Abstract The diagnosis of irreversible pulpitis (IP) depends on clinical data, especially the chief complaint of the patient, visual inspection, response to the application of stimuli, and radiographic examination. The characterization of nerve fibers (NF) in IP may contribute to better interpret painful symptoms, but has been barely explored. This study sought to characterize the density and integrity of NF in 16 samples of IP and in five healthy pulps (HP) using S-100 and PGP 9.5 markers. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the density/mm2 of S-100+ and PGP 9.5+ in NF. The amount of degenerated NF was obtained by subtracting the total NF density from the amount of intact NF. Associations between NF density and integrity and symptomatology were calculated. All samples were positive for S-100 and PGP 9.5. Compared to HP samples (38.20/mm2), IP samples had a lower density of intact NF (6.24/mm2). A significantly higher density of degenerated NF was found in IP samples with spontaneous pain (39.59/mm2) compared to those with provoked pain (23.96/mm2) (p = 0.02). No association was observed between intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate and NF density and integrity (p > 0.05). The findings of this study suggest that pulpitis may involve different stages of degeneration and may be more advanced in cases with spontaneous pain. The symptoms reported by affected individuals do not appear to depend on the intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate, but rather on the integrity of NF.

A trombose do seio dural é uma situação clínica rara, que resulta normalmente da complicação de processos infecciosos dos seios perinasais. Os sintomas e sinais são extremamente variados e inespecíficos sendo o diagnóstico feito através da ressonância magnética nuclear. Esse trabalho relata a ocorrência de trombose do seio dural em um paciente com idade pediátrica. Paciente com 10 anos de idade, sexo masculino, foi enviado ao serviço de urgência devido à diplopia e endotropia no olho esquerdo. No exame oftalmológico foi detectado papiledema bilateral, diplopia binocular e endotropia do olho esquerdo. Apresentava acuidade visual de 10/10 bilateralmente. Diante da suspeita de lesão ocupando espaço do sistema nervoso central, foi realizada ressonância magnética nuclear que confirmou o diagnóstico de TSD. Para avaliar a pressão intracraniana foi efetuada uma punção lombar com manometria, e esta demonstrou uma pressão intracraniana de 20mmHg (normal: <15mmHg). Perante isto a criança ficou internada para tratamento médico (enoxaparina de baixo peso molecular 1,5 mg/kg/dia subcutâneo (60 mg/dia), prednisolona 35 mg/dia oral e acetazolamida 250 mg/dia oral) durante 10 dias. Após 1 mês de follow-up verificou-se agravamento oftalmológico. A realização de nova punção lombar apresentou uma pressão intracraniana de 40 mmHg que não cedia ao tratamento médico. Após discussão multidisciplinar do caso optou-se pela realização de derivação lombo-peritoneal. A necessidade de uma grande dose de suspeição clínica, tanto para o diagnóstico inicial quanto para a monitorização das complicações, tornam a abordagem da trombose do seio dural um processo singular.

Dural sinus thrombosis is a rare condition, usually results from a late complication of an infection of the paranasal sinuses. The signs and symptoms are extremely varied and nonspecific, being the diagnosis made through magnetic resonance imaging. Ten-year-old male patient that was sent to our emergency department with left endotropia and diplopia. Ophthalmic examination was performed and showed papilledema with margin blurred right and left eye, binocular diplopia and left eye endotropia. Visual acuity was 10/10 bilaterally. Given the suspected space occupying lesion of the central nervous system, the MRI was performed and confirmed the diagnosis of DST. For evaluating the intracranial pressure (IP), a lombar puncture (LP) with manometry was carried out and revealed IP of 20 mmHg (normal values: <15mmHg). Towards this, the child’s was admitted for medical treatment (low molecular weight enoxaparin subcutaneous 1,5 mg/kg/day (60 mg/day), prednisolone 35 mg/per day and acetazolamide 250 mg/per day) over 10 days. After 1 month of follow-up there was deterioration of the ophthalmologic condition. A new LP was made and showed IP of 40 mmHg resilient to medical treatment. After multidisciplinary discussion of the case, it was decided for conducting lumboperitoneal shunt. The need for a great deal of suspicion for both the initial diagnosis and for monitoring complications make DST approach a special process.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of parecoxib (an NSAID) on renal function by measuring plasma NGAL (serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin) levels in an induced-ischemia rat model.METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to one of four groups: Ischemia (I), Ischemia/parecoxib (IP), No-ischemia (NI), and No-ischemia/parecoxib (NIP). Body weight, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, body temperature, NGAL levels, and renal histology were compared across groups.RESULTS: The Ischemia (I) group, which did not receive parecoxib, showed the highest NGAL levels (p=0.001), while the IP group, which received the medication, had NGAL levels similar to those of the non-ischemic (NI and NIP) groups.CONCLUSION:Parecoxib resulted in renal protection in this experimental model.

OBJETIVO: Determinar os índices de resistência (IR) e pulsatilidade (IP) nas artérias uterinas durante o primeiro e segundo trimestres de gestação. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Realizamos estudo prospectivo longitudinal em 44 mulheres normais, da 8ª a 12ª e na 22ª semanas de gestação. A dopplervelocimetria foi realizada em ambas as artérias uterinas por meio do IR e do IP. Utilizamos volume de amostra de 1 a 2 mm, filtro de 50 a 70 Hz e ângulo de insonação abaixo de 60°. RESULTADOS: O IR e o IP da artéria uterina no primeiro trimestre foram maiores da 8ª a 12ª do que na 22ª semana de gestação. O IR e o IP da artéria uterina, no primeiro trimestre, com incisura foram de 0,83 ± 0,07 e 2,32 ± 0,79, e sem incisura, de 0,71 ± 0,16 e 1,61 ± 0,78, respectivamente. No segundo trimestre, o IR e o IP da artéria uterina com incisura foram de 0,59 ± 0,09 e 1,03 ± 0,32, e sem incisura, de 0,44 ± 0,09 e 0,63 ± 0,19, respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: Estabelecemos os valores de referência do IR e do IP das artérias uterinas de gestantes normais no primeiro e segundo trimestres de gestação.

OBJECTIVE: To determine uterine artery resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors developed a prospective longitudinal study with 44 healthy women at their 8th-12th and 22nd gestational weeks. Doppler velocimetry was utilized for evaluating RI and PI of both uterine arteries, with a sample volume of 1 to 2 mm, a 50-70 Hz filter, and an insonation angle < 60°. RESULTS: At 8th-12th gestational weeks, the uterine artery RI and PI were higher than at the 22nd gestational week. At the first trimester uterine artery RI and PI were, respectively, 0.83 ± 0.07 and 2.32 ± 0.79 with a notch, and 0.71 ± 0.16 and 1.61 ± 0.78, without a notch. At the second trimester, uterine artery RI and PI were, respectively, 0.59 ± 0.09 and 1.03 ± 0.32 with a notch, and 0.44 ± 0.09 and 0.63 ± 0.19 without a notch. CONCLUSION: Reference values for uterine arteries RI and PI at the first and second trimesters of pregnancy were established.

The dispersal pattern of the sand fly Lutzomyia neivai was studied through mark-release-recapture experiments in an American cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic rural area in Southeastern Brazil. Over 6500 specimens were marked with fluorescent powder and released in forest edge and peridomicile habitats from August to November 1999, February and April 2000. Recapture attempts were made using Shannon and CDC traps up to eight successive nights after releases. A total of 493 (7.58%) specimens were recaptured. The number of recaptured males and females of L. neivai in CDC traps was not affected by the distance between the trap and the release points. Approximately 90% of males and females recaptured in CDC traps were caught up to 70 m from the release points. The maximum female flight range recorded was 128 m. The average flight range per day was less than 60 m for males and females. Of the flies released in forest edge, approximately 16% of the recaptured females were caught in Shannon traps in the peridomicile habitat. The results indicate that the movements of L. neivai are spatially focal and the possibility of dispersion from forest to peridomicile habitat may be an important way of contracting leishmaniasis in dwellings.

OBJETIVOS: investigar a possibilidade da predição da acidemia no nascimento, em gestações com insuficiência placentária, com o emprego de índices veno-arteriais avaliados pela dopplervelocimetria, definindo seus pontos de corte para esta predição. MÉTODOS: trata-se de estudo transversal prospectivo no qual foram incluídas 47 gestações únicas com insuficiência placentária (presença de índice de resistência e índice de pulsatilidade (IP) na artéria umbilical (AU) superiores ao percentil 95), após a 26ª semana. Foram excluídos os casos com fetos apresentando anomalias estruturais ou cromossômicas. O Doppler foi realizado a menos de 24 horas do parto. Amostra de sangue arterial umbilical para análise da acidemia foi coletada imediatamente após o nascimento. Diagnosticou-se acidemia quando o pH encontrava-se abaixo de 7,20 na ausência de trabalho de parto e abaixo de 7,15 quando parto vaginal. Foram consideradas patológicas as acidemias metabólicas ou mistas. Construiu-se curva ROC para os índices veno-arteriais: IP para veias do ducto venoso (IPV DV)/IP/AU e IPV DV/IP artéria cerebral média (ACM). Determinaram-se os pontos de corte e posteriormente foram calculados a sensibilidade, especificidade, VPP, VPN e acurácia. RESULTADOS: o IPV DV/IP AU não mostrou ser bom parâmetro para a predição da acidemia. A análise do IPV DV/IP ACM mostrou uma área sob a curva ROC de 0,785 com p = 0,004, e, para o ponto de corte de 0,582, encontraram-se sensibilidade de 66,7%, especificidade de 77,1% e acurácia de 74,5%. CONCLUSÕES: o IPV DV/IP ACM mostrou-se adequado na predição da acidemia no nascimento em gestações com insuficiência placentária. O ponto de corte para esse índice que demonstrou melhores valores de predição foi 0,582.

OBJECTIVE: to investigate whether it is possible to predict acidemia at birth in pregnancies with placental insufficiency using venous-arterial indices: pulsatility index for vein (PIV) of the ductus venosus (DV) over PI of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and PIV of the DV over PI of the umbilical artery, and establish cut-off values for this prediction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: this was a prospective cross-sectional study involving forty-seven patients with placental insufficiency (umbilical artery resistance and pulsatility indices above the 95th percentile for gestational age) who were submitted to Dopplervelocimetry in the last 24 hours before delivery. All pregnancies were singleton, over 26 weeks of age and without structural or chromosome anomalies. Arterial cord blood was obtained for gasometry immediately after birth. Acidemia was defined as umbilical arterial pH < 7.20 in the absence of uterine contractions and pH < 7.15 in the presence of contractions. Metabolic or mixed acidemia at birth were considered pathological. A ROC curve was calculated for the venous-arterial indices: PIV DV/PI umbilical artery (UA) and PIV DV/PI MCA. A cut-off value was established and sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive values and positive and negative likelihood ratios were calculated. RESULTS: The DV/UA PI index was not a good predictor of acidemia at birth. The DV/MCA PI index was related to acidemia at birth (area under the curve 0,785, p = 0,004). The cut-off value was: 0,582, sensitivity 66,7%, specificity 77,1 and accuracy 74,5%. CONCLUSION: the PIV DV/PI MCA ratio is adequate for predicting acidemia at birth in pregnancies with placental insufficiency. The cut-off value was: 0,582.

O trabalho foi conduzido no Setor de Avicultura do Departamento de Zootecnia da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria com o objetivo de verificar as respostas de desempenho de frangos de corte, criados com sexos separados, alimentados pelo conceito tradicional (Proteína Bruta - PB) em comparação a dietas formuladas pelo critério de Proteína Ideal (PI), num período de 1 a 42 dias de idade. A análise econômica comparativa entre os dois métodos de alimentação também foi realizada. Foram utilizados 960 pintos de corte de um dia de idade (480 machos, 480 fêmeas) da linhagem ROSS. As dietas experimentais baseadas no conceito de PB foram formuladas segundo as recomendações do NRC (1994) e as dietas formuladas pelo conceito de PI foram adaptadas de HAN & BAKER (1994). O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, constituindo 4 tratamentos com 12 repetições de 20 aves cada. Foram estudados os parâmetros: consumo alimentar, ganho de peso e peso corporal, ganho médio diário, conversão alimentar e índice de eficiência nutricional. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que os parâmetros estudados foram mais influenciados na fase inicial. As dietas formuladas pelo conceito de PI, baseada no conteúdo de aminoácidos digestíveis (AAD), influenciaram positivamente os parâmetros estudados, proporcionando significativos melhores ganhos de peso e eficiência alimentar, tanto para os machos quanto para as fêmeas nas fases inicial e total, sendo similares nas demais fases. As aves alimentadas com AAD apresentaram uma maior lucratividade nas fases inicial e crescimento. Esses dados permitem concluir que dietas à base de milho e farelo de soja, formuladas para atender às exigências de AAD, proporcionam melhores desempenhos biológico e econômico, em relação àquelas formuladas à base de PB, do primeiro até os 35 dias de idade. A fase final mostrou o contrário, sendo o conceito de PB mais econômico do que a Pl.

The study was carried out at the Poultry Section of the Departament of Animal Science at Federal University of Santa Maria, in order to evaluate the performance of broilers grown sexed and fed with diets formulated by the traditional concept (Crude Protein - CP), which is based on total amimo acids (TAA) and fed with the approach of Ideal Protein (IP), which is based on digestible amino acids (DAA), in the period from 1 to 42 days of age. A comparative economic analysis among the two feeding methods was also accomplished. There were 960 chicks (Ross) at the age of 1 day, being 480 males and 480 females. The diet based on the concept of CP was formulated according to the recommendation of NRC (1994) and the diet formulated by the concept of IP was adapted from Han and Baker (1994). The completely randomized experimental design consisted of 4 treatments with 12 replications of 20 chicks each. The feed intake, phase gain, body weight, daily gain, feed conversion and the nutritional efficieny index were evaluated. The results indicated that the parameters studied were more efficient in the initial phase. The diet formulated by the Ideal Protein concept, based on the content of DAA, influenced all parameters studied positively, providing significantly better gain weight and feed efficiency in both male and female chicks in the initial and final phases, being similar in the growing phase. The chicks fed with DAA showed greater profits in the initial phase and during the growth phase. These data allowed the conclusion that diets containing corn and soybean meal as base for the formulated feed provides better biological and economic performance of the broilers when compared to those formulated with crude Protein, from day the first up to 35 days of age. The final phase (35-42) showed the contrary, being the CP concept more economical than IP.