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Aim: To verify variations of early fish stages through density, species composition and ecological attributes in the lower Paranapanema River. Methods: The Canoas I and Canoas II reservoirs were sampled during three reproductive periods (RP´s) between 2012 and 2015. Eggs and larvae were collected using conical-cylindrical plankton nets and juveniles by seines and sieves. After euthanasia and fixation, the samples were identified at the lowest taxonomic level and grouped according to their reproductive strategy and life history. Variations in the eggs, larvae, and juvenile’s densities were tested by Kruskal-Wallis with post-hoc Dunn's test from RP´s, while Student T-test detected differences between reservoirs. Non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination (NMDS) with post-hoc analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) were employed to elucidate differences in species composition. Major results: We sampled 5,513 eggs, 3,137 larvae, and 187 juveniles in Canoas I Reservoir, and 2,709 eggs, 237 larvae, and 13 juveniles in Canoas II Reservoir. Fishes were identified in seven orders, 15 families, and 31 species, with Pimelodus maculatus, Anostomidae, and small-sized characids being the most abundant. There was a predominance of non-migratory reproductive strategy (46%) and periodic life history (60%), most of them opportunistic species. Differences in densities were observed between RP´s and reservoirs. A clustering of three groups were performed to larvae and juveniles, where the divergences were statistically confirmed (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated the decrease of early fish stages density overtime and the dominance of opportunistic species, suggesting that these species complete their life cycle in the reservoirs. Thus, P. maculatus can be an important species for the health of ecosystems, in addition to serving as a fishing resource in reservoirs. However, the absence of critical sites for reproduction and the climatic events, along with human responses to this, may have impaired the conclusion of life cycle from many species.

Occupational-specific classifications of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are scarce and do not answer specific clinical questions. Thus, a specific classification was developed and proposed, covering criteria applicable to daily clinical activity. It was considered that the disorder development process is the same across all work-related MSDs (WRMSDs). Concepts of clinical pathology were applied to the characteristics of WRMSDs pathophysiology, cellular and tissue alterations. Then, the correlation of the inflammatory mechanisms with the injury onset mode was graded into four levels (MSDs 0–3). Criteria of legal, occupational and internal medicine, semiology, physiology and orthopaedics, image medicine and diagnostics were applied. Next, the classification was analysed by experts, two occupational physicians, two physiatrists and occupational physicians and one orthopaedist. This approach will allow WRMSD prevention and improve therapeutic management, preventing injuries from becoming chronic and facilitating communication between occupational health physicians and the other specialities. The four levels tool relate aetiopathogenic, clinical, occupational and radiological concepts into a single classification. This allows for improving the ability to determine a WRMSD and understanding what preventive and therapeutic measures should be taken, avoiding chronicity. The developed tool is straightforward, easy to understand and suitable for WRMSDs, facilitating communication between occupational physicians and physicians from other specialities.

Background: Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) represents anterior knees’ diseases. The PFPS is a multifactorial disease, with high prevalence. It presents a direct relationship of deterioration through the act of squatting, descending and climbing stairs, interfering both in working and daily activities. The main purpose of the study will be to find evidence of the direct relationship between the variations of squatting during muscular daily physical exercises and the patellofemoral disease. Methodology: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) Statement was used to elaborate the adequate research guidelines to address the research objective. Seven databases will be accessed (Academic Search Complete, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, PubMed, Informaworld by Taylor & Francis, and Medline via PMC) and, at least, 10 keywords will be combined. Study appraisal and synthesis methods: One author will independently screen titles and abstracts against the eligibility criteria at first, and full-texts of potentially eligible records at a second phase, followed by extraction of data from qualifying studies. Two review authors will also assess the risk of bias and the quality of evidence, using the Cochrane Collaboration’s Tool, Rob 2.0. This protocol is registered in PROSPERO under the code CRD42019128711.

The Global Program for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) aims to eliminate this disease by the year 2020. However, the development of more specific and sensitive tests is important for the success of the GPELF. The present study aimed to standardise polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based systems for the diagnosis of filariasis in serum and urine. Twenty paired biological urine and serum samples from individuals already known to be positive for Wuchereria bancrofti were collected during the day. Conventional PCR and semi-nested PCR assays were optimised. The detection limit of the technique for purified W. bancrofti DNA extracted from adult worms was 10 fg for the internal systems (WbF/Wb2) and 0.1 fg by using semi-nested PCR. The specificity of the primers was confirmed experimentally by amplification of 1 ng of purified genomic DNA from other species of parasites. Evaluation of the paired urine and serum samples by the semi-nested PCR technique indicated only two of the 20 tested individuals were positive, whereas the simple internal PCR system (WbF/Wb2), which has highly promising performance, revealed that all the patients were positive using both samples. This study successfully demonstrated the possibility of using the PCR technique on urine for the diagnosis of W. bancrofti infection.

Objective: Glucocorticoids (GCs) are well known to induce insulin resistance; however, mechanisms that cause the impairement of the insulin signaling pathway have not yet been identified. In this study we measured whether GC-induced insulin resistance in humans is related to changes in muscle ceramide, GM3, and muscle mitochondrial function. Methods: In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, dose-response intervention study, 32 healthy males (aged 22 ± 3 years; body mass index 22.4 ± 1.7 kg/m(-2)) were allocated to prednisolone (PRED) 7.5 mg once daily (n = 12), PRED 30 mg once daily (n = 12), or placebo (n = 8) for 2 weeks using block randomization. Insulin sensitivity was measured by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp before and after treatment. Muscle biopsies were performed to measure ceramide, monosialodihexosylganglioside (GM3), and mitochondrial function. Results: Peripheral insulin sensitivity was dose dependently decreased after the PRED treatment. Muscle ceramide and GM3 concentration and mitochondrial function were not altered by 2 weeks of PRED treatment. Conclusion: Short-term GC treatment dose dependently impaired whole-body insulin sensitivity in healthy males, without concomitant changes in muscle ceramide, GM3, or mitochondrial function. These findings suggest that other mechanisms play a role in GC-related impairment of insulin sensitivity

PONTIFÍCIA UNIVERSIDADE CATÓLICA DO RIO DE JANEIRO Clareiras de movimentos de massa são elementos naturais que contribuem para a biodiversidade da floresta tropical devido, principalmente, aos processos de sucessão ecológica desencadeados em seu interior e das variações das condições micro-climáticas derivadas, tais como: luminosidade, sombreamento, umidade e temperatura. Formas, tamanhos e localização das cicatrizes influenciam nos efeitos subseqüentes da revegetação e erosão. Desta forma a questão norteadora deste estudo foca no uso de imagens de satélite de alta resolução e Sistemas de Informações Geográficas como arcabouço técnico para auxiliar na classificação dos movimentos de massa e na qualificação desta classe em ambiente computacional. Face aos eventos ocorridos em abril de 2010 na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar o potencial investigativo das imagens ortorretificadas de alta resolução do sensor IKONOS, através do mapeamento e classificação de movimentos de massa. Para tal foi construído um banco de dados georreferenciados contendo informações geomorfológicas, pedológicas, geotécnicas e de coberturas pretéritas do maciço da Tijuca, visando classificar as condições da cobertura movimento de massa. Serão adotadas como variáveis a forma, geometria e posição na encosta, cobertura, que foram posteriormente validadas em pesquisa de campo. Landslides erosive scars are natural elements that contribute to tropical forest biodiversity, mainly due to the processes of ecological succession triggered inside and variations of micro-climatic conditions derived, such as brightness, shading, humidity and temperature. Shapes, sizes and location of landslides erosive scars influence the subsequent effects of revegetation and erosion. Thus the main question this study focuses on the use of satellite images with high resolution and Geographic Information Systems as a framework for technical help in the classification of mass movements and skills in this class computing environment. Given the events of April 2010 in Rio de Janeiro, this study aims at evaluating the investigative potential of high resolution images orthorectified IKONOS sensor, through the mapping and classification of mass movements. To this end it has been constructed a database containing georeferenced information geomorphology, soil, geotechnical and roofing past tenses of the Tijuca massif, in order to classify the conditions of coverage "mass movement". Variables will be adopted as the shape, geometry and position on slope, land cover and soil, which were subsequently validated in field research.