Potential breeding containers of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) at strategic points in a city in the eastern region of Maranhão.

Potential breeding containers for Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are found in different environments, these places are considered by the National Dengue Control Program in Brazil as strategic points (SP), which have favorable conditions for the development of those insects. The aim of this study is to identify potential breeding containers for A. aegypti and A. albopictus at strategic points in the city of Codó, Maranhão. This study was conducted in five districts, one in each administrative area of the city. A survey of the types and quantity of existing strategic points in each neighborhood was carried out, and surveys of these properties were carried out to inspect the potential breeding containers, with the collection of the vectors' number of immatures found at them. 125 properties were inspected of which 76.91% and 81.25% were vacant lots in the dry and rainy seasons, respectively. There was a difference between the median of the different strategic points (H = 21.96; p < 0.0001), For A. aegypti, there was no difference between the medians of number of immatures regarding the strategic points (H = 3.71; p = 0.28). The total number of immature A. albopictus was higher in vacant lots than in workshops (H = 9.41; p = 0.02, p < 0.05). 4,356 and 4,911 potential breeding containers were found in the dry and rainy seasons, respectively. Regarding the potential breeding containers, 7 (0.16%) and 47 (0.96%) were found with immature vectors, in the dry and rainy seasons, respectively. There were more positive containers in the rainy season for which there was a difference between the median of the number of mosquitoes per positive container (H = 15.66; p = 0.01), the number of immatures for the tires group was greater than Vases and Fixed groups (p < 0.05); the same result was observed in the analyses of the species in the separate form. The impressive number of potential breeding containers found in the SP in both seasons highlights the importance of developing control strategies for these vectors, with emphasis on places such as vacant lots, workshops, tire shops and junkyards, which are serving as dispersal urban sites of vectors.

Interpreting the Significance of Changes in Health-Related Quality-of-Life Scores.

PURPOSE: To determine the significance to patients of changes in health-related quality-of-life (HLQ) scores assessed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A subjective significance questionnaire (SSQ), which asks patients about perceived changes in physical, emotional, and social functioning and in global quality of life (global QL) and the QLQ-C30 were completed by patients who received chemotherapy for either breast cancer or small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). In the SSQ, patients rated their perception of change since the last time they completed the QLQ-C30 using a 7-category scale that ranged from "much worse" through "no change" to "much better." For each category of change in the SSQ, the corresponding differences were calculated in QLQ-C30 mean scores and effect sizes were determined. RESULTS: For patients who indicated "no change" in the SSQ, the mean change in scores in the corresponding QLQ-C30 domains was not significantly different from 0. For patients who indicated "a little" change either for better or for worse, the mean change in scores was about 5 to 10; for "moderate" change, about 10 to 20; and for "very much" change, greater than 20. Effect sizes increased in concordance with increasing changes in SSQ ratings and QLQ-C30 scores. CONCLUSION: The significance of changes in QLQ-C30 scores can be interpreted in terms of small, moderate, or large changes in quality of life as reported by patients in the SSQ. The magnitude of these changes also can be used to calculate the sample sizes required to detect a specified change in clinical trials.

Design and development of a compact ion implanter and plasma diagnosis facility based on a 2.45 GHz microwave ion source.

A project on developing a 2.45 GHz microwave ion source based compact ion implanter and plasma diagnostic facility has been taken up by the Central University of Punjab, Bathinda. It consists of a double-wall ECR plasma cavity, a four-step ridge waveguide, an extraction system, and an experimental beam chamber. The mechanical design has been carried out in such a way that both types of experiments, plasma diagnosis and ion implantation, can be easily accommodated simultaneously and separately. To optimize microwave coupling to the ECR plasma cavity, a four-step ridge waveguide is designed. Microwave coupling simulation for the ECR plasma cavity has been performed at different power inputs using COMSOL Multiphysics. An enhanced electric field profile has been obtained at the center of the ECR plasma cavity with the help of a four-step ridge waveguide compared to the WR284 waveguide. The magnetic field distribution for two magnetic rings and the extraction system's focusing properties have been simulated using the computer simulation technique. A tunable axial magnetic field profile has been obtained with a two permanent magnetic ring arrangement. The dependency of the beam emittance and beam current on accelerating voltages up to 50 kV has been simulated with different ions. It shows that ion masses have a great impact on the beam emittance and output current. This facility has provision for in situ plasma diagnosis using a Langmuir probe and optical emission spectroscopy setups. This system will be used for ion implantation, surface patterning, and studies of basic plasma sciences.

Effects of bilateral lung transplantation on cardiac autonomic modulation and cardiorespiratory coupling: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Although cardiac autonomic modulation has been studied in several respiratory diseases, the evidence is limited on lung transplantation, particularly on its acute and chronic effects. Thus, we aimed to evaluate cardiac autonomic modulation before and after bilateral lung transplantation (BLT) through a prospective study on patients enrolled while awaiting transplant. METHODS: Twenty-two patients on the waiting list for lung transplantation (11 women, age 33 [24-51] years) were enrolled in a prospective study at Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Hospital in Milan, Italy. To evaluate cardiac autonomic modulation, ten minutes ECG and respiration were recorded at different time points before (T0) and 15 days (T1) and 6 months (T2) after bilateral lung transplantation. As to the analysis of cardiac autonomic modulation, heart rate variability (HRV) was assessed using spectral and symbolic analysis. Entropy-derived measures were used to evaluate complexity of cardiac autonomic modulation. Comparisons of autonomic indices at different time points were performed. RESULTS: BLT reduced HRV total power, HRV complexity and vagal modulation, while it increased sympathetic modulation in the acute phase (T1) compared to baseline (T0). The HRV alterations remained stable after 6 months (T2). CONCLUSION: BLT reduced global variability and complexity of cardiac autonomic modulation in acute phases, and these alterations remain stable after 6 months from surgery. After BLT, a sympathetic predominance and a vagal withdrawal could be a characteristic autonomic pattern in this population.

Dietary nucleotide supplementation as an alternative to in-feed antibiotics in weaned piglets.

Nucleotides are important to cell growth and division and are crucial to the rapid proliferation of such cells as the intestinal mucosa and immune cells. Accordingly, the nucleotide requirements of animals are high during periods of rapid growth and periods of stress like post-weaning period. Thus, nucleotide supplementation may be a possible alternative to in-feed antibiotics as growth promoter in this phase. The study aimed to evaluate dietary nucleotide supplementation as an alternative to in-feed antibiotics on performance and gut health of weaned piglets. Ninety-six 21-day-old piglets, weighing 7.44 ±â€¯0.65 kg, were allocated into 1 of 3 treatments (8 pens per treatment; 4 pigs per pen) in a 14-day trial. Dietary treatments consisted of control: corn-soybean meal-based diet; nucleotides: control +2 g/kg of a nutritional additive with purified nucleotides; and antibiotic: control +0.8 g/kg of antibiotic growth promoter based on colistin and tylosin. Performance variables and fecal score were not affected (P > 0.05) by supplementing nucleotide or antibiotic. Nucleotides treatment had similar effect to antibiotic and superior to control (P < 0.05) on enhancing duodenum villus height, jejunum crypt depth, and reduction of Paneth cellular area. Duodenum and ileum of animals supplemented with nucleotides or antibiotics had higher (P < 0.05) number of proliferating cells than did those of control animals, whereas the jejunum of animals that received antibiotic diets presented more (P < 0.05) proliferating cells than either the nucleotides or control animals. Jejunum of nucleotide-treated piglets showed a greater number of apoptotic cells than those fed antibiotic or control diets (P < 0.05). Nucleotides and antibiotic treatments decreased the B lymphocyte counts in duodenum and ileum (P < 0.05) but increased in the jejunum (P < 0.05), when compared to the control treatment. Relative abundance of mitogen-activated protein kinases-6, haptoglobin, and tumor necrosis factor-α mRNA was not influenced (P > 0.05) by treatments. In the ileal, antibiotic supplementation reduced total bacteria quantification compared to nucleotide supplementation or the control (P < 0.05), whereas nucleotides supplementation increased enterobacteria proliferation compared to the antibiotic or control diets (P < 0.05). However, nucleotides and antibiotic reduced (P < 0.05) colon total bacteria quantification when compared to control. These results suggest that the nucleotides source used to weaned piglets improved gut health by modulating the local immune response and modulating intestinal mucosa development, and, therefore, nucleotides may be an alternative to antibiotics as growth promoters.

Cardiometabolic risk factors associated with educational level in older people: comparison between Norway and Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The non-communicable diseases are the major causes of death both worldwide and in high-income countries such as Norway. Understanding whether policy programs affect the health of older adults, especially considering different realities, is crucial. We aimed to analyse cardiometabolic risk factors associated with educational level in elderly people from Norway and Brazil. METHODS: A total of 555 elderly people recruited from Trondheim, Norway (n = 310, age 70.7 ± 0.8 years, body mass index (BMI) 26.2 ± 3.9 kg/m2) and from Ribeirao Preto, Brazil (n = 245, age 64.1 ± 8.1 years, BMI 28.2 ± 5.5 kg/m2). All analyses were adjusted for age and sex, considering country as an independent variable. The significance level considered was P < 0.05. RESULTS: Brazilian people presented a higher incidence of overweight and higher waist circumference (WC) compared to Norwegian (28.2 ± 5.5 kg/m2 and 97.0 ± 14.7 cm versus 26.4 ± 3.9 kg/m2 and 92.1 ± 11.2 cm, respectively). When classified by education level, Brazilians presented higher values for BMI, WC and triglycerides (TG) than Norwegians with the same level of education (incomplete higher education), while Norwegians presented higher values for systolic blood pressure (SBP), cholesterol total (CT), high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and handgrip strength. CONCLUSIONS: Both nationalities presented important cardiometabolic risk factors. However, when considering a low level of education, the Brazilian elderly people presented more cardiometabolic risk factors than Norwegians.

Pyroligneous acid from Mimosa tenuiflora and Eucalyptus urograndis as an antimicrobial in dairy goats.

AIMS: To evaluate the applicability of the Mimosa tenuiflora and Eucalyptus urograndis pyroligneous acids (PAs) as alternative antiseptics in dairy goats. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cytotoxicity was evaluated in vitro using bacteria, as well as in vivo using goats, and the influence of PAs on the physicochemical parameters of fresh milk were examined. The cytotoxicity of PAs was evaluated in terms of morphology, cell viability and metabolic activity of goat tegumentary cells. The PA of M. tenuiflora had results similar to those of 2% iodine. For the in vitro tests, strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were used with the well technique, demonstrating inhibition halos greater than 9 mm. In the in vivo test, 15 animals were used per phase of the experiment, and the plate counting technique showed that there was antiseptic action of both extracts, with emphasis on the M. tenuiflora PA. Physicochemical analysis of the milk showed that neither PAs interfered with its physical-chemical parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The PA of M. tenuiflora presented potential as an alternative antiseptic in dairy goats. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study demonstrates the use of PA as an antimicrobial agent in animals.

Composition of semen and foreskin mucosa aerobic microbiota and its impact on sperm parameters of captive collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu).

AIM: To evaluate the bacterial composition of collared peccary semen and foreskin mucosa, and to verify the sensitivity of isolates to antimicrobials used in semen conservation and to Aloe vera gel, which is an alternative external cryoprotectant. METHODS AND RESULTS: Nine foreskin mucosa and ejaculate samples from adult animals were used. Sperm characteristics and bacterial load were evaluated in fresh semen. The preputial mucosa and semen bacterial isolates were identified and tested against five concentrations of each antimicrobial (streptomycin-penicillin and gentamicin) and A. vera gel. Corynebacterium sp. and Staphylococcus sp. were isolated in greater numbers than others in both semen (64·10 and 20·51%, respectively) and the foreskin mucosa (60·60 and 24·25%, respectively), and ranged from 0·4 to 21 × 105 colony-forming units (CFU) per ml. The average load of Corynebacterium sp. was negatively correlated (P < 0·05) with the sperm membrane integrity (r = -0·73055) and curvilinear velocity (r = -0·69048). Streptomycin-penicillin and gentamicin inhibited most micro-organisms, and A. vera showed lower antimicrobial activity. CONCLUSION: Several Gram-positive bacteria are present in semen and foreskin mucosa of collared peccary, and the benefits of using primarily penicillin-streptomycin and gentamicin antimicrobials in the bacterial control of diluted semen of these animals are strongly indicated. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study provides insight into the reproductive microbiota of captive male-collared peccary. This work provides a theoretical basis to assist reproductive biotechnologies for ex situ conservation of the species.

Effect of different extracts and fractions of Senecio biafrae (Oliv. &Hiern) J. Moore on in vivo and in vitro parameters of folliculogenesis in experimental animals.

BACKGROUND: Senecio biafrae is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine to cure female infertility. Some effects have been pharmacologically demonstrated on immature female rats but in vivo and in vitro investigations are still necessary for determining its mechanism of action. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the estrogenic and FSH-like effects of the plant extracts and fractions on some fertility parameters in immature female rats and on in vitro survival and growth of swine preantral follicles. METHODS: 21-23 days old female Wistar rats orally received extracts and fractions of S. biafrae at 0, 8 and 64 mg/kg doses over 20 days. The LH, FSH, estradiol and progesterone serum levels were evaluated as well as the ovarian cholesterol, uterus and ovaries masses and proteins. The numbers of follicles at different developmental stages were recorded in ovarian cortexes after histology. Slices of swine ovarian cortexes were cultured along 1 or 7 days in alpha-minimum essential medium (α-MEM) and fixed for morphological analysis of preantral follicles. The fresh control, cultured control (CIV control) and different Senecio biafrae-treated ovarian fragments were analyzed for preantral follicles development. Treatments that showed the best follicle growth in culture were submitted to AgNOR test. The aqueous and MeOH/CH2Cl2 extracts as well as the ethyl acetate and hexane fractions of S. biafrae were submitted to the HPLC for analysis of polyphenolic secondary metabolites. RESULTS: Ovarian and uterine proteins were significantly high (p < 0.01) in animals treated with the two dosages of ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions. The same result was recorded with uterine proteins in animals treated with the hexane fraction. The FSH level significantly dropped with all ethanolic extract doses and with the 64 mg/kg dosage of the methanol/methylene chloride (MeOH/CH2Cl2) extract while LH was reduced (p < 0.01) in almost all the treated groups. Estradiol level was significantly increased (p < 0.001) in the three groups receiving the extracts, but reduced (p < 0.001) in the three groups receiving the fractions of the plant. The progesterone level increased with almost all the treated groups. Primary and secondary follicles augmented (p < 0.01) in MeOH/CH2Cl2 extract and n-butanol fraction while tertiary follicles increased with the same extract and the ethyl acetate fraction (p < 0.05). Treatments with aqueous and ethanolic extracts as well as ethyl acetate fraction led to a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the number of morphologically normal follicles after 7 days of culture as compared to the CIV control. The number of AgNOR dots per follicle was significantly low (p < 0.05) in all cultured groups as compared to the fresh control, except the ethyl acetate 2.8 ng/ml dosage. The same observation was done with AgNOR dots per cell in the 2.8 ng/ml dosage aqueous extract-treated fragments. The phenolic compounds mainly encountered in the plant, independently of the extract or fraction are apigenin, eugenol and rutin. CONCLUSION: Extracts and fractions of S. biafrae have an important FSH-like effect which induces follicular survival and growth.

Energy-dependent effect trial of photobiomodulation on blood pressure in hypertensive rats.

The main purpose of this work was to construct an energy-dependent response curve of photobiomodulation on arterial pressure in hypertension animal model. To reach this objective, we have used a two-kidney one clip (2K-1C) rat model. Animals received acute laser light irradiation (660 nm) on abdominal region using different energy (0.6, 1.8, 3.6, 7.2, 13.8, 28.2, 55.8, and 111.6 J), the direct arterial pressure was measured by femoral cannulation, and systolic arterial pressure (SAP), diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), heart rate (HR), and time of effect were obtained. Our results indicated that 660 nm laser light presents an energy-dependent hypotensive effect, and 28.2 J energy irradiation reached the maximum hypotensive effect, inducing a decreased SAP, DAP, and HR (decrease in SAP: - 19.23 ± 1.82 mmHg, n = 11; DAP: - 9.57 ± 2.23 mmHg, n = 11; HR: - 39.15 ± 5.10 bpm, n = 11; and time of hypotensive effect: 3068.00 ± 719.00 s, n = 11). The higher energy irradiation evaluated (111.6 J) did not induce a hypotensive effect and induced an increase in HR (21.69 ± 7.89 bpm, n = 7). Taken together, our results indicate that red laser energy irradiation from 7.2 to 55.8 J is the effective therapeutic window to reduce SAP, DAP, MAP, and HR and induce a long-lasting hypotensive effect in rats, with effect loss at higher energy irradiation (111.6 J).

O paradoxo da inclusão: a relevância da escuta do sujeito nos CAPS / The paradox of inclusion: the relevance of listening the subject in the CAPS / El parado de la inclusión: la relevancia de la escucha del sujeto en los CAPS

O artigo tem por objetivo problematizar o trabalho realizado nos serviços substitutivos de saúde mental, enfatizando os Centros de Atenção Psicossocial (CAPS), que se baseiam nos preceitos da Reforma Psiquiátrica. Por intermédio de fragmentos de um relato do caso de uma jovem acompanhada pelo serviço, tomaremos a psicanálise como eixo condutor de nossa discussão e, como método de interlocução com a realidade encontrada no serviço, a psicanálise aplicada. Procederemos a uma discussão acerca da escuta do sujeito psicótico, seus impactos no trabalho da equipe, bem como as consequências da proposta de inclusão social, na construção do laço social dos usuários do serviço. Conclui-se que os princípios norteadores da luta antimanicomial, em especial a antinomia exclusão/inclusão, desconsideram a noção de sujeito no contexto da prática nos serviços substitutivos. Propõe-se que o trabalho em equipe, no manejo da clínica da psicose, considere a escuta clínica e a construção singular que cada sujeito encontra para lidar com o sofrimento.

The article aims to problematize the work performed in the substitutive services of mental health, emphasizing the Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPS), which are based on the precepts of the Psychiatric Reform. Through fragments of an account of the case of a young woman accompanied by the service, we will take psychoanalysis as the guiding axis of our discussion and, as a method of interlocution with the reality found in the service, applied psychoanalysis. We will discuss the listening of the psychotic subject, their impact on the work of the team, as well as the consequences of the social inclusion proposal, in the construction of the social bond of the users of the service. It is concluded that the guiding principles of anti-asylum control, especially the exclusion / inclusion antinomy, disregard the notion of subject in the context of practice in substitutive services. It is proposed that the teamwork, in the management of the psychosis clinic, consider the clinical listening and the singular construction that each subject find to deal with the suffering.

El artículo tiene por objetivo problematizar el trabajo realizado en los servicios sustitutivos de salud mental, enfatizando los Centros de Atención Psicosocial (CAPS), que se basan en los preceptos de la Reforma Psiquiátrica. Por intermedio de fragmentos de un relato del caso de una joven acompañada por el servicio, tomaremos el psicoanálisis como eje conductor de nuestra discusión y, como método de interlocución con la realidad encontrada en el servicio, el psicoanálisis aplicado. Procederemos a una discusión acerca de la escucha del sujeto psicótico, sus impactos en el trabajo del equipo, así como las consecuencias de la propuesta de inclusión social, en la construcción del lazo social de los usuarios del servicio. Se concluye que los principios orientadores de la lucha antimanicomial, en particular la antinomia exclusión / inclusión, desconsideran la noción de sujeto en el contexto de la práctica en los servicios sustitutivos. Se propone que el trabajo en equipo, en el manejo de la clínica de la psicosis, considere la escucha clínica y la construcción singular que cada sujeto encuentra para lidiar con el sufrimiento.

Ulcerated bleeding palisaded encapsulated neuroma of the tongue.

INTRODUCTION: Palisaded encapsulated neuroma (PEN) is a benign lesion of Schwann cells and its occurrence in the oral mucosa especially the tongue is very rare. CASE REPORT: This article describes a case of a 41-year-old male, a chronic smoker with an actively bleeding, ulcerated, solitary, firm lesion on the lateral border of the tongue which had bled thrice before. A differential diagnosis of pyogenic granuloma, haemangioma, fibroma, nerve sheath tumour, salivary gland tumour and malignancy was made and surgically excised. Histopathology of the excised specimen revealed a well-circumscribed lesion with spindle-shaped cells arranged in interlacing fascicles and with the help of immunohistochemical markers confirmed it to be a PEN. DISCUSSION: To our knowledge, this is the first description of an ulcerated PEN presented with an active bleed.

Sequestrating anionic and cationic dyes from wastewater using spray dried biopolymeric magnetic composite: Experimental and theoretical studies.

Spray dried cross-linked chitosan/cobalt ferrite composite was synthesized and applied as an adsorbent for the removal of acid orange II and methylene blue. The composite was structurally, thermally, morphologically and magnetically characterized. The result obtained shows that the magnetic composite was in form of microspheres, while cobalt ferrite was encapsulated in the cross-linked chitosan with saturation magnetization of 10.79 emu g-1. Adsorption studies revealed that acid orange II adsorbed more favorably on the composite than methylene blue. The adsorption process is spontaneous and exothermic. Liu isotherm model was found to be applicable for the adsorption process. Computational studies showed that the formation of hydrogen bond between acid orange II and the magnetic composite (at both acidic and alkaline pH) contributed to its better adsorption than methylene blue. Adsorption capacity of acid orange II at pH 3 and methylene blue at pH 12 are 542 and 173 mg g-1 respectively at 303 K base on Liu isotherm model.

The impact of the winery's wastewater treatment system on the winery water footprint.

In the Mediterranean region, water scarcity has already prompted concern in the wine sector due to the strong impact it has on vineyard productivity and wine quality. Water footprint is an indicator that takes account of all the water involved in the creation of a product and may help producers to identify hotspots, and reduce water consumption and the corresponding production costs. In recent years several studies have been reported on wine water footprint determination, but mostly focused on the viticulture phase or assuming no grey water footprint at the winery since it has a treatment system. In the framework of the WineWaterFootprint project a medium-size winery was monitored, with direct measurements, regarding determination of the blue and grey components of water footprint. The determined winery water footprint ranged from 9.6 to 12.7 L of water per wine bottle of 0.75 L, the wastewater produced being responsible for about 98%, which means that the grey component cannot be disregarded. The developed scenarios show that a potential reduction of 87% in winery water footprint can be obtained with almost no investment. The challenge of reducing the grey footprint is not in technology development, but rather in the proper maintenance and monitoring of treatment systems.

The role of oligodendrocytes in chronic pain: cellular and molecular mechanisms.

Oligodendrocytes are glial cells responsible for the myelination of axons within the central nervous system. Many studies have demonstrated that glial cells, mainly microglia and astrocytes, are actively involved in many pathological pain states. Although oligodendrocytes have been widely studied in relation to neurodegenerative diseases, their role in pain genesis in the spinal cord is minimally described and not well understood. Few studies have proposed novel molecules or mechanisms of interaction with consistent evidence of oligodendrocyte participation in the central pain process; however, recent findings support a potential role of oligodendrocytes in chronic pain. Therefore, this review aimed to gather and analyze scientific findings related to the contribution of oligodendrocytes to this symptom. Based on these previous studies, we focused on describing the specific mechanisms involved in the participation of oligodendrocytes in pain genesis.

Assessment of serotonergic system in formation of memory and learning / Avaliação do sistema serotonérgico na formação de memória e aprendizagem

Abstract We evaluated the involvement of the serotonergic system on memory formation and learning processes in healthy adults Wistar rats. Fifty-seven rats of 5 groups had one serotonergic nuclei damaged by an electric current. Electrolytic lesion was carried out using a continuous current of 2mA during two seconds by stereotactic surgery. Animals were submitted to learning and memory tests. Rats presented different responses in the memory tests depending on the serotonergic nucleus involved. Both explicit and implicit memory may be affected after lesion although some groups showed significant difference and others did not. A damage in the serotonergic nucleus was able to cause impairment in the memory of Wistar. The formation of implicit and explicit memory is impaired after injury in some serotonergic nuclei.

Resumo Avaliar a participação do sistema serotoninérgico em processos de formação de memória e aprendizagem em ratos Wistar adultos saudáveis. Cinquenta e sete ratos de 5 grupos tinham um núcleo serotoninérgico danificado por uma corrente elétrica. A lesão eletrolítica foi realizada utilizando uma corrente contínua de 2 mA durante dois segundos por cirurgia estereotáxica. Os animais foram submetidos a testes de aprendizagem e memória. Os ratos apresentaram respostas diferentes nos testes de memória, dependendo do núcleo serotoninérgica envolvido. A memória explícita e implícita pode ser afetada após a lesão, embora alguns grupos apresentaram diferença significativa e outros não. A lesão no núcleo serotoninérgico foi capaz de causar danos na memória de Wistar. A formação da memória implícita e explícita é prejudicada após a lesão em alguns núcleos serotoninérgicos.

Survival outcome differences based on treatments used and knowledge of the primary tumour site for patients with cancer of unknown and known primary in Ontario.

Introduction: Patients with cancer of unknown primary (cup) have pathologically confirmed metastatic tumours with unidentifiable primary tumours. Currently, very little is known about the relationship between the treatment of patients with cup and their survival outcomes. Thus, we compared oncologic treatment and survival outcomes for patients in Ontario with cup against those for a cohort of patients with metastatic cancer of known primary site. Methods: Using the Ontario Cancer Registry and the Same-Day Surgery and Discharge Abstract databases maintained by the Canadian Institute for Health Information, we identified all Ontario patients diagnosed with metastatic cancer between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2005. Ontario Health Insurance Plan treatment records were linked to identify codes for surgery, chemotherapy, or therapeutic radiation related to oncology. Multivariable Cox regression models were constructed, adjusting for histology, age, sex, and comorbidities. Results: In 45,347 patients (96.3%), the primary tumour site was identifiable, and in 1743 patients (3.7%), cup was diagnosed. Among the main tumour sites, cup ranked as the 6th largest. The mean Charlson score was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) in patients with cup (1.88) than in those with a known primary (1.42). Overall median survival was 1.9 months for patients with cup compared with 11.9 months for all patients with a known-primary cancer. Receipt of treatment was more likely for patients with a known primary site (n= 35,012, 77.2%) than for those with cup (n = 891, 51.1%). Among patients with a known primary site, median survival was significantly higher for treated than for untreated patients (19.0 months vs. 2.2 months, p < 0.0001). Among patients with cup, median survival was also higher for treated than for untreated patients (3.6 months vs. 1.1 months, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: In Ontario, patients with cup experience significantly lower survival than do patients with metastatic cancer of a known primary site. Treatment is associated with significantly increased survival both for patients with cup and for those with metastatic cancer of a known primary site.