Prevalence of Leptospira antibodies in wild boars (Sus scrofa) from Northern Portugal: risk factor analysis.

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis of worldwide distribution, caused by infection with pathogenic spirochaetes of the genus Leptospira. The wild boar (Sus scrofa), an important hunting species in Europe, seems to play a significant role in the epidemiological cycle of leptospirosis. A total of 101 serum samples from wild boar hunted in Northern Portugal were analysed for leptospiral antibodies detection by microscopic agglutination test. Sera were collected during hunting seasons (2011-2013) and tested with 17 different pathogenic serovars of Leptospira. Antibodies against nine serovars were detected in 66 (65·4%) of these sera. Serovars Tarassovi and Altodouro exhibited the highest seroreactivity rates (23·8% and 16·8%, respectively), followed by Autumnalis (7·9%) and Bratislava (6·9%). Age and district of origin were found to be risk factors for the presence of leptospiral antibodies in contrast to gender. From a One Health perspective, this study revealed that wild boar should be considered as a potential source of leptospirosis dissemination for humans and animal species (domestic and wild) in shared environments, particularly in the Trás-os-Montes region.

La bioética como eje transversal en el pensum de estudio de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad del Zulia Venezuela / Bioethics mainstreaming in the curriculum of study at the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Zulia Venezuela

Se realizó una investigación descriptiva con el propósito de constatar la inserción de la bioética desde la perspectiva de la transversalidad curricular en las unidades curriculares de la carrera Odontología de la Universidad del Zulia, durante el periodo académico anual 2010, a través de la presencia de contenidos y objetivos bioéticos y relacionando los objetivos generales de la carrera con los terminales de las unidades curriculares. Se trata de un diseño de investigación de fuente documental, transeccional, contemporáneo y univariable; la población de estudio estuvo conformada por las unidades curriculares del primero al quinto año de la carrera; la muestra fue de tipo censal. Se emplearon técnicas de revisión documental. Para el procesamiento de los datos se utilizó el programa estadístico SPSS, versión 14. Al analizar los resultados se observó que el 80% de los programas de las asignaturas no presentan contenidos bioéticos, sólo el 20% lo expresa como propósito de la unidad curricular, el 27,5% como objetivo general de la asignatura, el 30% como objetivos terminales, el 10% de las materias presentan objetivos específicos actitudinales, el 12,5% lo presentan cognitivos y el 10% de naturaleza procedimental. En conclusión, la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad del Zulia presenta la bioética como eje transversal, sin embargo, aun no se observa la inserción plena de la misma en todas las unidades curriculares del Pensum de Estudio

Descriptive research was conducted in order to verify the inclusion of bioethics from the perspective of the transversal axis in the curricular units of the Dentistry School of the University of Zulia, during the academic year 2010, through of contents and bioethical objectives, relating the generals and teminals objectives of the curricular units. The design of research was created from a mixed-source (field and documentary), transactional univariate contemporary, the study population consisted of curriculum units from first to fifth year of the carrer of dentistry, the sample was of census type, were used techniques of document review and interview. For data processing we used the statistical program SPSS, version 14. The analysis of the results showed that 80% of programs have no bioethical contents, only 20% expresses them as the purpose of the curricular unit, 27,5% expresses them as general objectives, 30% as terminal objectives, 10% of the subjects as attitudinal specific objectives, 12,5% has cognitive objectives and 10% procedural. In conclusion, Dentistry School of the University of Zulia presents the bioethics as a transversal axis, however, still is not observed the full insertion of the same in all curricular units of study Pensum

[Brain vascular disease presenting as first manifestation of temporal arteritis: report of two cases]. / Doença encéfalo-vascular como primeira manifestação de arterite temporal: relato de dois casos.

Brain vascular disease as the first presentation of temporal arteritis is unusual. We present two cases in which the diagnosis emerged from the anamnesis. A 54 years old woman has had a left cerebral infarct 3 months ago. She was getting better when severe visual loss occurred and the family decided to get a second opinion. The patient have had right hemiparesis, aphasia and a left visual disturbance in the first episode; now she had severe bilateral visual disturbance. We suspected temporal arteritis was the etiology. HSR was 97 mm and fundoscopy disclosed severe ischemic optic neuritis. A 75 years old man presented Wallenberg syndrome. The history disclosed temporal headache and the examination showed inflammation in temporal artery. HSR was 70 mm and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. "Tecnolatry" is affecting medical practice; it's necessary to put back in the center the clinical sovereignty.

[Mail questionnaires. A useful strategy for the follow-up of patients with a cerebrovascular stroke?]. / Inquéritos postais. Uma estratégia útil para o seguimento de doentes com acidente vascular cerebral?

Although not frequently used in Portugal, postal questionnaires allow the collection of information on patient's follow-up. In this study we assessed the rate of response and the usefulness of a postal questionnaire in a sample of patients with acute stroke. A prospective study was designed and analysed as a case-control: postal questionnaires were sent to 138 patients together with a randomly assigned stamped or post-free return envelope. The percentage of responders was 60% (n=78) and we found no significant differences in response rates according to the mailing strategy (58% for stamped and 62% for post-free return envelopes, p = 0.786). The time gap between hospital discharge and sending of the questionnaire had no significant influence in the response rate. Elder patients and women tend to respond more frequently, but these characteristics also do not change the response rate. Analysing socio-demographic variables reported at the acute phase, we only found differences in response rate for the smoking status: smoking was associated with a lower participation. In conclusion, the present study showed that a postal questionnaire is a useful method for the follow-up of stroke cases and that we must pay special attention to smokers for whom alternative strategies of contact or information should be used to increase compliance with postal questionnaire follow-up.

[Human lagochilascariasis. 3 cases encountered in the Federal District, Brazil]. / Lagoquilascaríase humana. Sobre três casos encontrados no Distrito Federal, Brasil.

Three new cases of human infection with Lagochilascaris minor are reported. All the patients were from the state of Pará (Brazil), living in rural areas or close to the forest. They were admitted to hospitals in the Federal District due to the presence of abscesses in the region of the neck, ear, mastoid process and, in two of them, to the involvement also of the central nervous system. Microscopic examination of tissue samples taken from the lesions showed sections of eggs and worms--in different evolutive stages--identified as Lagochilascaris minor. Larvae and adult worms obtained from existing fistulae proved also to be of the same species. The three patients were treated with anthelmintic drugs and surgical excision of the lesions, with good clinical results. In two of them, however, relapsing occurred, suggesting that the drugs do not destroy the worm eggs, in spite of the apparent healing of the lesions.

Swimming escape learning in rats with telencephalic lesions.

Experiments were conducted to determine whether rats having unilateral or bilateral ablation of either the neocortex or telencephalon can learn to escape from a tank of water by climbing a platform. Hemi- or bilaterally decorticated rats were able to learn the swimming escape task, the same being observed for hemidetelencephalated rats. Fully detelencephalated rats, however, did not exhibit this capability. These results show that integrity of one of the cerebral hemispheres is necessary in order to allow swimming escape learning.

Swimming escape learning in rats with telencephalic lesions

Experiments were conducted to determine whether rats having unilateral or bilateral ablation of either the neocortex or telencephalon can learn to escape from a tank of water by climbing a platform. Hemi - or bilaterally decorticated rats were able to learn the swimming escape task, the same being observed for hemidetelencephalated rats. Fully detelencephalated rats, however, did not exhibit this capability. These results show that integrity of one the cerebral hemispheres is necessary in order to allow swimming escape learning

Rubeola congenita: sua importancia em nosso meio e sua profilaxia vacinal. / Congenital rebella: its importance in our environment and vaccine prophylaxis

Os autores pesquisaram a importancia da rubeola congenita em nosso meio, o valor da vacinacao na modificacao destes indices e o nivel de conhecimento relativo ao assunto das mulheres em idade gestacional. Para tanto,obtiveram indices de rubeola congenita em anos recentes em quatro hospitais que atendem camadas diversas do ponto de vista socio-economico da populacao da cidade de Sao Paulo,tendo entrevistado obstetras e parturientes e/ou puerperas.Concluem que a incidencia da rubeola congenita deve ser maior do que a encontrada e chamam a atencao para a pratica pouco comum do exame pre-nupcial, a baixa utilizacao da vacina preventiva da rubeola e as poucas informacoes que parturientes e puerperas tem dos riscos inerentes a esta infeccao