Salus Platform: A Digital Health Solution Tool for Managing Syphilis Cases in Brazil-A Comparative Analysis.

(1) Introduction: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that constitutes a serious public health problem in Brazil and worldwide; (2) Methods: This was a descriptive and exploratory study that sought to analyze and compare the characteristics of Brazilian health systems with a new platform (Salus) developed by the Laboratory of Technological Innovation in Health in the scope of notification and management of disease data, including syphilis. In addition, this analysis aimed to assess whether Salus fully meets the necessary data management fields and can be indicated as a tool to improve health management in the context of syphilis in Brazil. (3) Results: In this study, the Salus functionalities were demonstrated and compared with the current Brazilian systems by discovering the existing gaps in the evaluated systems. The gaps found may explain the delay in meeting demands, the difficulty of making routine therapeutic follow-ups, in addition to interference with the vital purpose of follow-up in the epidemiological surveillance of diseases. As a result, Salus demonstrates functionalities that surpass all others and meet case management demands in a superior way to the systems currently used in the country. (4) Conclusions: The Brazilian health information systems related to the response to syphilis do not fulfill the purpose for which they were developed. Instead, they contribute to the fragmentation of health data and information, delays in diagnosis, incomplete case management, and loss of data due to inconsistencies and inadequate reporting. In addition, they are systems without interconnection, which do not articulate epidemiological surveillance actions with primary health care. All these factors may be obscuring accurate data on syphilis in Brazil, resulting in high and unnecessary public spending and late care for users of the Unified Health System (SUS).

Trophic behavior of inorganic elements in nesting sea turtles (Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata, and Caretta caretta) in Quintana Roo: Biomagnification and biodilution effect in blood and scute tissues.

The biomagnification and biodilution of inorganic pollutants, have a close correlation on the structure and function of trophic change behavior; sea turtles represent an excellent bioindicator model to identify their impact in marine ecosystems. To understand pollution effects on marine ecosystems, we quantified the bioconcentration of 50 inorganic elements in the blood and scute tissues of three nesting species of sea turtles (Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata and Caretta caretta), collected in Quintana Roo State from July 2017 to August 2018. As a general trend, essential mineral elements with toxic potential showed the highest concentrations in both tissues; significant increase concentration of arsenic, mercury, and cerium levels was observed with increasing trophic levels indicating its biomagnification while a significant decrease in manganese and bismuth showed a biodilution effect. We expect that our findings can be used as baseline data in future biomonitoring and contamination risk assessment programs in the region.

Profitability determinants of the natural stone industry: Evidence from Spain and Italy.

The natural stone sector is an important driver of the Spanish and Italian economies, which underwent internationalization after the financial crisis of 2008 as part of a survival and development strategy. This article aims to study the financial and economic profitability of this sector in the two leading European production countries, as well as its determinants. For this purpose, the economic-financial data of a sample composed of 453 companies (203 Spanish and 250 Italian) from 2015-2019 were analyzed using the multiple linear regression methodology. To address the problems of possible endogeneity and omission of variables in the model, the dependent variable was used as a regressor with one and two lags, and panel data with fixed effects were considered after performing the Hausman test. The results show significant differences between the two countries, with higher profitability in Italy. Company size, company growth (measured as the change in assets), and the variation in the country's GDP all positively affected profitability. At the same time, the level of indebtedness showed a negative relationship. The country's inflation rate and gender diversity in top management were shown to be non-relevant variables. The research conducted indicates that, to increase profitability, Spanish and Italian companies in the natural stone sector should undergo mergers in order to grow in size, increase efficiency in the use of assets, reduce their dependence on external financing, and promote equity capital. In addition, Italian companies should reduce the average period of payment to suppliers to lower deferral costs, and boost exports to become less dependent on the country's domestic economy.

Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccination on Reduction of Hospitalizations and Deaths in Elderly Patients in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, vaccination has been the core strategy to mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in humans. This paper analyzes the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on hospitalizations and deaths in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. We analyzed data from 23,516 hospitalized COVID-19 patients diagnosed between April 2020 and August 2021. We excluded the data from patients hospitalized through direct occupancy, unknown outcomes, and unconfirmed COVID-19 cases, resulting in data from 12,635 patients cross-referenced with the immunization status during hospitalization. Our results indicated that administering at least one dose of the immunizers was sufficient to significantly reduce the occurrence of moderate and severe COVID-19 cases among patients under 59 years. Considering the partially or fully immunized patients, the mean age is similar between the analyzed groups, despite the occurrence of comorbidities and higher than that observed among not immunized patients. Thus, immunized patients present lower Unified Score for Prioritization (USP) levels when diagnosed with COVID-19. Our data suggest that COVID-19 vaccination significantly reduced the hospitalization and death of elderly patients (60+ years) after administration of at least one dose. Comorbidities do not change the mean age of moderate/severe COVID-19 cases and the days required for the hospitalization of these patients.

Physiologic roles of P2 receptors in leukocytes.

Since their discovery in the 1970s, purinergic receptors have been shown to play key roles in a wide variety of biologic systems and cell types. In the immune system, purinergic receptors participate in innate immunity and in the modulation of the adaptive immune response. In particular, P2 receptors, which respond to extracellular nucleotides, are widely expressed on leukocytes, causing the release of cytokines and chemokines and the formation of inflammatory mediators, and inducing phagocytosis, degranulation, and cell death. The activity of these receptors is regulated by ectonucleotidases-expressed in these same cell types-which regulate the availability of nucleotides in the extracellular environment. In this article, we review the characteristics of the main purinergic receptor subtypes present in the immune system, focusing on the P2 family. In addition, we describe the physiologic roles of the P2 receptors already identified in leukocytes and how they can positively or negatively modulate the development of infectious diseases, inflammation, and pain.

Mapa de evidências sobre a efetividade clínica da moxabustão: informe executivo / Evidence map on the clinical effectiveness of moxibustion: executive report

O mapa apresenta uma visão geral das evidências sobre os efeitos da moxabustão. A partir de uma ampla busca bibliográfica foram incluídos no mapa 64 estudos de revisão. Todos os estudos foram avaliados, caracterizados e categorizados por um grupo de pesquisadores da área de acupuntura e Medicina Tradicional Chinesa. Principais Achados: ● Os estudos primários incluídos nas revisões estão concentrados principalmente em países como China (51 estudos), Coreia do Sul (10 estudos) e Itália (4 estudos). ● As revisões sistemáticas avaliaram efetividade, eficácia, segurança e custo-efetividade e incluíram ensaios clínicos randomizados (RCTs) (62), RCTs + ensaios controlados não randomizados (1) e ensaios clínicos + estudos observacionais (1). ● Para avaliar o nível de confiabilidade das 64 revisões, se aplicou a ferramenta AMSTAR2 resultando em 4 revisões de nível alto, 2 revisões de nível moderado, 21 revisões de nível baixo e 37 revisões de nível criticamente baixo. ● A maioria das evidências disponíveis concentra-se no grupo das Doenças crônicas não transmissíveis e aplicada para os desfechos osteoartrite, hipertensão arterial e hérnia de disco. ● Os desfechos mais observados foram osteoartrite (7 revisões), hipertensão arterial (5 revisões), trabalho de parto (5 revisões). Implicações para a prática e pesquisa: ● Os efeitos positivos (26 revisões) foram relacionados principalmente a osteoartrite (4 revisões), trabalho de parto (4), hérnia de disco (2) e dispepsia (2); ● Os efeitos potencialmente positivos (23 revisões) foram identificados em osteoartrite (3 revisões), hipertensão arterial (2), constipação (2), transtorno gastrointestinal (2) entre outros; ● Identificou-se feitos inconclusivos/misturados em 14 revisões. Para estes efeitos serem mais bem avaliados, uma ampliação do número de estudos se faz necessária; ● Apenas uma revisão (hipertensão arterial) referiu ausência de efeito; ● Efeitos negativos não foram observados.

The map provides an overview of the evidence on the effects of moxibustion. Based on a broad bibliographic search (PubMed, BVS, EMBASE and CINAHL) 64 review studies were included in the map (51 systematic reviews with meta-analysis, 6 systematic reviews of randomized controlled studies, 3 systematic reviews and 4 meta-analyses). All studies were evaluated, characterized, and categorized by a group of researchers in the field of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Main Findings: ● Primary studies included in the reviews are mainly concentrated in countries such as China (51 studies), South Korea (10 studies) and Italy (4 studies). ● Systematic reviews evaluated effectiveness, efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness and included randomized clinical trials (RCTs) (62), RCTs + non-randomized controlled trials (1) and clinical trials + observational studies (1).● To assess the reliability level of the 64 revisions, the AMSTAR 2 tool was applied resulting in 4 high-level reviews, 2 moderate-level reviews, 21 low-level reviews, and 37 critically low-level reviews.● Most of the available evidence is related to osteoarthritis, hypertension, and intervertebral disc displacement outcomes.● The most frequently observed outcomes were osteoarthritis (7 reviews), hypertension (5 reviews) and obstetric labor (5 reviews). Implications for practice and research: ● Positive effects (26 reviews) were mainly related to osteoarthritis (4 revisions), obstetric labor (4), intervertebral disc displacement (2) and dyspepsia (2). ● Potentially positive effects (23 reviews) were identified in osteoarthritis (3 revisions), hypertension (2), constipation (2), gastrointestinal disorders (2) among others. ● Inconclusive effects were identified in 14 reviews. For these effects to be better evaluated, an increase in the number of studies is necessary. ● Only one revision (hypertension) reported no effect. ● Negative effects were not observed.

El mapa proporciona una visión general de la evidencia sobre los efectos de la moxibustión. A partir de una amplia búsqueda bibliográfica (PubMed, BVS, EMBASE y CINAHL) se incluyeron 64 estudios de revisión en el mapa (51 revisiones sistemáticas con metaanálisis, 6 revisiones sistemáticas de estudios controlados aleatorios, 3 revisiones sistemáticas y 4 metaanálisis). Todos los estudios fueron evaluados, caracterizados y categorizados por un grupo de investigadores en el campo de la acupuntura y la Medicina Tradicional China. Principales hallazgos:● Los estudios primarios incluidos en las revisiones se concentran principalmente en países como China (51 estudios), Corea del Sur (10 estudios) e Italia (4 estudios); ● Las revisiones sistemáticas evaluaron la efectividad, la eficacia, la seguridad y la relación costo-efectividad e incluyeron ensayos clínicos aleatorios (RCTs) (62), RCTs + ensayos controlados no aleatorios (1) y ensayos clínicos + estudios observacionales (1); ● Para evaluar el nivel de confiabilidad de las 64 revisiones, se aplicó la herramienta AMSTAR 2 que resultó en 4 revisiones de alto nivel, 2 revisiones de nivel moderado, 21 revisiones de bajo nivel y 37 revisiones de nivel críticamente bajo; ● La mayor parte de la evidencia disponible está relacionada con los resultados de la osteoartritis, la hipertensión y la hernia discal; ● Los resultados observados con mayor frecuencia fueron osteoartritis (7 revisiones), hipertensión (5 revisiones) y trabajo de parto (5 revisiones). Implicaciones para la práctica y la investigación: ● Los efectos positivos (26 revisiones) se relacionaron principalmente con la osteoartritis (4 revisiones), el trabajo de parto (4), la hernia discal (2) y la dispepsia (2); ● Los efectos potencialmente positivos (23 revisiones) se identificaron en osteoartritis (3 revisiones), hipertensión (2), estreñimiento (2), trastornos gastrointestinales (2), entre otros; ● Se identificaron efectos no concluyentes en 14 revisiones. Para que estos efectos sean mejor evaluados, es necesario un aumento en el número de estudios; ● Sólo una revisión (hipertensión) no informó ningún efecto; ● No se observaron efectos negativos.

Bioaccumulation of metal(loid)s in Cardisoma crassum and pollution assessment in a mangrove protected area in Mexico.

The bioaccumulation of several elements in "mouthless crabs" (Cardisoma crassum) and their concentrations in environmental samples were assessed in a mangrove forest within a natural protected area located in the middle of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The concentrations of Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Sr, Si, V, and Zn in sediments, mangrove litterfall, and pore water and their bioaccumulations in the muscle and shell tissue of C. crassum were determined during rainy and dry seasons. Two different sampling sites were compared, selected according to the influence of the tide. The samples were analyzed by ICP-OES. In pore water, half of the elements of interest were below the limits of detection. Pb and Cd concentrations were only detected in the sedimentary phase. Al and Fe presented the highest concentrations at both sampling sites in the sediments and mangrove litterfall. There were no significant differences between sampling seasons in water samples (P > 0.05). Only Cu presented significant differences between sampling seasons in the mangrove litterfall samples and V in the sediment samples (P < 0.05). The sediment quality guidelines indicated that only Cd was above the threshold effect limit. As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb remained below the limits of detection in muscle tissue and shell samples. The biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) determined for Cu and Zn were above 1.0, indicating the accumulation of these elements in the muscle tissue of C. crassum, while the BSAF values in the shell were above the threshold for Ba, Si, and Sr.

Effect of mono and divalent salts on the conformation and composition of a humic acid and on atrazine adsorption.

We investigated the effects of sodium and calcium chlorides on the conformation and composition of a purified Aldrich humic acid (PAHA), as well as on the adsorption of atrazine. The PAHA was treated with 1, 10, and 100 mM NaCl, CaCl2, or a mixture of NaCl and CaCl2 (molar ratio 5:1) at pH 7.5 and 8.5. The conformation of treated PAHA was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and spectral changes of functional groups of PAHA by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). AFM and TEM images showed an increase in the aggregation of the PAHA as salinity increased. FTIR spectra revealed that changes in the aggregation of the PAHA were principally due to the formation of bridged interactions between calcium and carboxylate groups in the PAHA. The adsorption of atrazine on > 0.45 µm PAHA decreased as salt concentrations and pH increased. This reduction of atrazine adsorption was explained by the decrease in available adsorption sites due to agglomeration of PAHA.

Trace metals in target tissues and stomach contents of the top predator sailfish Istiophorus platypterus from the Eastern Pacific: concentrations and contrasting behavior of biomagnification.

Cadmium, lead, copper, and zinc were analyzed in the dorsal muscle, liver, gonad, and stomach contents of 67 sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus, from the Eastern Pacific. Muscle exhibited the following pattern (µg/g wet weight): Zn (15.05 ± 1.24) > Cu (0.461 ± 0.026) > Cd (0.434 ± 0.099) > Pb (0.025 ± 0.001); liver Zn (119.1 ± 7.6) > Cd (95.1 ± 11.0) > Cu (39.7 ± 2.6) > Pb (0.047 ± 0.004); and gonad Zn (96.8 ± 7.8) > Cd (2.16 ± 0.38) > Cu (2.08 ± 0.14) > Pb (0.033 ± 0.003). Significant (p < 0.05) correlations were observed between elements, length, and weight. I. platypterus feed mainly on fishes and cephalopods with variable concentrations (µg/g wet weight) of Cd (0.081-11.41), Pb (0.002-0.057), Cu (0.204-4.35), and Zn (3.23-86.6). Of the four analyzed elements, only Pb was biomagnified (BMF = 1.85). According to the regulatory limits, muscle exhibited Cd concentrations higher than the Official Mexican Standard, WHO, FDA (28 % of samples), and the European Union (40 %) regulations.

Mercury and Selenium in Muscle and Target Organs of Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks Sphyrna lewini of the SE Gulf of California: Dietary Intake, Molar Ratios, Loads, and Human Health Risks.

Selenium and mercury were evaluated in muscle, liver, kidney, brain, and the stomach contents of juvenile scalloped hammerhead shark Sphyrna lewini. Se:Hg molar ratios were calculated. The average Hg levels in muscle ranged from 0.12 to 1.17 µg/g (wet weight); Hg was <0.39 µg/g in liver and kidneys and <0.19 µg/g in brain. The lowest value of Se was found in muscle (0.4 µg/g) and the highest in kidney (26.7 µg/g). An excess of Se over Hg was found, with Se:Hg molar ratios >1. Correlations were found for Hg in muscle with size, age, and weight, and also for Hg in liver with size, age, and weight. Hg in muscle was significantly positive correlated to Hg in brain as well as Hg in liver was correlated to Hg in kidney. The highest Hg in preys was for carangid fishes; scombrid and carangid fishes contributed with the highest Se levels. Results suggest that more than 98 % of the total Hg and 62 % of Se end up in muscle and might be affected by factors, such as geographical area, age, size, and feeding habits. The muscle of S. lewini should be consumed by people cautiously so as not to exceed the recommended intake per week.

Assessment of heavy metals in sediment of Aguamilpa Dam, Mexico.

The Aguamilpa Dam is part of the reservoir cascade system formed by four reservoirs in the middle and lower part of the Santiago River. For decades, this system has received urban and industrial wastewater from the metropolitan area of Guadalajara and the runoff of agricultural fields located in the river basin. The present study was carried out to obtain a preliminary assessment on the concentration distribution of heavy metals (Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in surface sediments of the Aguamilpa reservoir collected from 10 sampling stations. The metal concentrations (mg kg(-1)) in the sampling stations ranged as follows: Al, 27,600-7760; Ba, 190.0-15.9; Cd, 0.27-0.02; Cr, 18.30-0.22; Cu, 60.80-0.79; Fe, 15,900-4740; Hg, 0.04-0.01; Mg, 7590-8.05; Ni, 189.00-0.24; Pb, 13.6-1.64; and Zn, 51.8-14.8. Significant spatial variation in concentrations was observed for Al, Fe, and Pb. Sediment pollution was evaluated using the enrichment factor, the geo-accumulation index, the pollution load index, and sediment quality guidelines. Based on geo-accumulation and pollution load indexes, Aguamilpa sediments were found, in some sampling stations, as unpolluted to moderately polluted with Ni, Cd, Cu, and Mg. Enrichment factors showed that Cd is highly related to agricultural activities that take place in the surrounding areas of the Aguamilpa reservoir. Despite these results, none of the heavy metals evaluated exceeded international concentrations limits, indicating that the Aguamilpa reservoir surface sediments are not contaminated.

Accumulation and regulation effects from the metal mixture of Zn, Pb, and Cd in the tropical shrimp Penaeus vannamei.

Environmental metal pollution is one of the major problems faced by humankind. This type of pollution affects aquatic systems (estuaries, coastal lagoons, etc.), which are very dynamic systems, therefore making the study of the effects on the organisms that inhabit them an essential issue. In this study, the capacity of metal regulation by decapod crustacean Penaeus vannamei juveniles was determined. The effects of zinc, lead, and cadmium were tested individually and as a metal mixture exposure to determine possible synergism. The results showed that juvenile shrimps were capable of regulating zinc and lead, whereas cadmium was accumulated without any excretion, at least within the concentrations studied. It was also proved that under the estuarine conditions tested here, P. vannamei juveniles showed capacity to act as a bioindicator for cadmium.

Pollution by organochlorine pesticides in Navachiste-Macapule, Sinaloa, Mexico.

The lagoon system of Navachiste-Macapule is located in northern Mexico, in the state of Sinaloa, with an area of 24,000 ha. The main economic activity in the area is agriculture, and the lagoon lies next to the irrigation district ID-063 which covers 116,615 ha. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the levels of pollution generated by organochlorine pesticides (OC) in the surface sediments of the lagoon and in the agricultural drains of the ID-063 that are supposedly transported into the system as a result of agricultural activities and runoff from adjacent land. For this, between 2006 and 2007, 45 surface sediment samples were collected (warm dry, rainy and cold dry) from 15 sampling sites, during the three climatic seasons. Of these, eight were located inside the lagoon in marine conditions (salinity >31 PSU) and seven in the agricultural drains of the ID-063 in freshwater conditions (salinity <5 PSU). The average concentration of the OC in the sediments was 44.75 ng g(-1), among which the group of the alicyclic compounds presented the greatest concentrations. The average value of the total organic carbon (TOC) in the sediments of the system was 0.90%. The sediments collected inside the lagoon had an average OC concentration of 18.97 ng g(-1), and the predominant type of sediment was fine to very fine sand. The average OC concentration in the sediments collected in the agricultural drains was 75.69 ng g(-1), where fine sediments (silt) were predominant. The presence of methoxychlor, endrin and heptachlor suggested that these compounds were continuously used in the system, even though their use is forbidden in Mexico.

Avaliação da dor no pós-operatório imediato de herniorrafias inguinais / Pain evaluation in the immediate postoperative period of inguinal herniorraphy

Introdução: Dor no pós-operatório imediato de herniorrafias inguinais é um achado comum à realização do procedimento. Dessa forma, sua avaliação após a cirurgia de correção de hérnia, seja pela técnica videolaparoscópica ou pela técnica de Lichtenstein é de extrema importância para auxiliar o cirurgião na escolha do procedimento mais adequado para cada situação.Objetivo: Avaliar a intensidade da dor no pós-operatório imediato do reparo cirúrgico das hérnias inguinais, comparando a técnica de Lichtenstein com a cirurgia videolaparoscópica. Material e métodos: O trabalho foi realizado prospectivamente utilizando-se um protocolo previamente desenvolvido pelo autor com a utilização de uma Escala Análogo Visual (EAV). Os pacientes dos dois grupos (cirurgia convencional e cirurgia videolaparoscópica) foram pareados por faixa etária, sexo e Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC). Através da EAV, os pacientes determinavam a intensidade da dor (0 - 10) no pós-operatório imediato (24 horas após a realização do procedimento). A análise dos dados foi feita através do teste t de Student.Resultados: Foram analisados 62 pacientes, no entanto 22 foram excluídos pela impossibilidade de pareamento. Os 40 pacientes participantes deste estudo foram pareados por faixa etária, sexo e IMC. No grupo de pacientes que realizou a técnica de Lichtenstein (20 pacientes) a nota média para avaliação da dor foi de 3,9, enquanto o grupo que realizou a cirurgia por vídeo (20 pacientes) teve uma média de 4,1.Discussão e conclusão: No presente estudo não há diferença entre a intensidade de dor causada pelo procedimento convencional e videolaparoscópico após 24 horas da realização da cirurgia.

Giant lipoma of the spermatic cord.

The authors present a case of a huge right inguinal bulge that was referred as a right inguinal hernia. At surgery, it was confirmed to be a giant lipoma of the spermatic cord. A description of the case, pictures of clinical appearance and operative specimen, and a short literature review are presented.

Avaliação da dor no pós-operatório imediato de herniorrafias inguinais / Evaluation of immediate postoperative pain in patients submitted to inguinal hernia repair surgery

Introdução: Dor no pós-operatório imediato de herniorrafias inguinais é um achado comum à realização do procedimento. Dessa forma, sua avaliação após a cirurgia de correção de hérnia, seja pela técnica videolaparoscópica ou pela técnica de Lichtenstein, é de extrema importância para auxiliar o cirurgião na escolha do procedimento mais adequado para cada situação. Objetivo: Avaliar a intensidade da dor no pós-operatório imediato do reparo cirúrgico das hérnias inguinais, comparando a técnica de Lichtenstein com a cirurgia videolaparoscópica. Material e métodos: O trabalho foi realizado prospectivamente utilizando-se um protocolo previamente desenvolvido pelo autor com a utilização de uma Escala Análogo-Visual (EAV). Os pacientes dos dois grupos (cirurgia convencional e cirurgia videolaparoscópica) foram pareados por faixa etária, sexo e Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC). Através da EAV, os pacientes determinavam a intensidade da dor (0 ­ 10) no pós-operatório imediato (24 horas após a realização do procedimento). A análise dos dados foi feita através do Teste t de Student. Resultados: Foram analisados 62 pacientes, no entanto 22 foram excluídos pela impossibilidade de pareamento. Os 40 pacientes participantes deste estudo foram pareados por faixa etária, sexo e IMC. No grupo de pacientes que realizou a técnica de Lichstenstein (20 pacientes), a nota média para avaliação da dor foi de 3,9, enquanto que no grupo que realizou a cirurgia por vídeo (20 pacientes) teve uma média de 4,1. Conclusão: No presente estudo não há diferença entre a intensidade de dor causada pelo procedimento convencional e videolaparoscópico após 24 horas da realização da cirurgia (AU)

Introduction: Pain in the immediate postoperative period of inguinal hernia repair surgery is a common finding among operated patients. Thus, its evaluation after the surgeries carried out by either videolaparoscopy or the Lichtenstein technique is extremely important in helping the surgeon to choose the most adequate procedure for each situation. Objective: To evaluate pain intensity in the immediate postoperative period of inguinal hernia repair surgery, comparing the Lichtenstein technique and videolaparoscopic surgery. Material and Methods: This work was performed prospectively through a protocol previously developed by the author using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The patients of the two groups (conventional surgery and videolaparoscopic surgery) were paired by age, sex, and Body Mass Index (BMI). Through the VAS the patients rated pain intensity (0-10) in the immediate postoperative period (within 24h after the procedure). Data were analyzed through the Student's t-test. Results: Sixty-two patients were initially evaluated, but 22 were excluded because they were unable to be paired. The 40 remaining participants were paired by age, sex and BMI. In the group submitted to the Lichstenstein technique (20 patients), the mean rating for pain was 3.9, while the group who used videolaparoscopy (20 patients) had a mean rating of 4.1. Conclusion: In the present study there was no difference in pain intensity resulting from the conventional and videolaparoscopic procedures within 24h after the procedure (AU)

Induction of morphological deformities and moulting alterations in Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) juveniles exposed to the triazole-derivative fungicide tilt.

A tropical marine bioassay was developed with juveniles of Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, in order to test the acute and sublethal toxicity of Tilt, which is the commercial formulation of the fungicide propiconazole. A 10-d acute toxicity and a 32-d sublethal test were performed. A median lethal concentration (LC50) was determined for different exposure times, resulting in a 24-h LC50 of 1167 (1101-1386) microg/L (concentration based on active ingredient propiconazole), and reaching a threshold LC50 (72-h) at 1043 (1018-1068) microg/L. The sublethal exposure test was performed with propiconazole concentrations ranging from 367 to 825 microg/L. Animals in most treatments showed a significant increase in intermoult duration compared to those in the control treatment, although this did not seem to be concentration-dependent. However, the shrimps exposed to the sublethal concentrations of this fungicide showed morphological deformities, with a significant positive relationship between concentration and deformities of the rostrum, paraeopods, and uropods. Altogether, the results presented indicate the potential effects of Tilt on shrimp, particularly under long-term exposures, although these were found to occur at concentrations exceeding those reported in natural environments.

Involvement of the Na+-independent Cl-/HCO3- exchange (AE) isoform in the compensation of myocardial Na+/H+ isoform 1 hyperactivity in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Enhanced activity of Na+/H+ isoform 1 (NHE-1) and the Na+-independent Cl-/HCO3- exchange (AE) is a feature of the hypertrophied myocardium in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The present study explored the possibility that sustained intracellular acidosis due to increased myocardial acid loading through AE causes NHE-1 enhancement. To this aim, SHR were treated for 2 weeks with a rabbit polyclonal antibody against an AE3 isoform that was recently developed and proven to have inhibitory effects on myocardial AE activity. We then compared the AE activity in the left ventricle papillary muscles isolated from untreated SHR with antiAE3-treated SHR; AE activity was measured in terms of the rate of intracellular pH recovery after an intracellular alkali load was introduced. AE activity was diminished by approximately 70% in SHR treated with the antiAE3 antibody, suggesting that the AE3 isoform is a major carrier of acid-equivalent influx in the hypertrophied myocardium. However, the antibody treatment failed to normalize NHE-1 activity that remained elevated in the myocardium of normotensive rats. The data therefore rule out the possibility that NHE-1 hyperactivity in hypertensive myocardium was due to sustained intracellular acidosis induced by increased AE activity that characterizes SHR myocardial tissue.