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Background: Epidemiological investigations on Toxoplasma gondii infection have found a significant association between human toxoplasmosis and consumption of raw or undercooked meat. The present study aimed to characterize genotypes of T. gondii in 20 cattle, 40 sheep, 15 goats and 16 pigs from the North of Portugal. Methods: Nested PCR amplified the surface antigen 2 (SAG2) gene. Sequencing analy­sis was performed in order to assess the prevalence of SAG2 type strains (I, II and III). Results: Three and 4 strains of SAG2 type II were identified in heart samples of cattle and sheep, respectively. Three SAG2 type II strains were detected in brain, diaphragm and heart of 3 pigs. Three strains detected in heart samples of 3 goats belonged to SAG2 types I or II; with the same result being observed in heart samples from 2 sheep and in 2 brain and 1 heart samples from 3 pigs. Conclusion: SAG2 type II has been shown for the first time to infect cattle in North of Portugal. In addition, SAG2 type II has also been confirmed as the predominant strain in sheep and pigs in the same region. This is the first molecular report of T. gondii in goats from Portugal.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is expressed in mammalian retina but the location and potential modulatory effects of NPY receptor activation remain largely unknown. Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death is a hallmark of several retinal degenerative diseases, particularly glaucoma. Using purified RGCs and ex vivo rat retinal preparations, we have measured RGC intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca 2+ ] i ) and RGC spiking activity, respectively. We found that NPY attenuated the increase in the [Ca 2+ ] i triggered by glutamate mainly via Y 1 receptor activation. Moreover, (Leu 31 , Pro 34 )−NPY, a Y 1 /Y 5 receptor agonist, increased the initial burst response of OFF-type RGCs, although no effect was observed on RGC spontaneous spiking activity. The Y 1 receptor activation was also able to directly modulate RGC responses by attenuating the NMDA-induced increase in RGC spiking activity. These results suggest that Y 1 receptor activation, at the level of inner or outer plexiform layers, leads to modulation of RGC receptive field properties. Using in vitro cultures of rat retinal explants exposed to NMDA, we found that NPY pretreatment prevented NMDA-induced cell death. However, in an animal model of retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury, pretreatment with NPY or (Leu 31 , Pro 34 )−NPY was not able to prevent apoptosis or rescue RGCs. In conclusion, we found modulatory effects of NPY application that for the first time were detected at the level of RGCs. However, further studies are needed to evaluate whether NPY neuroprotective actions detected in retinal explants can be translated into animal models of retinal degenerative diseases.

Introduction: Antibiotic resistance driven by antibiotic use remains a major public health and professional concern. Our aim was to know the local prevalence of uropathogens and their antimicrobial susceptibility profile in acute pyelonephritis. Material and Methods: A prospective study of patients admitted in a level III Pediatric Department ward with acute pyelonephritis from 1994 to 2012 was performed in Northern Portugal. Etiological agents and their antimicrobial sensitivity profile were evaluated in four timed periods (G1: 1994-97; G2: 2002; G3: 2007; G4: 2012). Results: We evaluated 581 patients, 66% female with median age 22 months. Escherichia coli was the leading uropathogen and its prevalence remained stable during the last 18 years. It showed an increased sensitivity to amoxicillin-clavulanate from 71% in G1 to 81.5% in G4 (p = 0.001) and a decreased resistance rate from 8.7% in G1 to 2.8% in G4 (p = 0.008). Its sensitivity to 2nd and 3rd generation cephalosporin was more than 90% (p = ns) and more than 95% to nitrofurantoin (p = ns). Resistance rate of cotrimoxazole increased from 22% to 26% (p = 0.008). Discussion: Escherichia coli remains the main uropathogen responsible for acute pyelonephritis, reason why its antimicrobial sensitivity profile will determine the empirical therapeutic choice. Conclusions: Amoxicillin-clavulanate remains a good first-line choice for empirical treatment of acute pyelonephritis in our inpatient health care. Keywords: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Child; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Pyelonephritis.

OBJETIVO: Descrever a distribuição dos escores de cálcio coronariano numa população de homens brasileiros brancos assintomáticos submetidos à avaliação pela tomografia ultra-rápida. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 2.253 homens de 22-88 anos, submetidos a exame tomográfico num aparelho ImatronR C150 para detecção do cálcio coronariano. Os dados foram separados em 7 faixas etárias: < 40 anos, 40-44 anos, 45-49 anos, 50-54 anos, 55-59 anos, 60-64 anos e >65 anos. RESULTADOS: A média e o desvio padrão da idade foram de 50,0 ± 9,7 anos. Em 48,8% dos casos ocorreu incidência de escore de cálcio coronário > zero, que apresentou distribuição não Gaussiana e mostrou grande variação para a mesma faixa etária. Houve correlação direta entre a idade e o escores de cálcio coronariano (r=0,4, pOBJETIVE: To describe the distribution of coronary artery calcium scores in a population of asymptomatic white Brazilian men undergoing assessment with ultrafast computed tomography. METHODS: The study assessed 2.253 men aged 22 to 88 years undergoing computed tomography in an ImatronR C150 device for detecting coronary calcium. Data were divided based on the patient's age into 7 groups: < 40 years, 40-44 years, 45-49 years, 50-54 years, 55-59 years, 60-64 years, and >65 years. RESULTS: The mean and standard deviation of age were 50.0 ± 9.7 years. In 48.8% of the cases, the coronary artery calcium score was > zero, with a non-Gaussian distribution and a large variation for the same age group. A direct correlation between age and the coronary artery calcium score was observed (r=0.4, P

Durante los días 28 a 31 del pasado mes de octubre, el Museo del Traje de Madrid acogió el II Congreso Internacional de Educación Patrimonial bajo el lema “Reflexionar desde las experiencias. Una visión complementaria entre España, Francia y Brasil”. Esta segunda edición toma el relevo del primer encuentro celebrado con éxito en 2012 y que puso las bases para la redacción del Plan Nacional de Educación y Patrimonio. Organizado por el Observatorio de Educación Patrimonial de España (OEPE) y el Instituto del Patrimonio Cultural de España (IPCE); a ellos, como novedad de esta segunda edición, hay que añadir la Universidad René Descartes Paris V, el laboratorio IRSA de la Université Paul Valéry Montpellier III, la Universidade Federal de Goiás y la Fundación Memorial de la América Latina de Sao Paulo. Cabe destacar, también, que ambas ediciones han contado con doscientos cincuenta profesionales del mundo de la investigación, de las instituciones culturales, de la educación y del sector de la empresa privada; todos ellos, ponentes, comunicantes e asistentes pusieron de manifiesto su interés y compromiso por la educación patrimonial.

En el presente estudio se evaluaron diferentes metodologías para la preservación de Clostridium tetani. Para verificar el sustento del cultivo se realizó un adecuado control de calidad, que incluyó comprobación de pureza, viabilidad y estabilidad de las propiedades de interés. En este trabajo se compararon dos procedimientos para liofilizar y se evaluó el método de congelación a –20 0C para preservar C. tetani. Para medir determinados parámetros se realizaron procesos a escala industrial, empleándose para esto un Biorreactor Chemap de 35 L. Con este trabajo se buscó Alternativas y soluciones a problemas presentados en su conservación. Los resultados obtenidos sugieren la posible inclusión en el Programa de Mantenimiento establecido

La identidad es un concepto que es posible relacionarlo con el patrimonio. Es el llamado “patrimonio identitario”. En el artículo se analiza y reflexiona, a través de diversos ejemplos, sobre la capacidad educadora del patrimonio identitario y también de su perversión, de su potencial destructor.

Fundamento: La aterosclerosis es la única enfermedad vascular conocida que se asocia a calcificación arterial coronaria. La cuantificación del calcio coronario permite una valoración del riesgo de eventos cardiovasculares adversos. En el año 1990 se logró obtener un score a través de la tomografía computarizada. No obstante, existen pocos trabajos que evidencian el nexo entre la cantidad de este mineral en las coronarias y la presencia de estenosis significativa. Objetivo: Determinar el valor del puntaje de calcio para el diagnóstico de la enfermedad arterial coronaria. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio observacional, analítico y de corte transversal en 158 pacientes con sospecha de cardiopatía isquémica e indicación de coronariografía invasiva. Se les aplicó el protocolo de cuantificación de calcio coronario, utilizando pruebas de significación estadística que validaran el empleo de este método para el diagnóstico de enfermedad arterial coronaria. Se construyó una curva ROC como un indicador general de eficacia. Resultados: La correlación entre el puntaje de calcio total y el por ciento de estenosis en la angiografía fue considerable, con un coeficiente de pearson de 0,392. El valor de corte en 40 Unidades Agatston fue el de mejor sensibilidad y especificidad con 95% y 88% respectivamente. Conclusiones: El score de calcio demostró una buena especificidad y sensibilidad para la detección de enfermedad arterial coronaria, con un adecuado desempeño como medio diagnóstico.