Marcelo Tavares Viana

Headache precipitated by Valsalva maneuvers in patients with congenital Chiari I malformation

The objective of this study was to characterize the headache precipitated by Valsalva maneuvers associated with Chiari type I malformation (CM-1). Nineteen patients were evaluated, with ages ranging from 30 to 75 years. Ten of them presented headache. Pain was more prevalent in the occipital (80%) and frontal region (60%). The headaches were of significantly shorter duration in the women compared with the men. The frequency of headache crises was relatively high. All patients with Valsalva-related headache suffered from at least one episode per month. The most prevalent precipitating factors were coughing, which is well described in the literature, and sexual activity, which only now is recognized as an event associated with CM-1.

Efeito da desnutrição neonatal sobre o recrutamento celular e a atividade oxidante-antioxidante de macrófagos em ratos adultos endotoxêmicos

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess if neonatal malnutrition impairs cell recruitment to the lungs and the oxidant-antioxidant activity of alveolar macrophages in adult endotoxemic rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats (n=48) were divided into two groups and suckled by dams fed experimental diets containing a normal protein content of 23% (nourished group) and a low protein content of 8% (undernourished group) during lactation. After weaning, all animals received a normal protein diet. Between 90 and 120 days, half of each group was submitted to endotoxemia by intraperitoneal administration of 1mg/kg of body weight of lipopolysaccharide. Blood was collected 24 hours after this procedure for total and differential leukocyte count and measurement of nitric oxide. Bronchoalveolar lavage was also done to determine total and differential leukocyte count and measure superoxide, nitric oxide and superoxide dismutase in the macrophages isolated from this lavage. RESULTS: Malnourished animals remained underweight until adulthood. Furthermore, the following also decreased: total blood leukocyte count, number of neutrophils after lipopolysaccharide administration and production of superoxide, nitric oxide and superoxide dismutase before and after induced endotoxemia. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that neonatal malnutrition, even after nutritional recovery, compromises cell recruitment to lungs and the oxidant-antioxidant activity of alveolar macrophages of adult rats. Endotoxemia contributes to evidence these sequelae to the host response before this model of malnutrition.

Effect of Mercurius solubilis on the bacteriological response in the alveolitis process in rats

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess the bacteriological response in alveolitis in rats treated with the homeopathic medicine Merc solubilis (Merc sol.) 12 cH. METHODS The study was randomized and observer blind. The animals were anesthetized and the upper right incisor extracted resulting in alveolitis. Animals were randomly assigned to groups (n=18/group): Water control, Alcohol control and Merc sol. 12 cH. These groups were subsequently divided into 3 subgroups (n=6/subgroup): Early Euthanasia (EE), Mid Euthanasia (ME) and Late Euthanasia (LE), killed at the 6th, 15th and 21st days respectively. The perialveolar microbiota was collected by swab in Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) for seeding and bacterioscopy. After seeding, the Petri dishes were incubated at 37 degrees C for 48 h. RESULTS Quantitative and qualitative changes were observed in the perialveolar microbiota when the groups were compared. Water control and Alcohol control had the highest counts of pathogenic bacteria, the microbiotica of the Merc sol. group remained closer to normal. CONCLUSIONS Merc sol. 12 cH did not reduce bacterial growth, but the microbiotica remained within the parameters of normality, obtaining the best results at 21 days after treatment.

Neonatal administration of fluoxetine did not alter the anxiety indicators, but decreased the locomotor activity in adult rats in the elevated plus-maze

The objective of this study was evaluate the anxiety and locomotor activity (LA) in 52 Wistar adult male rats, being 26 treated with fluoxetine (10 mg/Kg - sc) in the neonatal period. These same rats received foot shock (FS) (1.6-mA - 2-s) in the 90th day. The anxiety and LA were appraised by plus-maze. The time spent in the open arms was used as anxiety index and the LA was measured by number of entries in closed arms (NECA) and the total of entries (TE). T-test was used with p<0.05 and expresses data in mean+/-SEM. There were reductions with the fluoxetine group in the NECA (2.35+/-0.33) and in the TE (3.96+/-0.61) compared to the controls (4.65+/-0.52) and (6.96+/-0.94). The neonatal administration of fluoxetine did not alter the anxiety, but reduced the LA in the animals that received FS.

Hematological and immunological effects of stress of air traffic controllers in northeastern Brazil

Background Several studies have shown that stress and emotional reactions can affect immune responses in animals and humans. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate hematological and immunological effects of stress on air traffic controllers. Methods Thirty air traffic controllers and 15 aeronautical information service operators were evaluated. The groups were divided as information service operators with 10 years or more of experience (AIS≥10) and with less than 10 years in the profession (AIS<10) and air traffic controllers with 10 years or more of experience (ATCo≥10) and with less than 10 years in the profession (ATCo<10). Blood samples were drawn at 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The paired t-test was used to compare monocyte and nitric oxide concentrations and ANOVA was used for the other parameters. Results The ATCo≥10 group presented a significantly lower phagocytosis rate of monocytes at 2:00 p.m. compared to 8:00 a.m. Moreover, the ATCo≥10 group presented lower hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, platelet and leukocyte levels, and increased cortisol concentrations at 8:00 a.m. compared to the other groups. Additionally, this group had lower phagocytosis rate of monocytes, and hemoglobin, platelet, leukocyte, basophils and nitric oxide levels at 2:00 p.m. compared to the other groups. Conclusion Stress seems to greatly affect immune responses of air traffic controllers with more than ten years of experience.

Atividade antioxidante de macrófagos alveolares em ratos endotoxêmicos

The effects of endotoxemia on the antioxidant activity in alveolar macrophages of Wistar rats were evaluated. Twenty-four male rats, 90-120 days of age, were separated into 2 groups: control and endotoxemic. To the endotoxemic animals was administered, intraperitoneally, a lipopolyssaccaride at dosage of 1mg/kg body weight. Twenty-four hours after this procedure, blood was collected for total and differential leukocytes counts. In addition, bronchoalveolar lavage was collected for total and differential leukocyte counting. From this lavage macrophages were isolated for the dosage of superoxide and superoxide dismutase. The endotoxemia increased the total leukocyte counts and the number of neutrophils in the peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage of the rats. There was an increased superoxide production without changing the superoxide dismutase. Our findings indicate that endotoxemia induces lung inflammatory response. However, it does not alter the antioxidant activity in adult rats. This fact not only enhances host response against infectious agents, but might also contribute to the pathogenesis of pulmonary injury.

Influência do treino fisico moderado sobre a estrutura da parede arterial de ratos submetidos à desnutrição proteica gestacional e neonatal

We evaluated the effects of moderate physical training (MPT) associated with nutritional recovery on the left common carotid artery and horizontal carotid walls in 24 male, Wistar adult male rats submitted to protein malnutrition on the gestational and neonatal phases. The animals were divided in Nourished (N, n=12, casein 17%) and Malnourished (D, n=12, casein 8%). After weaning, all animals received standard diet (Labina®) and at the 60th day of life, both groups were subdivided in 4 groups with 6 animals each: Not-Trained Nourished (NTN), Trained Nourished (TN), Not-Trained Recovery (NTR) and Trained Recovery (TR). The MST was performed on treadmill during eight weeks, five days per week, 60 minutes a day. Histophotometry of both arteries was done with the Scion Image software for Windows (Beta 4.0.2). Arteries walls thickness was obtained by the mean value of 4 different points (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°), and the diameter of the lumen of the vessels from 2 values, starting from 4 opposite points. For the comparison between groups, Students t test was used and data were shown in mean±standard deviation. Mean thickness of the left common carotid artery (µm) and horizontal aorta (mm) was lower on the NTR group (32.51 ± 5.54; 0.11 ± 0.02, respectively) in comparison with the NTN group (40.91± 3.56; 0.15 ± 0.01). The diameter of the common left carotid artery was higher in the TR animals (724 ± 44.64) when compared with the NTR (630.73 ± 79.67). Therefore, the MPT associated with nutritional recovery was not capable of recovering the structural alterations due to malnutrition on the common left carotid and horizontal aorta arteries wall.

EXISTE ASSOCIAÇÃO ENTRE O USO DE GLICOCORTICOIDES E A PRESENÇA DE FRATURAS? ESTUDO COMPARATIVO EM UM HOSPITAL DE TRAUMA

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the association between traumatic fractures and glucocorticoids taken 12 months prior to a trauma, in children and adolescents seen at an emergency room. Methods: A case-control study was conducted from April to October 2015, at a pediatric emergency hospital with patients aged 3- to 14 years-old, who had suffered physical trauma. Some of the patients had a fracture and some did not. The data analyzed were obtained from medical records, physical examination of the patients, and interview with the patients’ caregivers. Glucocorticoid use in the past 12 months, demographic variables, body mass index, milk intake, trauma intensity, physical activity and smoking in the household were compared between the two patient groups. Results: A total of 104 patients with physical trauma were studied - 50 had a fracture and 54 did not. Of all the patients, 15.4% had previously used glucocorticoids, and there were no statistically significant differences between the groups. The age range of 10- to 14 years-old, severe trauma and physical activity were more prevalent among patients with a bone fracture. Conclusions: This study did not find an association between previous glucocorticoid use and the occurrence of fractures in children and adolescents. The age range of 10- to 14 years-old, severe trauma, and physical activity were associated with an increased risk for fractures.

Efeito do treinamento físico moderado e intenso sobre os mecanismos de defesa de ratos adultos

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of moderate (MPT) and intense physical training (IPT) on the white blood cell profile and the microbicide activity of alveolar macrophages in 29 Wistar male rats. METHODS: The sample was separated into three groups: control group (sedentary), moderate training (MT), and intense training groups (IT). Swimming was the tool used to classify both moderate and intense training groups with a progressive increase of exercise load regarding body weight (up to 3% for the moderate physical training and 5% for the intense training group). The blood samples used to count total and differential leucocytes were automated by a hematological analyzer Sysmex XT-1800i (Roche®) before and after training sessions. At the end of the process, a bronchoalveolar lavage was carried out so to determine the amount of phagocytosis and the production of nitric oxide (NO) of the macrophages. RESULTS: The MT showed an increase in the number of leucocytes (12,77±2,0x17,25±2,4 103/mm3), lymphocytes (8,87±1,0x 12,5±2,1 103/mm3) and neutrophils (0,99±0,5x3,18 ±1,0 103/mm3), p<0,05. There was also a higher production of NO (15,77±4,9µmols/mL) as well as a higher phagocytosis rate of (38,6%±8,65) as to the control group (6,58±1,9 µmols/mL and 24,4%±7,40, respectively). Whereas the IT showed a smaller phagocytosis rate (13,1%±1,52x 24,4%±7,40), a greater production of NO (38,40±2,1 x 6,58±1,9 µmols/mL) and an increase only in the number of neutrophils (2,6±1,4 x 0,99±0,5 103/mm3) compared to the control group, p<0,001. CONCLUSIONS: The MPT induced a significant improvement in the defense mechanisms of the adult rats. On the other hand, the IPT induced a reduction in phagocytosis rate which could lead to the microbicide activity of the rats being damaged.