Serological investigation of protozoan pathogens (Trypanosoma cruzi, Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum) in opossums from southern Brazil.

South American opossums of the order Didelphimorphia are considered sentinels for zoonotic infections and environmental diseases, such as for Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of data regarding protozoan diseases such Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in Neotropical marsupials; despite these pathogens have been considered threats to some marsupial species. The aim of this study was to determine whether Didelphis albiventris and Philander frenatus opossums from southern Brazil had been previously exposed to T. cruzi, T. gondii or N. caninum. Opossum samples were obtained by live-trapping of free-ranging animals and collection at wildlife rehabilitation centers in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) state, Brazil. The detection of anti-T. cruzi and anti-T. gondii antibodies was performed by indirect hemagglutination and anti-N. caninum antibodies by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In total, samples were collected from 76 marsupials from nine municipalities in RS state, including 69 D. albiventris (white-eared opossum), and seven were P. frenatus (southern four-eyed opossum). For T. cruzi, 11% were seropositive, and for T. gondii 26% were seropositive. None of the marsupials sampled here were seropositive for N. caninum. Risk factor analysis showed that free-living animals were about five-fold more likely to be infected by T. gondii than were rescued animals. Our study showed the exposure of Neotropical marsupials (D. albiventris and P. frenatus) to protozoan pathogens T. cruzi and T. gondii, while no evidence of N. caninum exposure was found. The set of results presented here may have an effect on ecology and conservation of the studied species and may also indicate possible sentinels of these pathogen circulation.

Programa de reducción de estrés basado en mindfulness para funcionarios de la salud: experiencia piloto en un hospital público de Santiago de Chile / Mindfulness-based stress reduction for health care professionals: results from a pilot study in a public hospital in Santiago-Chile

Introducción: El programa de Reducción de Estrés basado en Mindfulness (MBSR) ha demostrado ser eficaz en el manejo de diversas condiciones médicas y psicológicas. El presente estudio evalúa la aplicabilidad y eficacia de MBSR en una población de funcionarías de la salud pública, usuarias de un centro médico-psicológico. Método: 12 funcionarias, heterogéneas en variables socio-demográficas y clínicas, participan en taller consistente en 9 sesiones (27 horas) de carácter educativo-experiencial. Se mide OQ-45 (cambio en psicoterapia), WHOQOL (calidad de vida) y FFMQ (habilidades en Mindfulness) antes y después de la intervención. Resultados: Se observa mejoría significativa en sintomatología ansiosa, depresiva y somática, en diversos aspectos de la calidad de vida, y en destrezas Mindfulness. Discusión: Intervención derivada de la medicina integrativa y participativa, aplicada por primera vez en una población clínica de trabajadoras de la salud de un hospital de Santiago. Informa beneficios en salud y bienestar. Despierta interés en nuevas formas de promoción de la salud y en el abordaje clínico de esta población.

Introduction: Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction program (MBSR) has shown to be effective for alleviating a wide range of mental and physical symptoms. The present study assesses the applicability and effect of MBSR in a group of health care providers, consumers of medical and psychological care. Method: 12 participants with heterogeneous diagnoses and socio-demographic characteristics entered this educational and experiential program: 9 sessions (27 hours) modality. We assessed change in psychotherapy (OQ-45), quality of life (WHOQOL) and in mindfulness skills (FFMQ). Results: MBSR reduced self-reported symptoms of anxiety, depression, and somatic distress; it increased various aspects of quality of life and mindfulness skills. Discussion: The findings provide evidence that MBSR may act as a beneficial adjunct to outpatient medical and psychological management of health care providers.

Clinical evaluation of clonidine added to lidocaine solution for subarachnoid analgesia in sheep.

Clonidine (CL) is a alpha2-adrenergic agonist that produces analgesia in animals and humans by a non-opiate alpha2-adrenergic action in the spinal cord dorsal horn. The objective of this prospective randomized study was to investigate the clinical effects of CL/lidocaine (LD) combination administered by the subarachnoid route in sheep. Each sheep received each of three treatments, at no shorter than weekly intervals. Treatments consisted of 0.003 mg/kg CL, 1.2 mg/kg LD and a combination of CL (0.003 mg/kg) and LD (1.2 mg/kg) (CLLD). Subarachnoid injections were given in all animals between the last lumbar and first sacral vertebra. Heart rate (HR), arterial pressures, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, analgesia, sedation, and motor blockade were determined before drug administration (basal) and 5, 10, 15 and 30 min after drug administration, and at 30-min intervals until loss of analgesia occurred. The duration of analgesia after subarachnoid CLLD administration was 187 +/- 24 min (mean +/- SD), i.e. more than twice of that obtained with CL (99 +/- 19 min) or LD (55 +/- 4.4 min) alone. In all sheep, CL, administered either alone or with LD, induced moderate sedation. After subarachnoid administration of three treatments, all sheep had ataxia and subsequent sternal recumbency. The CL treatment causes decreases in blood pressure (diastolic arterial pressure and mean arterial pressure) and HR. Data suggest that the CLLD combination could be used subarachnoidally in sheep requiring prolonged surgery.

Cateterización venosa suprahepática en cuatro casos de shock séptico severo / Suprahepatic vein oxygen saturation monitoring and gastric tonometry in the management of severe septic shock: report of 4 cases

Splanchnic hypoperfusion, with pathogenic implications for multiple organ failure, can occur during septic shock. We report four patients with septic shock in whom regional hepatosplenic splanchnic perfusion was monitored through suprahepatic vein catheterization and gastric tonometry. Suprahepatic lactate and oxygen saturation showed splanchnic hypoperfusion in all patients. These parameters improved only in the patient that survived. Gastric tonometry was more inconsistent. We conclude that suprahepatic vein catheterization could have a role in the management of septic shock