Francisco Prado Reis

MEtRIC MEASuREMEntS And AttACHMEnt lEvElS of tHE MEdIAl PAtEllofEMoRAl lIgAMEnt: An AnAtoMICAl Study In CAdAvERS

OBJECTIVE To determine the metric measurements and to verify the attachment levels of the medial patellofemoral ligament in human cadavers. METHODS Seventeen knees (eight right and nine left knees) from 10 cadavers (nine male and one female) were dissected and stored in a 10% formaldehyde solution. All of the knees were whole and did not show any macroscopic signs of injuries. RESULTS The medial patellofemoral ligament was present in 88% of the knees studied, localized transversally between the medial femoral epicondyle and the medial margin of the patella. Its dimensions were quite variable, even between the knees of the same individual. The width of the patellar insertion ranged from 16 to 38.8 mm, with a mean of 27.90 mm, and its mean length was 55.67 mm. The margins of the ligament were concave or rectilinear. At the upper margin, the concave form predominated and was better characterized, while at the lower margin, the rectilinear form predominated. CONCLUSIONS The medial patellofemoral ligament is a very distinct structure with variable anatomical aspects and is always located in a plane inferior to the vastus medialis obliquus muscle.

Effect of Bovine Type-I Collagen-Based Films Containing Red Propolis on Dermal Wound Healing in Rodent Model

El propoleo es un producto apiterapico ampliamente usado en medicina natural, que presenta diversas propiedades biologicas, como actividad bactericida y anti-inflamatoria, pero pocos informes han examinado la variedad brasilena del propoleo rojo. Peliculas de colageno han sido empleadas para mejorar la cicatrizacion de heridas y en algunos estudios se ha investigado el efecto de los productos naturales incorporados en estas peliculas. Asi el objetivo de este estudio fue analizar el efecto de las peliculas a base de colageno que contienen propoleo rojo en la cicatrizacion de heridas. Heridas realizadas en el dorso de ratas fueron revestidas con peliculas a base de colageno (G2) y con peliculas a base de colageno con propoleo rojo (G3), heridas sin revestimiento fueron utilizadas como control (G1). Despues de 3, 7 y 14 dias, las heridas fueron evaluadas microscopicamente. A los 7 dias G3 mostro un cambio del perfil de la respuesta inflamatoria de aguda a cronica, con aumento de la diferenciacion de las celulas plasmaticas, sustitucion de fibras de colageno tipo III por tipo I con mejora de la organizacion arquitectonica de estas fibras. Ademas, una ligera tendencia a una mejor epitelizacion se verifico en G3, pero no fue estadisticamente significativa. Tambien a los 7 dias, el conteo de microvasos fue mayor en G1 que en G2 (p=0,000) y G3 (p=0,001), pero similar entre los ultimos grupos (p=0,15), mientras que el perimetro de los microvasos fue mayor en G1 que en G2 (p=0,000) y G3 (p=0,002), pero equivalente en G2 y G3 (p=0,175) en 14 dias. En conclusion, la incorporacion de la variedad brasilena de propoleo rojo en peliculas a base de colageno fue capaz de mejorar la cicatrizacion de la herida, probablemente por la modulacion de la dinamica de la evolucion inflamatoria y del proceso de deposito de colageno.

Aging, heart rate variability and patterns of autonomic regulation of the heart.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effects of aging, gender and body mass index on the heart rate variability (HRV), and to compare the patterns of global autonomic regulation (GAR) and parasympathetic outflow (PO) throughout the aging process. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS CROSS-SECTIONAL: Large sample of community-based adults and elderly people. Individuals aged from 40 to 100 years, functionally independent and with satisfactory cognitive function defined as the self-capacity to interact with an interviewer (N= 1743). MATERIAL AND METHODS The study enrolled individuals of both genders, stratified into five age-groups. We did adjustments for hypertension, dyslipidemia and non-insulin-dependent diabetes, as well as the body mass index (BMI). All groups undertook long-term electrocardiograms and five time-domain HRV parameters were measured, three (SDNN, SDANN, SDNN-index) reflecting the GAR and two (rMSSD and pNN50) the PO. RESULTS SDNN, SDANN and SDNN-index decreased linearly with age and BMI, and women had lower values than men (p<0.001). There was a U-shaped pattern of rMSSD and pNN50, with the nadir between 60 and 69 years for both genders, and women had higher values than men (p<0.001). The lowest levels of all HRV variables were found in diabetics (p<0.001). There was no influence of hypertension or dyslipidemia. CONCLUSIONS The GAR decreased linearly with the age in both genders. It is comparatively lower in women, diabetics and overweight individuals. The PO presented the U-shape in both genders with the nadir at the 7th decade. It was also comparatively lower in men and diabetics. Hypertension and dyslipidemia imparted no significant influence.

The Occurrence of the Plantaris Muscle and its Muscle-Tendon Relationship in Adult Human Cadavers

Se estudiaron 20 miembros inferiores de cadaveres de adultos do sexo masculino con el fin de analizar la relacion anatomica de los musculos plantares y sus partes constitutivas. En todos las piezas estudiadas este musculo estaba presente y fue observado que la longitud del musculo en relacion a su vientre era aproximadamente tres veces superior a la del tendon.

Evaluation of agreement between clinical and histopathological data for classifying leprosy

BACKGROUND The diversity of clinical manifestations of leprosy has given rise to different classification systems. However, there are important differences in the sensitivity and specificity of these classifications. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agreement between clinical and histopathological data for classifying leprosy. METHODS A total of 1265 patient reports containing clinical and histopathological data relating to the diagnosis and classification of leprosy were included in this study. The diagnostic concordance between the clinical form (Madrid classification) and the histopathological type, as well as the initial and final classifications, was calculated by dividing the number of concordant cases by the total number of patients. RESULTS The overall agreement between the World Health Organization operational classification and the results of direct smear examination of the lesion for acid-fast bacilli was 84.8% (1073/1265). The clinical-histopathological agreement was 58.1% (735/1265). The indeterminate and lepromatous forms were those that showed the highest percentages of agreement: 72.1% (186/258) and 71.0% (142/200), respectively. CONCLUSION Although classifications based on clinical characteristics have an important role in the control of leprosy, they present flaws that can influence the adequacy of treatment. Therefore, a histopathological examination is important for appropriate treatment.

Prevalência da doença arterial obstrutiva periférica em doentes com insuficiência renal crônica

Background: Peripheral occlusive arterial disease has been found to be a sensitive marker of systemic atherosclerosis and a predictor of other cardiovascular diseases. In spite of the high prevalence of the cardiovascular diseases, there are few studies about peripheral occlusive arterial disease in patients with chronic renal failure under hemodialysis treatment. Objective: To determine the prevalence of peripheral occlusive arterial disease in patients with chronic renal failure under hemodialysis treatment at a center of excellence in the State of Sergipe, Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to November 2008 at a center of excellence for the treatment of patients with chronic renal failure. Those patients with the ankle-brachial index (ABI) ≤ 0.9 were diagnosed as having peripheral occlusive arterial disease. Results: From a population of 239 individuals with chronic renal failure, 201 were evaluated. Of that, 28 (14%) had peripheral arterial insufficiency with ABI ≤ 0.9. Their age ranged from 24 to 82 years (mean age = 52 years). Hypertension and dyslipidemia were the more frequent risk factors. Among the patients with peripheral occlusive arterial disease, 89% had dyslipidemia; 71% had high blood pressure; and 29% had coronary diseases. Conclusion: The prevalence of peripheral occlusive arterial disease in patients with chronic renal failure was 14%.

The Accessory Soleus Muscle: Case Report and a Review of the Literature

Durante una diseccion de rutina, se encontro un musculo soleo accesorio, en la pierna izquierda de un cadaver masculino. El musculo se localizaba posteromedialmente en la pierna, entre los musculos flexor largo de los dedos y largo del halux. Su origen estaba en el tercio superior de la fascia anterior del musculo soleo y su insercion se realizaba, a traves de un tendon en la superficie anteromedial del hueso calcaneo

A síndrome de burnout em profissionais da Rede de Atenção Primária à Saúde de Aracaju, Brasil

The Burnout Syndrome (SB) stems from the chronic emotional stress experienced by the worker, characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and low personal accomplishment. May involve professionals whose work relates directly to the public. Aims to assess the prevalence of SB and associated factors in higher education professionals, linked to the Primary Care Network Health in the city of Aracaju / SE, who answered the sociodemographic questionnaire and the Maslach Inventory for Burnout. The average age was 44.9 years, most nurses, women, married with children and graduate. The prevalence of SB was 6.7% to 10.8%, associated factors were younger age, excessive hours of work and job dissatisfaction. There was no difference between the categories evaluated and the majority does not have the SB. However, 54.1% had a high and moderate risk of developing this syndrome, reflecting a process of illness that threatens the welfare of top-level professionals from the Primary Care Network Health Aracaju - SE. These findings point to the importance of adopting preventive and interventional measures as collateral for a better working environment.The Burnout Syndrome (SB) stems from the chronic emotional stress experienced by the worker, characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and low personal accomplishment. May involve professionals whose work relates directly to the public. Aims to assess the prevalence of SB and associated factors in higher education professionals, linked to the Primary Care Network Health in the city of Aracaju / SE, who answered the sociodemographic questionnaire and the Maslach Inventory for Burnout. The average age was 44.9 years, most nurses, women, married with children and graduate. The prevalence of SB was 6.7% to 10.8%, associated factors were younger age, excessive hours of work and job dissatisfaction. There was no difference between the categories evaluated and the majority does not have the SB. However, 54.1% had a high and moderate risk of developing this syndrome, reflecting a process of illness that threatens the welfare of top-level professionals from the Primary Care Network Health Aracaju - SE. These findings point to the importance of adopting preventive and interventional measures as collateral for a better working environment.

Pharmacological evaluation of bee venom and melittin

The objective of this study was to identify the pharmacological effects of bee venom and its major component, melittin, on the nervous system of mice. For the pharmacological analysis, mice were treated once with saline, 0.1 or 1.2 mg/kg of bee venom and 0.1 mg/kg of melittin, subcutaneously, 30 min before being submitted to behavioral tests: locomotor activity and grooming (open-field), catalepsy, anxiety (elevated plus-maze), depression (forced swimming test) and apomorphine-induced stereotypy. Haloperidol, imipramine and diazepam were administered alone (positive control) or as a pre-treatment (haloperidol). The bee venom reduced motor activity and promoted cataleptic effect, in a similar manner to haloperidol. These effects were decreased by the pretreatment with haloperidol. Both melittin and bee venom decreased the apomorphine-induced stereotypies. The data indicated the antipsychotic activity of bee venom and melittin in a murine model.

Modulatory activity of brazilian red propolis on chemically induced dermal carcinogenesis

PURPOSE To evaluate modulatory effects of a hydroalcoholic extract of Brazilian red propolis (HERP) on dermal carcinogenesis using a murine model. METHODS The HERP was used at concentrations of 10, 50 and 100 mg/kg (PROP10, PROP50 and PROP100, respectively) to modulate dermal carcinogenesis induced by the application of 9,10-dimetil-1,2-benzatraceno (DMBA) on the backs of animals. RESULTS The chemical compounds identified in HERP included propyl gallate, catechin, epicatechin and formononetin. PROP100 treatment resulted in significantly decreased tumor multiplicity throughout the five weeks of tumor promotion (p<0.05), and this concentration also resulted in the highest frequency of verrucous tumors (p<0.05). All of the tumors that developed in DMBA-treated animals were regarded as squamous cell carcinomas and were either diagnosed as non-invasive verrucous carcinomas or invasive squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). The average score for malignancy was significantly lower in the PROP100-treated group than the non-treated group (p<0.05), but there was no difference between the other groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION The oral administration of hydroalcoholic extract of Brazilian red propolis at a dose of 100 mg/kg had a significant modulatory effect on the formation, differentiation and progression of chemically induced squamous cell carcinoma in a murine experimental model.