51 to 60 years old. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the time taken for diagnosis between the strata of the sample. RESULTS: The mean time taken for diagnosis was 14.21 (±16.87) months. There was a statistically significant difference only for higher education conditions (p = 0.009) and low education status (p = 0.042). There was no statistically significant difference between sexes, bulbar onset, age groups, and the presence of spouse, or 'partnership with ALS patients associations or exchange of experiences'. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the time taken for diagnosis of ALS is influenced by socioeconomic conditions that promote access to information and/or health services.

TITLE: Factores asociados al tiempo necesario para el diagnóstico de esclerosis lateral amiotrófica (ELA) en Brasil. Una encuesta poblacional en línea.Objetivo. Este estudio evaluó los factores asociados con el tiempo, en meses, entre el inicio de los síntomas y el diagnóstico (tiempo necesario para el diagnóstico) de esclerosis lateral amiotrófica (ELA) de los pacientes en Brasil en 2014. Pacientes y métodos. Se elaboró un cuestionario electrónico compuesto por 38 preguntas y se aplicó a través de redes sociales de pacientes basadas en Internet. De las 210 respuestas, se consideraron 194 (86 de mujeres y 108 de hombres). La mayoría de los encuestados tenía entre 51 y 60 años. Se utilizó la prueba de Mann-Whitney para comparar el tiempo transcurrido hasta el diagnóstico entre los estratos de la muestra. Resultados. El tiempo medio transcurrido hasta el diagnóstico fue de 14,21 (±16,87) meses. Hubo una diferencia estadísticamente significativa sólo para las condiciones de educación superior (p = 0,009) y bajo nivel educativo (p = 0,042). No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre sexos, inicio bulbar, grupos de edad y presencia de cónyuge, o colaboración con asociaciones de pacientes con ELA o intercambio de experiencias. Conclusión. Estos datos sugieren que el tiempo que se tarda en diagnosticar la ELA está influido por las condiciones socioeconómicas que favorecen el acceso a la información y/o a los servicios sanitarios.

Correlating denitrifying catabolic genes with N2O and N2 emissions from swine slurry composting.

This work evaluated N dynamics that occurs over time within swine slurry composting piles. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) analyzes were conducted to estimate concentrations of bacteria community harboring specific catabolic nitrifying-ammonium monooxygenase (amoA), and denitrifying nitrate- (narG), nitrite- (nirS and nirG), nitric oxide- (norB) and nitrous oxide reductases (nosZ) genes. NH3-N, N2O-N, N2-N emissions represented 15.4 ± 1.9%, 5.4 ± 0.9%, and 79.1 ± 2.0% of the total nitrogen losses, respectively. Among the genes tested, temporal distribution of narG, nirS, and nosZ concentration correlated significantly (p<0.05) with the estimated N2 emissions. Denitrifying catabolic gene ratio (cnorB+qnorB)/nosZ ≥ 100 was indicative of N2O emission potential from the compost pile. Considering our current empirical limitations to accurately measure N2 emissions from swine slurry composting at field scale the use of these catabolic genes could represent a promising monitoring tool to aid minimize our uncertainties on biological N mass balances in these systems.

Gene expression and molecular modeling of the HSP104 chaperone of Trypanosoma cruzi.

Heat shock protein (HSP) 104 is a highly conserved molecular chaperone that catalyzes protein unfolding, disaggregation and degradation under stress conditions. We characterized HSP104 gene structure and expression in Trypanosoma cruzi, a protozoan parasite that causes Chagas' disease. The T. cruzi HSP104 is an 869 amino-acid protein encoded by a single-copy gene that has the highest sequence similarity (76%) with that of T. brucei and the lowest (23%) with that of the human protein. HSP104 transcripts were detected at room temperature, and levels increased after incubation at 37° or 40°C. The HSP104 protein was found at low levels in non-heat-shocked cells, and accumulated continuously up to 24 h at elevated temperatures. We developed a predicted structural model of hexameric T. cruzi HSP104, which showed some conserved features.

Image analysis of modified cellulose fibers from sugarcane bagasse by zirconium oxychloride.

Surface modification of natural fibers has been made using different methods. In this paper, cellulose fibers from sugarcane bagasse were bleached and modified by zirconium oxychloride in situ. The chemically modified cellulose fibers were compared to those of bleached ones. Cellulose fibers were modified with ZrO(2).nH(2)O nanoparticles through the use of zirconium oxychloride in acidic medium in the presence of cellulose fibers using urea as the precipitating agent. The spatial distribution characterization of hydrous zirconium oxide on cellulose fibers was carried out by combining both processing and image analyses obtained by SEM and statistical methodologies. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TG) were also used to characterize the nanocomposite. Results indicated that ZrO(2).nH(2)O nanoparticles of about 30-80nm diameter deposited on cellulose fibers were heterogeneously dispersed.

Tissue-specific deiodinase regulation during food restriction and low replacement dose of leptin in rats.

The relationship between thyroid function and leptin has been extensively studied; however, the mechanisms underlying the changes in thyroid hormone economy that occur during caloric deprivation remain elusive. Our goal was to evaluate the thyroid function of rats submitted to 40% food restriction after chronic leptin replacement. Caloric restriction for 25 days led to significantly reduced serum leptin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T(4)), and triiodothyronine (T(3)) and increased serum corticosterone, while liver, kidney, and thyroid type I deiodinase (D1) and brown adipose tissue (BAT) type II deiodinase (D2) activities were decreased and hypothalamic D2 was significantly increased. Interestingly, thyroid iodide uptake was unchanged by caloric restriction, but thyroperoxidase (TPO) activity was significantly reduced. Leptin replacement for the last 10 days of caloric restriction normalized serum leptin and TSH levels, but serum T(4) and T(3) levels and thyroid D1 and TPO activities were not reestablished. Also, a negative effect of leptin administration on Na(+)-I(-) symporter function was detected. Liver and kidney D1 and hypothalamic and BAT D2 were normalized by leptin, while pituitary D2 was significantly decreased. In conclusion, a tissue-specific modulation of deiodinases might be implicated in the normalization of thyroid function during leptin replacement in food-restricted rats. Although leptin restores the hypothalamus-pituitary axis during food restriction, it exerts a direct negative effect on the thyroid gland; thus normalization of serum thyroid hormones might depend on changes in deiodinase activities and the long-term thyroid stimulation by TSH to counterbalance the direct negative effects of leptin on the thyroid gland.

Autoimmune thrombocytopenia related to chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Since the identification of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in 1989 as a causative agent for a number of the extrahepatic alterations related to HCV infection an underlying immune mediated pathogenetic mechanism has been postulated. HCV-associated thrombocytopenia may be considered complex and multifactorial in origin, since different mechanisms have been implicated in its pathophysiology. With respect to autoimmune thrombocytopenia in chronic HCV infection, the detection of specific antibodies against platelet glycoproteins have been reported only in a few studies, but no systematic study has been carried out. We examined the clinical, laboratory, and virological characteristics of a case series of 10 patients with autoimmune thrombocytopenia (platelet count <150.0 x 10(9)/L) related to chronic HCV infection. Cases, six males and four females, aged 57.1 +/- 12.6 years, presented high titers of antibodies against platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa, GP Ia/IIa, and/or GP Ib/IX, and no other mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of HCV-associated thrombocytopenia was identified. Furthermore, cases were not associated with particular HCV genotype. Complete platelet response was observed in two patients treated with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin, and partial platelet response was seen in two patients treated with anti-D Ig and one patient treated with corticosteroids. These findings indicate that an autoimmune mechanism may play a role in the pathogenesis of HCV-associated thrombocytopenia in a proportion of these patients.

Structural characterization of Botryosphaeran: a (1-->3;1-->6)-beta-D-glucan produced by the ascomyceteous fungus, Botryosphaeria sp.

The exopolysaccharide, Botryosphaeran, produced by the ligninolytic, ascomyceteous fungus Botryosphaeria sp., was isolated from the extracellular fluid by precipitation with ethanol, and purified by gel permeation chromatography to yield a carbohydrate-rich fraction (96%) composed mainly of glucose (98%). Infra-red and 13C NMR spectroscopy showed that all the glucosidic linkages were in the beta-configuration. Data from methylation analysis and Smith degradation indicated that Botryosphaeran was a (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan with approx 22% side branching at C-6. The products obtained from partial acid hydrolysis demonstrated that the side branches consisted of single (1-->6)-beta-linked glucosyl, and (1-->6)-beta-linked gentiobiosyl residues.

Salt stress response and proline accumulation in Brachiaria humidicola plants with and without mycorrhizal inoculation.

The work was carried out to investigate the effects of different concentrations of NaCl on Brachiaria humidicola Rendle in the presence and absence of Glomus etunicatum Becker and Gerdemann, as well as to evaluate some growth parameters and the accumulation of free proline in the plant leaves. The soil used was a Neosoil Fluvic Eutrophic with pH of 6.5, organic matter, 12.8 g kg-1 and soil texture, sandy loam, in which Brachiaria humidicola Rendle cv. 409 was grown. Five NaCl concentrations were tested 0; 0.22; 1.09; 1.96 and 2.84 g. kg-1 of soil, whose electrical conductivity (EC) were 2.22; 4.00; 8.13; 12.53 and 16.50 dS m-1, respectively. Brachiaria humidicola showed salt tolerance when submitted to an EC of 4 dS m-1. There was a reduction of leaf area, dry matter of shoots and roots for the soil treatments beyond EC at 8 dS m-1. Free proline content in the leaves increased together with the increase in soil salinity (EC at 8 dS m-1) demonstrating that plants submitted to EC of 2 and 4 dS m-1 were less affected by salt stress, and consequently accumulated less proline in the leaves. Root colonization was not affected by the increase of NaCl dosage in the soil.

[Characterization of Rhizobium isolates from acid and alkaline soils in semi-arid regions of Pernambuco]. / Caracterización de aislamientos de rizobios de suelos ácidos y alcalinos en la región semiárida de Pernambuco.

The genetic variety of the Rhizobium isolates from acid and alkaline soils in the semiarid zone of Pernambuco state was evaluated through the use of 17 primers of arbitrary sequence. Amplified products were separated by electrophoresis in agarose gel at 1.4% and visualized by ethidium bromide coloration. The results obtained suggest a high genetic variety of the isolates in relation to the standard strain. Data were analyzed by UPGMA (unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic average), based on Jaccard's coefficient and visualized through dendrograms. The strains isolated from the acid soils were included in one group whereas the strains from alkaline soils were located in other three groups. Meanwhile, one of the groups formed by strain Isol-14, isolated from acid soils is more related to the groups of strains isolated from acid soils than to the remaining groups from alkaline soils.

Caracterización de aislamientos de rizobios de suelos ácidos y alcalinos en la región semiárida de Pernambuco / [Characterization of Rhizobium isolates from acid and alkaline soils in semi-arid regions of Pernambuco]

The genetic variety of the Rhizobium isolates from acid and alkaline soils in the semiarid zone of Pernambuco state was evaluated through the use of 17 primers of arbitrary sequence. Amplified products were separated by electrophoresis in agarose gel at 1.4

and visualized by ethidium bromide coloration. The results obtained suggest a high genetic variety of the isolates in relation to the standard strain. Data were analyzed by UPGMA (unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic average), based on Jaccard’s coefficient and visualized through dendrograms. The strains isolated from the acid soils were included in one group whereas the strains from alkaline soils were located in other three groups. Meanwhile, one of the groups formed by strain Isol-14, isolated from acid soils is more related to the groups of strains isolated from acid soils than to the remaining groups from alkaline soils.

Salt stress response and proline accumulation in Brachiaria humidicola plants with and without mycorrhizal inoculation.

The work was carried out to investigate the effects of different concentrations of NaCl on Brachiaria humidicola Rendle in the presence and absence of Glomus etunicatum Becker and Gerdemann, as well as to evaluate some growth parameters and the accumulation of free proline in the plant leaves. The soil used was a Neosoil Fluvic Eutrophic with pH of 6.5, organic matter, 12.8 g kg-1 and soil texture, sandy loam, in which Brachiaria humidicola Rendle cv. 409 was grown. Five NaCl concentrations were tested 0; 0.22; 1.09; 1.96 and 2.84 g. kg-1 of soil, whose electrical conductivity (EC) were 2.22; 4.00; 8.13; 12.53 and 16.50 dS m-1, respectively. Brachiaria humidicola showed salt tolerance when submitted to an EC of 4 dS m-1. There was a reduction of leaf area, dry matter of shoots and roots for the soil treatments beyond EC at 8 dS m-1. Free proline content in the leaves increased together with the increase in soil salinity (EC at 8 dS m-1) demonstrating that plants submitted to EC of 2 and 4 dS m-1 were less affected by salt stress, and consequently accumulated less proline in the leaves. Root colonization was not affected by the increase of NaCl dosage in the soil.

Caracterización de aislamientos de rizobios de suelos ácidos y alcalinos en la región semiárida de Pernambuco. / [Characterization of Rhizobium isolates from acid and alkaline soils in semi-arid regions of Pernambuco]

The genetic variety of the Rhizobium isolates from acid and alkaline soils in the semiarid zone of Pernambuco state was evaluated through the use of 17 primers of arbitrary sequence. Amplified products were separated by electrophoresis in agarose gel at 1.4

and visualized by ethidium bromide coloration. The results obtained suggest a high genetic variety of the isolates in relation to the standard strain. Data were analyzed by UPGMA (unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic average), based on Jaccards coefficient and visualized through dendrograms. The strains isolated from the acid soils were included in one group whereas the strains from alkaline soils were located in other three groups. Meanwhile, one of the groups formed by strain Isol-14, isolated from acid soils is more related to the groups of strains isolated from acid soils than to the remaining groups from alkaline soils.

Using Shannon entropy on measuring the individual variability in the Rufous-bellied thrush Turdus rufiventris vocal communication.

We applied the information theory concepts to notes repertoire characteristics combined with temporal parameters of the Rufous-bellied thrush Turdus rufiventris song, using this particular case to test a new method of analysing quantitatively complex animal communication systems. Like most Turdus thrushes, Rufous-bellied thrushes are remarkable for their long, varied and melodious songs. For the analysis of the species repertoire, we used recordings of 44 individuals from 24 localities covering its full geographical range. We measured the repertoire size, note duration and rhythm (frequency of note utterance), and combined these parameters with the Shannon entropy values calculated for each individual. Although individuals maintain species-specific recognition capacity, we find a large variation between their song parameters and show that the information theory can be useful to analyse large and varied animal vocal repertoires. We are introducing two new parameters, temporal average entropy (E(t)) and utterance frequency average entropy (E(f)), for measuring such communication systems.

[Inservice education--training for the 4th year nursing students]. / Educaçao em serviço--treinamento para alunos do 4 degrees ano de enfermagem.

This work reports the trainee-nurses contact with recycling of a nursing team at a general hospital through an extension project. It has been observed that the participation in this project reinforced to the trainee-nurses the importance of the nurses educative role and have showed us the necessity of more frequent contacts between trainee-nurses and their educational role, so that, after graduation, they will be able to develop education in service, mainly next to their work-team with security.

[Comparison of the subjective global nutrition assessment x objective nutrition evaluation]. / Comparação da avaliação nutricional subjetiva global x avaliação nutricional objetiva.

OBJECTIVE: Nutritional Assessment methods (ONA) are traditionally employed in hospitalized patients (anthropometry, laboratorial exams and immunological tests). The Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) estimates weight loss and changes in dietetic intake as being allegedly efficient for protein-caloric malnutrition diagnosis of the hospitalized adult. PURPOSE: Compare the efficacy of SGA against the traditional ONA. METHODS: The prospective study was done with 100 hospitalized patients from 3/90-5/90 at the Hospital Beneficência Portuguesa de São Paulo. The Detsky et al. questionnaire was applied besides anthropometric measurements (body weight, triceps skinfold thickness-TSF, mirdam circumference MCA) and laboratorial examinations (serun albumin, hemoglobin, peripheral blood lymphocytes) all of them in the first 3 days of admission. SGA always preceded ONA, and was always done by the same observer. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction on the average values of anthropometric and laboratorial measurements with the progressive worsening of nutritional status assessed by SGA. There were significant associations (p < 0.05) between hypoalbuminemia (< 3.5 g/dL) loss of TSF (< 10 mm) and MAC (< 23.3 cm) in those patients classified as moderately and severely malnourished by SGA (14%). Hypoalbuminemia, low TSF and SGA malnutrition were all significantly associated to mortality (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: SGA in our hospital is a reliable diagnostic method for the diagnosis of malnutrition of hospitalized adult patients and malnutrition of hospitalized adult patients and keeps prognostic association with mortality.

Microbiological studies of abscesses complicating Bothrops snakebite in humans: a prospective study.

Forty patients with abscesses at the site of Bothrops bite were evaluated. Ten brought the snake responsible for the bite, Bothrops jararaca in all cases. On admission a sample was collected from each case for aerobic and anaerobic culture, and no abscesses drained spontaneously. None of the patients had received antibacterial therapy at this time. The bacteria most frequently isolated were Morganella morganii (23 patients), Providencia rettgeri (7) Enterobacter sp. (4), Escherichia coli (3), group D streptococcus (11) and Bacteroides sp. (6). All enterobacteria tested were sensitive to chloramphenicol, aminoglycosides and cefotaxime. Group D streptococci were sensitive to chloramphenicol, ampicillin and penicillin G, whereas anaerobic bacteria were sensitive to chloramphenicol and tetracycline. These results suggest that in cases of abscess formation secondary to Bothrops bite, chloramphenicol alone is a good choice, being both safe and cheap.

Aminoacidos escenciales y no escenciales en la insuficiencia renal aguda

Existen controversias acerca de la eficiencia del uso exclusivo de aminoácidos esenciales en nutrición parenteral (NPT) para pacientes con insuficiencia renal aguda. Para estudiar el impacto sobre la insuficiencia renal, en pacientes post cirugía cardíaca, fueron randomizados los pacientes en la unidad de terapia intensiva divididos en dos grupos. Grupo AE con 17 pacientes en NPT con solo aminoácidos esensiales y el grupo AT con 17 pacientes en NPT con aminoácidos esenciales y no esenciales. La NPT fue dada en promedio por 10 días. Los pacientes dializados tuvieron menor recuperación de la función renal y mortalidad mas alta (p<0.05). En conclusión la NPT con AE en insuficiencia renal aguda no modificó los niveles de urea y creatina y tasa de mortalidad, cuando se comparó con la NPT con mezcla completa de aminoácidos.

Aminoacidos escenciales y no escenciales en la insuficiencia renal aguda

Existen controversias acerca de la eficiencia del uso exclusivo de aminoácidos esenciales en nutrición parenteral (NPT) para pacientes con insuficiencia renal aguda. Para estudiar el impacto sobre la insuficiencia renal, en pacientes post cirugía cardíaca, fueron randomizados los pacientes en la unidad de terapia intensiva divididos en dos grupos. Grupo AE con 17 pacientes en NPT con solo aminoácidos esensiales y el grupo AT con 17 pacientes en NPT con aminoácidos esenciales y no esenciales. La NPT fue dada en promedio por 10 días. Los pacientes dializados tuvieron menor recuperación de la función renal y mortalidad mas alta (p<0.05). En conclusión la NPT con AE en insuficiencia renal aguda no modificó los niveles de urea y creatina y tasa de mortalidad, cuando se comparó con la NPT con mezcla completa de aminoácidos.(AU)

[Inhibition of adhesion of the classical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli 0111 ab: H2 to HeLa cells using colostrum and human milk in different experimental conditions]. / Inibição da adesão de Escherichia coli enteropatogênica clássica 0111ab: H2 a células HeLa pelo colostro e leite materno em diferentes condições experimentais.

Adherence of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) to enterocytes with subsequent destruction of microvilli is supposed to be their mechanism of virulence. Adhesion may be studied in vitro systems using HeLa or HEp-2 cells, to which EPEC adhere in a localized pattern. We show here that colostrum and human milk inhibit E. coli 0111ab:H2 adherence to HeLa cells in different experimental conditions. Lactose does not seem to be involved in the in vitro inhibition since no effect was observed when a concentration of 7.5% was used during the test. A bacterial growth curve performed in same conditions of adherence test showed no bacteriostatic effect of human milk. S-IgA and receptor analogues could be responsible for the adherence inhibition observed.