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Air temperature is a climatic factor that affects the incidence of dengue, with effects varying according to time and space. We investigated the relationship between minimum air temperature and dengue incidence in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and evaluated the influence of socioeconomic and geographic variables on this relationship. This is a time series study with analysis conducted in three distinct stages: modeling using a distributed lag non-linear model, meta-analysis of models obtained, and meta-regression with geographic and socioeconomic data. Minimum temperature was a protective factor at extreme cold temperatures (RR = 0.65; 95%CI: 0.56-0.76) and moderate cold temperatures (RR = 0.71; 95%CI: 0.64-0.79), and a risk factor at moderate hot temperatures (RR = 1.15; 95%CI: 1.07-1.24), but not at extreme hot temperatures (RR = 1.1; 95%CI: 0.99-1.22). Heterogeneity of the models was high (I2 = 60%), which was also observed in meta-regression. Moderate and extreme cold temperatures have a protective effect, while moderate hot temperatures increase the risk. However, minimum air temperature does not explain the variability in the region, not even with the other variables in meta-regression.

Cold tolerance of rice (Oryza sativa L.) during the reproductive stage is important to guarantee high yield under low temperature environments. Field selection, however, does not allow identification of adequate tolerance sources and limits selection of segregating lines due to variable temperature. The objective of this study was to devise methods for distinguishing rice genotypes as to their cold tolerance at the reproductive stage when evaluated under controlled temperature. The effect of cold temperatures was investigated in six rice genotypes at 17°C for varying length of time (three, five, seven and ten days) at two reproductive stages (microsporogenesis and anthesis). Cold tolerance was measured as the percentage of reduction in panicle exsertion and in spikelet fertility. Evaluating cold tolerance through the reduction in panicle exsertion did not allow for the distinction between cold tolerant from cold sensitive genotypes and, when the reduction in spikelet fertility was considered, a minimum of seven days was required to differentiate the genotypes for cold tolerance. Genotypes were more sensitive to cold at anthesis than at microsporogenesis and, as these stages were highly correlated, cold screening could be performed at anthesis only, since it is easier to determine. Rice cold tolerance at the reproductive stage may be characterized by the reduction in spikelet fertility due to cold temperature (17°C) applied for seven days at anthesis.A tolerância do arroz (Oryza sativa L.) ao frio no período reprodutivo é importante para garantir alto rendimento em ambientes com temperatura baixa. No entanto, a seleção em condições de campo não permite identificar fontes adequadas de tolerância e limita a seleção de linhas segregantes devido à temperatura variável. Este trabalho teve por objetivo definir uma metodologia capaz de distinguir genótipos de arroz quanto à sua tolerância ao frio no período reprodutivo quando avaliados sob temperatura controlada. O efeito do frio foi investigado em seis genótipos de arroz submetidos a 17°C por períodos variáveis de tempo (três, cinco, sete e dez dias) em dois estádios do período reprodutivo (microsporogênese e antese). A tolerância ao frio foi avaliada por meio da porcentagem de redução na exerção da panícula e na fertilidade de espiguetas. O resultados indicaram que avaliar a tolerância ao frio por meio da redução na exerção da panícula não permitiu separar genótipos tolerantes ao frio de genótipos sensíveis e, quando avaliada por meio da redução na fertilidade de espiguetas, no mínimo sete dias foram necessários para diferenciar os genótipos quanto à tolerância ao frio. Eles foram mais sensíveis ao frio na antese que na microsporogênese e, como estes estádios foram altamente correlacionados, a seleção sob frio poderia ser feita somente neste estádio, que é de mais fácil determinação. Logo, a tolerância do arroz ao frio no período reprodutivo pode ser avaliada por meio da redução na fertilidade de espiguetas devido à temperatura baixa (17°C) aplicada por sete dias no estádio de antese.

Objective: To investigate the effects of different transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation frequencies in nociception front of a pressure pain threshold and cold in healthy individuals. Methods: Twenty healthy subjects were divided into four groups, all of which have gone through all forms of electrical stimulation at different weeks. Assessments were: pre and post-therapy, 20 and 60 minutes after stimulation. To evaluate the pressure pain threshold, an algometer was used with one tapered tip, pressing the hypothenar region until voluntary report the word "pain". Cold pain intensity was assessed by immersion in water at 5°C for 30 seconds; at the end, the subject was asked to quantify the pain intensity on a Visual Analog Scale for Pain. For electrical stimulation, two electrodes were used near the elbow, for 20 minutes, with an intensity strong, but not painful. The frequency was in accordance with the group: 0Hz (placebo); 7Hz; 100Hz; and 255Hz. Results: Both for the assessment of pressure pain threshold as the cold pain intensity, there was no significant difference (p>0.05). Conclusion: We conclude that the use of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on dermatomes C6 to C8 produced no significant change in pressure pain threshold or cold discomfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) are one of the leading causes of mortality globally. Air temperature is one of the risk factors for CVD; however, few studies have investigated the relationship between air temperature and mortality from these diseases in Brazil. This time series study investigated the relationship between air temperature and CVD mortality in 10 microregions located across Brazil's five regions during the period 1996 to 2017 using mortality data from the national health information system, DATASUS and daily mean temperature data. The association between mean air temperature and mortality from CVD was measured using generalized additive models with Poisson distribution and relative and attributable risks were estimated together with 95% confidence intervals using distributed lag non-linear models and a 14-day lag. There were 531,733 deaths from CVD during the study period, 21,220 of which (11,138-30,546) were attributable to air temperature. Minimum mortality temperatures ranged from 20.1ºC in Curitiba to 29.6ºC in Belém. Associations between suboptimal air temperatures and increased risk of death from CVD were observed in all of Brazil's five regions. Relative risk from the cold was highest in Manaus (RR 1.53; 1.22-1.91) and Campo Grande (RR 1.52; 1.18-1.94), while relative risk from heat was highest in Manaus (RR 1.75; 1.35-2.26) and Brasília (RR 1.36; 1.15-1.60).

Objective: to analyze the accuracy of the defining characteristics of hypothermia in patients on hemodialysis., Methods: a diagnostic accuracy study was assembled within a cross-sectional study with 124 patients from two dialysis centers. A latent class model was used for data analysis., Results: the nursing diagnosis hypothermia was present in 13 (10.48%) study participants. The most prevalent defining characteristics were hypoxia (100%), decrease in blood glucose level (83.1%), hypertension (65.3%), piloerection (45.2%), and skin cool to touch (41.1%). The defining characteristics acrocyanosis (99.96%) and cyanotic nail beds (99.98%) had a high sensitivity. Acrocyanosis (91.8%), skin cool to touch (64.8%), and peripheral vasoconstriction (91.8%) had high specificity., Conclusion: specific and sensitive indicators of hypothermia work as good clinical indicators for confirming this diagnosis in patients on hemodialysis. The study findings can assist nurses in their clinical reasoning for a correct inference of hypothermia.

Objective: To identify, in the scientific literature, real and illusory perceptions of adult patients in induced coma., Methods: This is an integrative review of 15 primary studies from the Medline, Web of Science, LILACS, CINAHL and SCOPUS databases., Results: The main memories reported after induced coma were thirst, cold, and pain. In some studies, patients reported they were unable to tell whether they were awake or dreaming, whether it was real or unreal. Satisfactory memories were reported by patients related to the care received and the use of bedside journals., Conclusion: Evidence showed a number of studies aiming to identify delirium, but without a focus on analyzing real or illusory perceptions of patients after induced coma. Thus, this integrative review identified scientific evidence of memories related to perceptions of sedated patients in the intensive care unit.

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of sour flavor and cold temperature on oral transit time during swallowing. METHODS: Participants were 52 subjects (28 male and 24 female) with ages between 50 and 80 years (median=66 years), after ischemic stroke involving right or left side damage and mild to moderate oropharyngeal dysphagia. Videofluoroscopy was performed to analyze the swallowing times. Each subject was assessed during swallowing of a paste consistency bolus offered in 5 ml spoons, with a total of four different stimuli (natural, cold, sour and sour-cold). After the exam, the oral transit time was measured using specific software. The oral transit time (starting at the beginning of the bolus movement in the mouth) and the total oral transit time (starting at the moment that the bolus is placed in the mouth) were measured. RESULTS: The association between sour and cold stimuli caused a significant decrease of oral transit time and total oral transit time. CONCLUSION: Sour flavor and cold temperature reduced oral transit time in stroke patients.

Dentre os carboidratos de reserva de sementes destacam-se o amido, a sacarose e os oligossacarídeos galactosilados, que além da função de reserva, podem atuar na estabilidade das membranas durante a dessecação e a retomada do crescimento embrionário. Sementes maduras de Caesalpinia echinata Lam. foram coletadas antes e após a dispersão natural, sendo analisadas imediatamente após a coleta quanto à composição de carboidratos presentes no eixo embrionário e nos cotilédones, e aos 15 e 90 dias após armazenamento a 25 ºC, 7 ºC e -18 ºC. A principal reserva dos eixos embrionários foram os açúcares solúveis, enquanto que o amido foi a dos cotilédones, representando cerca de 30% da massa seca. Sementes recém-dispersas, com 12% de água, armazenadas sob temperaturas baixas (7 ºC e -18 ºC), mantiveram estável o teor de carboidratos totais nos cotilédones, bem como a capacidade germinativa, mas apresentaram redução no teor de açúcares solúveis. Já as sementes maduras não-dispersas, com 22% de água, mantiveram a capacidade germinativa apenas quando mantidas a 7 ºC. Nestas sementes, os açúcares solúveis diminuíram no eixo embrionário e nos cotilédones durante o armazenamento. Análises cromatográficas mostraram que, de modo geral, houve redução nos níveis de hexoses, exceto nos cotilédones de sementes armazenadas sob temperaturas baixas. As variações encontradas nas proporções de sacarose e de hexoses e no teor de amido nos cotilédones e no eixo embrionário das sementes armazenadas sob diferentes temperaturas sugerem que o metabolismo dos carboidratos de reserva é alterado durante o armazenamento. Contudo, as variações encontradas nesses compostos durante o armazenamento não estão diretamente relacionadas com a capacidade germinativa dessas sementes.

Introduction: Subjects with sensorial losses present balance deficits. Although such condition is often observed among elderly, there is discussion concerning the dependence on sensorial information for body sway control in the elderly without sensorial losses., Purpose: We investigated the effects of foot sensitivity manipulation on postural control during upright standing in young adults and independent elderly (n=19/group)., Methods: Plantar sensitivity was evaluated by esthesiometry, and speed of center of pressure shift data during upright posture were evaluated for each foot using a baropodometer while the subjects were standing with eyes open or closed. The young adult group was evaluated for center of pressure in normal conditions and after plantar sensitivity disturbance, by immersing their feet in water and ice., Results: Young adults did not show alterations in their center of pressure after sensorial perturbation and presented, even under sensorial perturbation, better postural control than elderly subjects. The elderly showed lower foot sensitivity and greater center of pressure oscillation than young adults., Conclusion: Elderly subjects seem to rely more on foot sensitivity for control of body sway than young adults. In the elderly, a clinical intervention to improve foot sensitivity may help in upright posture maintenance., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)

The cold storage unit and meat production industry has made Brazil one of the leading suppliers and exporters of products of animal origin. The rapid expansion of the market has led to a rise in competitiveness from a capitalist standpoint, and in this respect corporate profit often leads to the need to adapt human actions to new functions in order to reduce costs and maximize production. These routine activities involve repetitive work, multi-tasking, long hours and operating machines with the use of sharp cutting tools, which is why the work is conducted wearing protective gear. Among the main hazards present, biological risks are the most important due to direct exposure to internal organs, blood, fecal matter, urine and placental or fetal fluids from slaughtered animals that may be infected with pathogens of zoonotic origin. This paper discusses the risks to which slaughterhouse-cold storage unit professionals are exposed, conducting a thorough bibliographical review of the literature that takes into consideration the conceptual framework of Biosafety, which contributes to improve the safety and health conditions of these workers.

Purpose: To demonstrate the sensitivity and the specificity of the ice test in the differential diagnosis of ptosis in myasthenia gravis., Methods: Prospective trial with a control group. The patients were instructed to hold a frozen ice pack on the closed ptotic eyelid. They were divided into 2 groups, with group I consisting of patients with myasthenia gravis and group II (control) consisting of patients with congenital, non-myasthenic myogenic or aponeurotic ptosis., Results: All patients in group I had increased palpebral fissure for at least 3 mm after the application of ice pack. No patient in group II showed increased palpebral fissure after the ice test., Conclusion: Ice test proved to be specific for the detection of myasthenic ptosis.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the dynamic behavior of the blood flow of the microvascular circulation of the fingertips before and after two cold stimuli (CS), using Laser Doppler Imaging with different intensities in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and in healthy individuals., Patients and Methods: Fourteen SSc patients (51.2 ± 5.5 years) with Raynaud's phenomenon and 12 healthy controls (44.8 ± 9.0 years) were included in this study. Two CS protocols (submersion of the hands in water at 10 ºC or 15 ºC for 1 minute) were performed on the same day. Mean fingertip blood flow (FBF) of four digits of the left hand was measured using LDI (Moor LDI-VR, Moor Instruments) at baseline and at 1, 4, 10, 25, and 40 minutes after CS., Results: Baseline blood flow was significantly lower in both CS protocols in SSc patients when compared to controls (312.9 ± 102.7 vs 465.4 ± 135.4 PU, P = 0.006 at 15 ºC; 305.2 ± 121.0 vs 437.9 ± 119.8 PU; P = 0.01 at 10 ºC). In the control group, a significant decrease in FBF after CS, when compared to baseline, was observed 1 minute (P = 0.001) after CS at 15 ºC and at 1 (P = 0.005) and 25 minutes (P = 0.001) after CS at 10 ºC. In SSc patients, a significant decrease in FBF was observed in both CS protocols at 1, 4, and 10 minutes (P < 0.000; P = 0.002; P = 0.014, after CS at 15 ºC; P < 0.000; P = 0.004; P = 0.001, after CS at 10 ºC)., Conclusions: Laser Doppler Imaging showed lower baseline fingertip perfusion and further reduction after CS in SSc patients compared to controls. Quantification of fingertip blood flow by LDI may be useful in the longitudinal monitoring of the disease status and therapeutic interventions in SSc.

Background: The palatoglossus pillars were admitted as the main receptive responsible area by the pharyngeal swallowing reflex produced by food and tongue posterior progression. This concept sustain the mechanical-thermal maneuver used to recovery the committed pharyngeal function. A pharyngeal motor answer by pillar stimulation is common accepted but not unanimously., Aim: To verify the possible pharyngeal motor answers by palatoglossus pillars mechanical thermal stimulation., Methods: Healthy volunteers are more able to provide effective reflex answers by pillars stimuli than patients. In this way we evaluated 51 healthy adult volunteers from both sexes reproducing the pillars stimuli using metallic probe. The cold condition was obtained by probe immersion in water maintained to 10 degrees C. RESULTS AND CONSIDERATIONS: The study showed that the mechanical thermal stimuli over pillars was not able to produce any active answer linked to the swallowing pharyngeal phase. It is possible that literature observed answers were due to the gag reflex inadequately interpreted or unconscious voluntary contractions effort produced by the opening mouth and tongue externalization during the pillars exposition to execution of the mechanical thermal stimulation maneuvers.

Objectives: Both ablation catheters with closed irrigated system and 8mm tip-catheters have been shown to be more effective for typical atrial flutter radiofrequency (RF) ablation when compared to conventional 4 mm tip catheter. Considering the differences in complexity and costs of both systems, a prospective study was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of cooled-tip and 8mm-tip catheters for atrial flutter ablation., Methods: Fifty-two consecutive patients underwent RF ablation of cavotricupsid isthmus (CTI) for the treatment of typical atrial flutter, using catheter with closed irrigation system (n=26) or 8 mm-tip catheter (n=26). The RF pulses were applied point-by-point for 60 seconds, with power limited at 50 w for the irrigated catheter and by temperature control (60 degrees/70 w) for the 8 mm catheter., Results: The CTI block was successfully performed in 98.1%. Four patients in the irrigated group needed to switch to the other group. There was no significant difference with regard to ablation parameters, such as total time of RF ablation (591.1+/-309.0 s vs 486.2+/-250.8 s), total procedure duration (86.4+/-23.6 vs 78.1+/-22.5 min) and time of fluoroscopy (17.0+/-6.7 vs 15.4+/-4.6 min). During follow-up of 10.6 months in average, one patient in the irrigated group had recurrence of typical atrial flutter., Conclusion: Efficacy and safety of CTI ablation was comparable between both techniques (irrigated catheter and 8 mm-tip catheter). The complexity of irrigated catheter makes it less competitive.

The CARE study showed that the myocardial infarction recurrence rate in patients with moderate cholesterol blood level decreases early during pravastatin treatment. Our goal is to evaluate the possible role of pravastatin in preventing the myocardial lesions induced by cold stress. Twenty Wistar-EPM rats were divided into four groups: Control (CON); PR (Pravastatin) treated with 10 mg/kg/d for 15 days; S (Stress group) in which the rats were submitted to cold stress (-8 degrees C for four hours); and PR + S group treated with pravastatin like PR group and also submitted to the cold stress. The animals were sacrificed and heart fragments were removed for optic and electronic microscopic analysis. The variable considered was mitochondria abnormality (edema, lyses and vacuolization) that was interpreted as crystolyses indices (CI) (n degree of abnormal mitochondria/n degree total of mitochondria). The following crystolyses indices, were found for each group respectively: CON, 2.0%; S, 95.5%; PR, 19.9% and PR + S group, 27.7%*(*p < 0.01). In conclusion, pravastatin prevented myocardial lesions induced by cold stress significantly.

We report the use of surface scalp and neck electromyography during experimental stress state in a series of 100 out-patients suffering from chronic tension headache. Results revealed a 24% to 32% of diagnostic errors in the diagnostic obtained by routine anamnestic procedures and following the criteria recommended by the Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (1988). The electromyography with stress is proposed as a new diagnostic criterion for tension headache.

Five steps in the pathogenic process involved in the tension headache pathogenesis are suggested from a 100 patients clinical study. Therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of the tension headache is considered to be linked to the relation between the therapeutic agent and the stage in which it has focused its effect, in the pathogenic process.

Microneurography is a valuable and safe method for direct intraneural recording of sympathetic nerve activity to muscle and skin in humans. The technique and its application for the study of autonomic function will be briefly discussed. The regulation of muscle sympathetic nerve activity will be focused in different clinical situations and or stimuli, such as: essential hypertension, mineralocorticoid induced hypertension, exercise mental arithmetic stress, cold pressor test, hyperinsulinemia, oral alcohol ingestion.

A study was carried out on 12 male and female nursing infants suffering from different pathologies but showing no disorders of the gastrointestinal tract during the study. Each patient was submitted to three gastric emptying tests carried out at 24 hours intervals and denoted A, B and C. The test meal, administered through a nasogastric tube, consisted of distilled water containing phenolsulfonphthalein is label. In test A, the water was at room temperature (+/- 27 degrees C) both at the beginning of the test and 5 minutes later. In test B, the water was first at room temperature, and was followed 5 minutes later by cold water (+/- 4 degrees C). In test C, cold water was administered both at the beginning of the test and 5 minutes later. The results showed that cold water following a meal of water at room temperature (test B) caused a significant delay in gastric emptying. However, when administered after a previous meal of cold water (test C), cold water only caused a tendency towards inhibition of gastric emptying. The data permit us to conclude that administration of water at low temperature inhibits the process of gastric fluid emptying, but repeated administration of cold water does not cause a cumulative inhibitory effect, at least at the time interval studied here. We discuss the possible mechanisms involved in the effect of temperature on the gastric emptying process, as well as the implications of the results obtained.

The authors intended to study the fibers of atrial muscle of rats submitted to cold. The results specially showed the destruction of the mitochondria structure. The cristae are destroyed in part by the stress provoked. The possible factors that influence the stress provoked by the cold are discussed.