Sex selection in late Iberian infant burials: Integrating evidence from morphological and genetic data.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the infant burials found inside Iberian homes in relation to a possible case of sex selection. METHODS: The study included the remains of 11 infant individuals buried under the 10 houses excavated in the late Iberian village of Camp de les Lloses (Tona, Barcelona, Spain). Sex was determined using genetic analysis. RESULTS: Our results showed that almost all the burials were females. However, the age interval of death was wide enough to weaken the premise of infanticide, and the burials probably represent cases of natural death. DISCUSSION: Infanticide in its different forms has long been argued as an explanation for the infant remains found throughout various burial sites. Many authors thought that infanticide, mainly femicide, was the main method of population control in ancient times. However, there is no anthropological evidence (age distribution and sex analyzed genetically) to support the intentional killing of females in this or in other cases. We hypothesized that there was a positive selection for females to be buried inside the houses, probably related to their benefactor roles.

Sleeping sickness is a circadian disorder.

Sleeping sickness is a fatal disease caused by Trypanosoma brucei, a unicellular parasite that lives in the bloodstream and interstitial spaces of peripheral tissues and the brain. Patients have altered sleep/wake cycles, body temperature, and endocrine profiles, but the underlying causes are unknown. Here, we show that the robust circadian rhythms of mice become phase advanced upon infection, with abnormal activity occurring during the rest phase. This advanced phase is caused by shortening of the circadian period both at the behavioral level as well as at the tissue and cell level. Period shortening is T. brucei specific and independent of the host immune response, as co-culturing parasites with explants or fibroblasts also shortens the clock period, whereas malaria infection does not. We propose that T. brucei causes an advanced circadian rhythm disorder, previously associated only with mutations in clock genes, which leads to changes in the timing of sleep.

Toxoplasma-induced changes in host risk behaviour are independent of parasite-derived AaaH2 tyrosine hydroxylase.

Toxoplasma gondii infects a broad range of hosts and can establish chronic infections with the formation of brain cysts. Infected animals show altered risk behaviour which has been suggested to increase capture probability of hosts, and thus enhance parasite transmission. It has been proposed that the ability of Toxoplasma cysts to secrete tyrosine hydroxylase could mediate these behavioural alterations. We tested the involvement of secreted tyrosine hydroxylase, coded by the parasite AaaH2 gene, in the development of alterations in mouse behaviour, by generating an AaaH2 deletion mutant parasite strain and testing its influence on behaviour. We found that both mice infected with wild type or AaaH2 mutant strains showed changes in risk behaviour. We confirmed these findings using factor analysis of the behaviour, which revealed that behavioural changes happened along a single dimension, and were observed in both infected groups. Furthermore, we developed a new behavioural paradigm in which animals are unpredictably trapped, and observed that both groups of infected animals perceive trapping but fail to adjust their behaviour to avoid further trapping. These results demonstrate that parasite-secreted AaaH2 TH is neither necessary for the generation of risky behaviour nor for the increased trappability observed during chronic Toxoplasma infection.

Low intensity ultrasound therapy induces angiogenesis and persistent inflammation in the chronic phase of the healing process of third degree burn wounds experimentally induced in diabetic and non-diabetic rats.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of low intensity ultrasound on the healing process of third degree burn wounds in experimentally induced diabetic Wistar rats. METHODS: One hundred rats were divided into: control group; non-diabetic treated group; diabetic control group; diabetic treated group. The therapy was performed with a 3MHz ultrasound application, pulsed emission at 100Hz frequency, modulated at 20% with a dosage of 0.5W/cm2 during three minutes throughout 30 days. The surgical debridement of the wound was performed once at day 2. The wounds were morphometrically, macroscopically and microscopically evaluated at 3, 7, 14, 21 and 30 days. RESULTS: The wound contraction and collagen quantification were higher in all treated groups. Macroscopically, necrosis was higher in the diabetic control group. Granulation tissue was higher in treated groups during the proliferative and remodeling phase. Microscopically, there were greater mononuclear inflammatory infiltration, angiogenesis and fibroblast quantification in treated groups during the proliferative and remodeling phases. CONCLUSIONS: therapeutic ultrasound is beneficial in the inflammatory and proliferative phases of the healing process because it controlled the necrotic tissue, increased the granulation tissue and wound contraction. However in the remodeling phase it is not beneficial because of the continued angiogenesis and a mononuclear inflammatory infiltration.

Low intensity ultrasound therapy induces angiogenesis and persistent inflammation in the chronic phase of the healing process of third degree burn wounds experimentally induced in diabetic and non-diabetic rats

ABSTRACT PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of low intensity ultrasound on the healing process of third degree burn wounds in experimentally induced diabetic Wistar rats. METHODS: One hundred rats were divided into: control group; non-diabetic treated group; diabetic control group; diabetic treated group. The therapy was performed with a 3MHz ultrasound application, pulsed emission at 100Hz frequency, modulated at 20% with a dosage of 0.5W/cm2 during three minutes throughout 30 days. The surgical debridement of the wound was performed once at day 2. The wounds were morphometrically, macroscopically and microscopically evaluated at 3, 7, 14, 21 and 30 days. RESULTS: The wound contraction and collagen quantification were higher in all treated groups. Macroscopically, necrosis was higher in the diabetic control group. Granulation tissue was higher in treated groups during the proliferative and remodeling phase. Microscopically, there were greater mononuclear inflammatory infiltration, angiogenesis and fibroblast quantification in treated groups during the proliferative and remodeling phases. CONCLUSIONS: therapeutic ultrasound is beneficial in the inflammatory and proliferative phases of the healing process because it controlled the necrotic tissue, increased the granulation tissue and wound contraction. However in the remodeling phase it is not beneficial because of the continued angiogenesis and a mononuclear inflammatory infiltration.

Activity of low level laser therapy on burning wounds in diabetic rats / Atividade terapêutica do laser de baixa intensidade em queimaduras em ratos diabéticos / Actividad terapéutica de láser de baja intensidad en quemaduras de ratones diabéticos

This study evaluated the effects of low level laser (LLL) therapy in the healing of third degree burning wounds in diabetic and non-diabetic Wistar rats. Methods: The diabetes was experimentally induced with streptozotocine 14 days before the burning injury induction. The rats suffered the induction of third-degree burning injury and were divided into four groups as follows: control group; non-diabetic treated group; diabetic group; diabetic treated group. All animals received occlusive bandages during the experimental days. The treated animals received the following treatment in alternate days: diode GaAlAs laser (650 nm/ 12 mW), fluency of 3 J/cm2 until the 7th experimental day followed by 6 J/cm2 from the 7th day until the euthanasia day. The burning wounds were morphometrically, macroscopically and microscopically evaluated at 3, 7, 14, 21 and 30 days after the induction. Results: The wound contraction was significantly higher in all experimental days in treated groups when compared to the diabetic and non-diabetic control groups. Microscopically, there was a significant increase in angiogenesis and in fibrogenesis during the proliferative stage in the treated groups. Conclusion: Therefore, we conclude that LLL therapy favored the tissue healing process with 3 J/cm2 dosage for the inflammatory stage and with 6 J/cm2 dosage for the proliferative and remodeling ones, accelerating the burning wound contraction and improving the healing process...

Este estudo avaliou os efeitos da terapia a laser de baixa intensidade (LBI) na cicatrização de feridas por queimadura de terceiro grau em ratos Wistar diabéticos e não diabéticos. Métodos: A diabete foi induzida experimentalmente com estreptozotocina 14 dias antes da indução da lesão por queimadura. Os ratos sofreram a indução da lesão por queimadura de terceiro grau e foram divididos em quatro grupos: grupo controle; grupo tratado não diabético; grupo diabético; grupo tratado diabético. Todos os animais receberam curativos oclusivos durante os dias experimentais. Os animais tratados receberam o seguinte tratamento em dias alternados: laser diodos GaAIAs (650 nm/12 mW), fluência de 3 J/cm2 até o sétimo dia experimental, seguido por 6 J/cm2 a partir do sétimo dia até ao dia eutanásia. As feridas por queimaduras foram avaliadas morfometricamente, macro e microscopicamente em 3, 7, 14, 21 e 30 dias após a indução. Resultados: A contração da ferida foi significativamente maior em todos os dias experimentais nos grupos tratados quando comparados com os grupos controle diabéticos e não diabéticos. Microscopicamente, houve aumento significativo na angiogênese e na fibrogênese durante a fase proliferativa nos grupos tratados. Conclusões: Concluímos que a terapia LBI favoreceu o processo de cicatrização do tecido com dosagem de 3 J/cm2 na fase inflamatória e com dosagem de 6 J/cm2 nas fases proliferativa e de remodelação, acelerando a contração da ferida por queimadura e melhorando o processo de cicatrização. DESCRITORES: Queimaduras. Diabetes Mellitus. Terapia com Luz de Baixa Intensidade. Patologia...

Este estudio evaluó los efectos de la terapia láser de baja intensidad (LBI) en la cicatrización de heridas por quemadura de 3er. grado en ratones Wistar diabéticos y no diabéticos. Métodos: La diabetes fue inducida experimentalmente con Estreptozotocina 14 días antes de la inducción de la lesión por quemadura. Después de la inducción de la lesión por quemadura de 3er. grado, los ratones fueron divididos en cuatro grupos: control, tratado no-diabético, diabético y tratado-diabético. Todos los animales recibieron curativos oclusivos durante los días de los experimentos. Los animales tratados recibieron el siguiente tratamiento en días alternados: láser diodos GaAIAs (650 nm/12 mW), flujo de 3 J/cm2 hasta el séptimo dia del experimento, seguido por 6 J/cm2 a partir del séptimo día hasta el día de la eutanasia. Las heridas por quemadura fueron evaluadas morfométricamente, macro y microscópicamente en 3, 7, 14, 21 y 30 días después de la inducción. Resultados: La contracción de la herida fue significativamente mayor en todos os días de experimento en los grupos tratados cuando comparados con los grupos control diabéticos y no-diabéticos. Microscopicamente, hubo aumento significativo en la angiogénesis y en la fibrogénesis durante la fase proliferativa en los grupos tratados. Conclusiones: Concluimos que la terapia LBI favoreció el proceso de cicatrización del tejido con dosis de 3 J/cm2 en la fase inflamatoria y con dosis de 6 J/cm2 en las fases proliferativa y de remodelación, acelerando la contracción de la herida por quemadura y mejorando el proceso de cicatrización...

Anti-inflammatory effect of low-intensity laser on the healing of third-degree burn wounds in rats.

Third-degree burn wounds are considered severe injuries because they destroy all the skin layers and may affect subcutaneous tissues, fasciae, muscles, and bones. To favor the healing process of the injured tissues, it is very useful to diminish the occurrence of the inflammatory process. The present study was aimed at comparing the effect of different energetic densities of AlGaInP laser on the inflammatory process and in the healing of third-degree burn wounds in Wistar rats. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee, in which 36 adult male rats were selected and suffered the induction of third-degree burn injury. These rats were divided as follows: group 1-control (treated with silver sulfadiazine), group 2-received energy density of 3 J/cm(2), and group 3-received energy density of 6 J/cm(2). All animals daily received an occlusive bandage with silver sulfadiazine and 8 % papain. The laser therapy was performed alternatively three times a week. The animals were evaluated on the 3rd, 7th, 14th, and 21st days after the initial lesion and euthanized for the macroscopic, histologic, and morphometric analysis. A higher production of collagen was observed at 7 days and a greater re-epithelialization at 21 days in group 3 (6 J/cm(2)). Furthermore, the latter when compared to the other groups presented macroscopically a better aspect of the scar at 21 days with more granulation tissue and fibrosis. We conclude that the AlGaInP laser used in dosages of 3 and 6 J/cm(2) favors the healing of third-degree burn wounds induced in rats.

Chronic Toxoplasma infection modifies the structure and the risk of host behavior.

The intracellular parasite Toxoplasma has an indirect life cycle, in which felids are the definitive host. It has been suggested that this parasite developed mechanisms for enhancing its transmission rate to felids by inducing behavioral modifications in the intermediate rodent host. For example, Toxoplasma-infected rodents display a reduction in the innate fear of predator odor. However, animals with Toxoplasma infection acquired in the wild are more often caught in traps, suggesting that there are manipulations of intermediate host behavior beyond those that increase predation by felids. We investigated the behavioral modifications of Toxoplasma-infected mice in environments with exposed versus non-exposed areas, and found that chronically infected mice with brain cysts display a plethora of behavioral alterations. Using principal component analysis, we discovered that most of the behavioral differences observed in cyst-containing animals reflected changes in the microstructure of exploratory behavior and risk/unconditioned fear. We next examined whether these behavioral changes were related to the presence and distribution of parasitic cysts in the brain of chronically infected mice. We found no strong cyst tropism for any particular brain area but found that the distribution of Toxoplasma cysts in the brain of infected animals was not random, and that particular combinations of cyst localizations changed risk/unconditioned fear in the host. These results suggest that brain cysts in animals chronically infected with Toxoplasma alter the fine structure of exploratory behavior and risk/unconditioned fear, which may result in greater capture probability of infected rodents. These data also raise the possibility that selective pressures acted on Toxoplasma to broaden its transmission between intermediate predator hosts, in addition to felid definitive hosts.

Highly dynamic host actin reorganization around developing Plasmodium inside hepatocytes.

Plasmodium sporozoites are transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes and infect hepatocytes, where a single sporozoite replicates into thousands of merozoites inside a parasitophorous vacuole. The nature of the Plasmodium-host cell interface, as well as the interactions occurring between these two organisms, remains largely unknown. Here we show that highly dynamic hepatocyte actin reorganization events occur around developing Plasmodium berghei parasites inside human hepatoma cells. Actin reorganization is most prominent between 10 to 16 hours post infection and depends on the actin severing and capping protein, gelsolin. Live cell imaging studies also suggest that the hepatocyte cytoskeleton may contribute to parasite elimination during Plasmodium development in the liver.

Perfuração intestinal por corpo estranho ingerido: relato de caso e revisão da literatura / Intestinal perforation by ingested foreign body: case report and literature review

Paciente com quadro sugestivo de obstrução intestinal. Submetido à laparotomia exploradora, encontrou-se perfuração de intestino delgado por corpo estranho ingerido (palito de bambu) e abscesso intra-abdominal. Realizadas drenagem de abscesso e enterorrafia. Paciente apresentou evolução complicada com infecção de sítio cirúrgico e deiscência de sutura. A maioria dos corpos estranhos ingeridos passa por todo o trato gastrointestinal sem intercorrências, entretanto, em 1% dos casos ocorrem complicações com perfuração e obstrução. A perfuração pode se manifestar por diversos quadros clínicos como sepse, obstrução e abscessos hepáticos ou abdominais; e o diagnóstico clínico, laboratorial e radiográfico é difícil. Embora rara, o cirurgião geral deve ter sempre em mente a possibilidade de perfuração gastrointestinal em pacientes que apresentam sintomas abdominais agudos atípicos. Em caso de dúvida, deve-se fazer a exploração abdominal.

A patient sought help in our emergency department with symptoms suggestive of intestinal obstruction. He was taken to the operating room and an exploratory laparotomy was performed, which revealed an abdominal abscess and intestinal perforation by ingested foreign body, a bamboo toothpick. The perforation was sutured and the abscess drained. The patient had complications in the postoperative period, with surgical site infection and suture dehiscence. The majority of ingested foreign bodies pass through the whole gastrointestinal tract without any problems, in 1% of the cases though there can be complications such as intestinal perforation. Perforations can present with many different clinical manifestations, such as obstruction, sepsis, hepatic or abdominal abscess and diagnosis is usually difficult. The general surgeon must always keep in mind this possibility in patients with atypical acute abdominal symptoms. Whenever in doubt, one should choose to operate.

Risk of the use of electrocautery in patient with metallic ornaments / Risco do uso do eletrocautério em pacientes portadores de adornos metálicos

INTRODUÇÃO: A eletrocirurgia é tecnologia conhecida há longo tempo que, atualmente, tem adquirido cada vez mais destaque. Apesar disso, ainda apresenta vários riscos quanto à sua utilização. Várias lesões podem ser causadas por eletrocautérios, sendo as queimaduras a complicação mais frequente. Nem sempre existe a cooperção do paciente frente a medidas preventivas. MÉTODO: Revisão da literatura pertinente em função de questionamento jurídico de paciente que se negou a retirar seus ornamentos no início de procedimento cirúrgico, já estando ela na sala de operações. CONCLUSÃO: É essencial o conhecimento dos fundamentos da eletrocirurgia, seu uso correto, equipamento seguro, monitoramento constante e investigação imediata diante de quaisquer suspeitas, para minimizar o risco de acidentes em paciente com adornos metálicos, e a cooperação do paciente na obediência das medidas preventivas de acidentes deve ser obrigatória.

INTRODUCTION: Electrosurgery technology is known in a long time ago, and has gained increasing prominence. Nevertheless, it still presents many risks as to its use. Several lesions can be caused by electrocautery, and burns are the most frequent complications. There is not always patient's cooperation regarding preventive measures. METHOD: Review of relevant literature on the basis of legal questioning of a patient who refused to remove their ornaments at the beginning of surgery, being already in the operating room. CONCLUSION: It is essential to have the knowledge of the fundamentals of electrosurgery, its correct use, safety equipment, constant monitoring and immediate investigation to minimize the risk of accidents in patients with metal ornaments, and patient cooperation in obeying the preventive measures of accidents should be mandatory.

A ground-based near-infrared emission spectrum of the exoplanet HD 189733b.

Detection of molecules using infrared spectroscopy probes the conditions and compositions of exoplanet atmospheres. Water (H(2)O), methane (CH(4)), carbon dioxide (CO(2)), and carbon monoxide (CO) have been detected in two hot Jupiters. These previous results relied on space-based telescopes that do not provide spectroscopic capability in the 2.4-5.2 microm spectral region. Here we report ground-based observations of the dayside emission spectrum for HD 189733b between 2.0-2.4 microm and 3.1-4.1 microm, where we find a bright emission feature. Where overlap with space-based instruments exists, our results are in excellent agreement with previous measurements. A feature at approximately 3.25 microm is unexpected and difficult to explain with models that assume local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) conditions at the 1 bar to 1 x 10(-6) bar pressures typically sampled by infrared measurements. The most likely explanation for this feature is that it arises from non-LTE emission from CH(4), similar to what is seen in the atmospheres of planets in our own Solar System. These results suggest that non-LTE effects may need to be considered when interpreting measurements of strongly irradiated exoplanets.

Tratamento endovascular de hemorragia secundária a lesão da artéria esplênica na pancreatite aguda: relato de caso / Endovascular treatment of hemorrhage due to splenic artery injury in acute pancreatitis: case report

A lesão arterial esplênica é uma rara complicação relacionada a situações como trauma, lesão iatrogênica e pancreatite. Hemostasia pode ser feita por identificação do foco do sangramento através de cateterismo seletivo seguido por embolização do ramo sangrante. Relata-se caso clínico de um paciente portador de pancreatite biliar que apresentou, durante procedimento de necrosectomia, hemorragia decorrente da ruptura da artéria esplênica, sendo, então, tratado com sucesso por embolização supersseletiva.

Splenic artery injury is a rare complication related to trauma, iatrogenic injury, and pancreatitis. Hemostasis can be made by identification of the vascular lesion through selective catheterism followed by embolization of the bleeding vessel. We report a case of a patient with biliary pancreatitis, who presented hemorrhage due to rupture of the splenic artery during a necrosectomy procedure and was successfully treated with selective embolization.

Aneurisma de artéria ilíaca interna roto: relato de caso / Ruptured internal iliac artery aneurysm: case report

Aneurismas isolados da artéria ilíaca interna são raros, acometem 0,1 por cento da população e correspondem a 1 por cento dos aneurismas aorto-ilíacos. Na maioria das vezes, os pacientes são assintomáticos, mas podem apresentar dor abdominal, massa pulsátil no hipogástrio ou na fossa ilíaca, sintomas compressivos urinários, gastrointestinais ou neurológicos. Podem ocasionar quadro de abdome agudo, principalmente quando há ruptura. O diagnóstico precoce dos aneurismas isolados de artéria ilíaca interna é incomum, sendo identificados quando mais volumosos ou rotos, o que aumenta significativamente sua morbimortalidade e torna seu prognóstico mais reservado. Dessa forma, representam um desafio terapêutico. A ligadura cirúrgica tem sido o tratamento mais comum, entretanto a cirurgia endovascular tem mostrado bons resultados, inclusive nos aneurismas rotos. É relatado caso de aneurisma de artéria ilíaca interna isolado roto diagnosticado durante laparotomia para abordagem de abdome agudo.

Isolated internal iliac artery aneurysms are rare. They affect 0.1 percent of the population, and account for 1 percent of aortoiliac aneurysms. Patients are mostly asymptomatic, yet they can have abdominal pain, pulsatile mass in the hypogastrium or iliac fossa, or urinary, gastrointestinal or neurological compressive symptoms. Such aneurysms are likely to course with an acute abdomen, especially when ruptured. Early diagnosis of isolated internal iliac artery aneurysms is difficult, as they are more easily detected when larger or ruptured, which significantly raises their morbidity and mortality rate and determines a poor prognosis. Therefore, they are a therapeutic challenge. Surgical ligation has been the most common treatment; however, the endovascular approach has presented good outcomes, even in the event of ruptured aneurysms. A case of ruptured isolated iliac artery aneurysm diagnosed during a laparotomy (acute abdomen approach) is reported.

A importância da Liga Acadêmica de Queimaduras / The importance of the Burns Academic League

A abordagem da fisioterapia em queimaduras ainda é escassa em nosso país, porém muito necessária. Partindo deste princípio foi idealizado um projeto que visava apresentar o conteúdo sobre queimaduras aos acadêmicos da área de saúde e educação e trabalhasse em prol da prevenção de acidentes que envolvessem queimaduras. Dessa idéia surgiu a Liga Acadêmica de Queimaduras, que completa um ano de funcionamento, e vem apresentar seu trabalho científico e social desenvolvido neste primeiro ano de atuação. Obtivemos um resultado positivo, conscientizando a comunidade e envolvendo os acadêmicos no trabalho científico e social voluntário.

The approach of physical therapy in burns is still scarce in our country, but very necessary. Assuming this was planned a project to present the content on burns to the students of health care and education and works towards the prevention of accidents involving burns. Based on this idea was launched the Burns Academic League, that has one year of operation, which scientific and social activities are presented in this paper. Positive results were obtained, educating the community and involving students in scientific and social activities.

Embolia balística venosa retrógrada transtorácica: relato de caso e revisão da literatura / Transthoracic retrograde venous bullet embolism: case report and review of the literature

Êmbolo balístico é um fenômeno de ocorrência rara no atendimento ao traumatizado. Geralmente, são pouco sintomáticos ou assintomáticos, e o tratamento desses pacientes, apesar de estar em constante evolução, é ainda controverso. A abordagem endovascular tem se destacado como modalidade de tratamento para esse tipo de embolia com baixa morbimortalidade. Este artigo relata o caso de um paciente de 30 anos, do sexo masculino, vítima de ferimento por arma de fogo com múltiplos orifícios de entrada em tórax, submetido com sucesso à retirada do projétil por acesso endovascular após tentativa frustrada de retirada por toracotomia.

Bullet embolism is a rare event when providing care to traumatized patients. These cases usually present with few symptoms or are asymptomatic, and treatment is controversial, in spite of the evolution observed. The endovascular approach has stood out as a treatment modality for this type of embolism with low morbidity and mortality rates. This article reports the case of a 30-year-old male patient victim of gunshot thorax injury with multiple entrance signs who was successfully submitted to bullet removal by endovascular technique after failed attempt by thoracotomy.

PAR3 acts as a molecular organizer to define the apical domain of chick neuroepithelial cells.

Neural progenitors in the vertebrate nervous system are fully polarized epithelial cells, with intercellular junctions at the apical region. These progenitor cells remain within the neuroepithelium throughout neurogenesis, and will ultimately give rise to all the neurons in the mature nervous system. We have addressed the role of the PAR polarity complex in vertebrate neuroepithelial polarity and show that PAR3 functions as the initial scaffold to assemble and organize the PAR complex at the apical region of neuroepithelial cells, coordinating also the recruitment of additional polarity complexes and junction-associated proteins to the same region, while restricting other polarity proteins to the basolateral membrane. We propose that PAR3 acts as a molecular organizer to connect the acquisition of apico-basal polarity with the positioning and formation of junctional structures in neuroepithelial cells, a function of upmost importance for the morphogenesis of embryonic neural tissue and the process of neurogenesis.