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Resumo Introdução: No Brasil, a vigilância entomológica da doença de Chagas (DCh) é respaldada na participação comunitária, que notifica a presença dos vetores nas habitações. Assim, a sustentabilidade desta medida de controle depende do conhecimento da população sobre os vetores. Objetivo: Avaliar o conhecimento de escolares sobre a doença de Chagas nos municípios mineiros de Itatiaiuçu (vigilância ativa) e Sabará (vigilância inativa). Método: Questionário semiestruturado foi aplicado para alunos matriculados no ensino médio em duas escolas de Sabará (rural e urbana) e uma em Itatiaiuçu (urbana). Resultados: Em geral, os alunos residentes em Sabará demonstraram conhecimento limitado acerca dos vetores, patógeno, transmissão e doença (sem diferenças relevantes quanto à localização entre área urbana e rural), quando comparados aos residentes em Itatiaiuçu, que apesar de ter uma vigilância mais atuante, também não apresentaram conhecimento totalmente satisfatório. Conclusões: Os resultados enfatizam a carência de informações sobre a DCh tanto em relação ao conhecimento acadêmico quanto às campanhas de educação firmadas pelo programa. Ações educativas para sensibilizar a comunidade e promover o conhecimento sobre esta doença mostram-se necessárias e fundamentais para a manutenção da vigilância ao longo do tempo e espaço.

Nicotine intake is likely to result from a balance between the rewarding and aversive properties of the drug, yet the individual differences in neural activity that control aversion to nicotine and their adaptation during the addiction process remain largely unknown. Using a two-bottle choice experiment, we observed considerable heterogeneity in nicotine-drinking profiles in isogenic adult male mice, with about half of the mice persisting in nicotine consumption even at high concentrations, whereas the other half stopped consuming. We found that nicotine intake was negatively correlated with nicotine-evoked currents in the interpeduncular nucleus (IPN), and that prolonged exposure to nicotine, by weakening this response, decreased aversion to the drug, and hence boosted consumption. Lastly, using knock-out mice and local gene re-expression, we identified β4-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of IPN neurons as molecular and cellular correlates of nicotine aversion. Collectively, our results identify the IPN as a substrate for individual variabilities and adaptations in nicotine consumption.

Summary: The neural mechanisms by which animals initiate goal-directed actions, choose between options, or explore opportunities remain unknown. Here, we develop a spatial gambling task in which mice, to obtain intracranial self-stimulation rewards, self-determine the initiation, direction, vigor, and pace of their actions based on their knowledge of the outcomes. Using electrophysiological recordings, pharmacology, and optogenetics, we identify a sequence of oscillations and firings in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and prefrontal cortex (PFC) that co-encodes and co-determines self-initiation and choices. This sequence appeared with learning as an uncued realignment of spontaneous dynamics. Interactions between the structures varied with the reward context, particularly the uncertainty associated with the different options. We suggest that self-generated choices arise from a distributed circuit based on an OFC-VTA core determining whether to wait for or initiate actions, while the PFC is specifically engaged by reward uncertainty in action selection and pace.

The Upper Velhas River Basin, in the mining region of the Iron Quadrangle, is one of the most polluted basins in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The region has been exploited for gold and iron, among other substances of interest. In addition to abandoned mines, active works and mineralized rocks contribute to the discharge of contaminated waters into the rivers and streams. Thus, high-density geochemical mapping with the determination of reference values has become very important, as it allows the spatial distribution of contaminant elements to be obtained, contributing to the recognition of areas with deviant values in the basin. Two hundred and eight sediment samples were collected from streams throughout the Velhas River Basin, with a density of one sample per 15 km2. Geochemical maps were compiled using the distance-weighted inverse interpolation method, and concentrations were distinguished from anomalies using the box plot Upper Inner Fence technique. It was found that 73–78% of the basin area does not present geogenic and anthropic anomalies, with values up to the third quartile for As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb, and Zn. However, anomalies related to human actions, mainly mining works and rock types, occupy 2 to 11% of the area. This first high-density mapping in the Upper Velhas River Basin found numerous streams with concentrations of the elements studied above the Probable Effect Level, allowing us to determine which locations, cities, and river sub-basins are exposed to environmental risks and should be monitored and protected.

Abstract Bipolar disorders are defined by recurrences of depressive and manic episodes. The pathophysiology is still unknown, and translating clinical symptoms into behaviors explorable in animal models is challenging. Animal models of bipolar disorder do not exist because cyclicity of the disease is impossible to mimic, and it is therefore necessary to study mania and depression models separately. Beyond mood, emotional biases differentiate bipolar states in humans. Mania is associated with positive biases, e.g. emotional stimuli become more rewarding and less aversive, and the opposite for depression. We propose to assess behavioral hedonic responses to innately appetitive and aversive olfactory and gustatory cues in mice as proxies for the assigned emotional valence. A mania model is therefore supposed to exhibit positive hedonic bias. Using the GBR 12909 mania model, we observed the classical hyperactivity phenotype, along with low depressive-like but high anxiety-like behaviors. Unexpectedly, GBR 12909-treated mice exhibited strong negative hedonic biases. Consequently, the GBR 12909 model of mania might not be appropriate for studying emotional disturbances associated with mania states. We propose olfactory and gustatory preference tests as crucial assessment for positive and negative valence biases, necessary for precisely characterizing animal models of bipolar disorders.

Geochemical mapping and the determination of baseline concentrations of potentially hazardous elements in the environment receive increasing attention. The need to know regional geochemical background data as well as the spatial allocation of areas with anomalous element concentrations and chances to identify their major sources motivate the interest. Here, results from a geochemical mapping exercise and derived related baseline values are presented. 541 stream sediment and surface waters samples have been collected across the Iron Quadrangle (IQ), Brazil, with a density of 1 sample per 13 km2. Geochemical maps were compiled using the inverse distance weighted (lDW) interpolation method. “Normal” background concentrations were distinguished from anomalies with the separation-by-concentration-range technique, where positive anomalies were defined by the “boxplot” Upper Inner Fence (UIF) rule. The results demonstrate that more than 70% of the IQ area shows geogenic background concentration ranges for the elements studied. About 20% of the area represent positive anomalies, likely related to both near surface rock types and to human interference. Distinct anthropogenic anomalies, notably from mining activities are identified in 5–10% of all samples. This first sampling in the IQ allows delineation of the role of lithology on the elemental composition of stream sediments, and to establish baseline values for the main river basins – thus pinpointing localities, cities and fluvial basins that are exposed to environmental risks and need to be protected.

The Conceição river basin, in Quadrilátero Ferrífero (Iron Quadrangle), Brazil, has a long mining history which dates back to the late 17th century, with large gold and iron mines. These activities may be associated with river sediment contamination by trace elements, which were evaluated in this paper by the enrichment factor (EF) and contamination factor (CF). Potential ecological risks, assessed by combining sediment quality control guidelines (SQCG) and potential ecological risk indexes (Er and RI), are presented. Anomalous values for As (92.5 mg·kg−1), Cd (22.49 mg·kg−1), Cr (2582 mg·kg−1), Cu (65.9 mg·kg−1), Pb (58.6 mg·kg−1) and Zn (133.4 mg·kg−1) are observed. The EF and CF indexes indicate contamination by Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn in at least one site, with the highest values for Fe and Mn downstream of the iron mines, and Cr and Ni close to the gold mines. According to the SQGC and Er, As, Cd, Cr, and Ni are the most probable to result in adverse effects on sediment-dwelling organisms in this study. The results of principal component analysis (PCA) indicate distinct lithological units as sources of the analyzed elements, which, associated with the indexes, made it possible for the first time to delimit and classify the high concentrations of some analyzed elements as contamination in the Conceição river basin.

Abstract Background The presence of low complexity and repeated regions in genomes often results in difficulties to assemble sequencing data into full chromosomes. However, the availability of full genome scaffolds is essential to several investigations, regarding for instance the evolution of entire clades, the analysis of chromosome rearrangements, and is pivotal to sexual crossing studies. In non-conventional but industrially relevant model organisms, such as the ascomycete Trichoderma reesei, a complete genome assembly is seldom available. Results The chromosome scaffolds of T. reesei QM6a and Rut-C30 strains have been generated using a contact genomic/proximity ligation genomic approach. The original reference assembly, encompassing dozens of scaffolds, was reorganized into two sets of seven chromosomes. Chromosomal contact data also allowed to characterize 10–40 kb, gene-free, AT-rich (76%) regions corresponding to the T. reesei centromeres. Large chromosomal rearrangements (LCR) in Rut-C30 were then characterized, in agreement with former studies, and the position of LCR breakpoints used to assess the likely chromosome structure of other T. reesei strains [QM9414, CBS999.97 (1-1, re), and QM9978]. In agreement with published results, we predict that the numerous chromosome rearrangements found in highly mutated industrial strains may limit the efficiency of sexual reproduction for their improvement. Conclusions The GRAAL program allowed us to generate the karyotype of the Rut-C30 strain, and from there to predict chromosome structure for most T. reesei strains for which sequence is available. This method that exploits proximity ligation sequencing approach is a fast, cheap, and straightforward way to characterize both chromosome structure and centromere sequences and is likely to represent a popular convenient alternative to expensive and work-intensive resequencing projects.

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported a problem in the drawing of Rut-C30 chromosome III in Fig. 2B of the original article [1]. The two fragments of chromosome I inserted inside chromosome III should be swapped, and the direction of the fragment containing rim101 and cel1a genes should be inverted. This reversed insertion indicates that at least 2 rearrangements occurred simultaneously, so the possible scenario proposed in Fig. 2C of the original article was inaccurate. The corrected figure with modified panels B and C is available in the figure below. The detailed description of Rut-C30 assembly in the Additional file 5 of the original article is correct.

Evaluative conditioning has been claimed to have a number of functional characteristics that set it apart from other forms of associative learning in humans, such as insensitivity to extinction and contingency, independence of contingency awareness, and insensitivity to modulation. Despite its potential theoretical importance, until now few data are available concerning the susceptibility of evaluative conditioning to cue competition effects such as blocking. In the present study, we assessed the susceptibility of acquired preferences and evaluations to blocking in a candy game. Results suggest that evaluative conditioning is not susceptible to blocking. We discuss this observation in the light of theoretical accounts of evaluative conditioning and associative learning in humans.

Confronted with difficulties of medical evacuation to cardiovascular surgical hospitals in Europe, the authors decided to bring up to date closed heart mitral commissurotomy. The aim of the study was to estimate possibility to select patients, to operate them safety to appreciate the results in medium and short time and the intervention's cost. 8 women and 7 men had a closed heart mitral commissurotomy from June 1995 to January 1997 in Dakar Principal Hospital; inclusion criteria were a symptomatic mitral stenosis with area less 1.5 cm2; exclusion criteria were an other valvulopathy, a Wilkin score above 8, a severe pulmonary arterial hypertension, an auricular thrombosis. One patient died on the forth day; a completely regressive hemiplegia was the only complication; 14 patients were clinically very improved: the average mitral area by planimetry form 0.89 cm2 +/- 0.15 became 1.64 cm2 +/- 0.33 and by Hatle formula from 0.82 cm2 +/- 0.12 to 1.71 cm2 +/- 0.37; the intervention cost was in second class 1,000,000 F CFA, in third class 820,000 F CFA. This study shows closed mitral commissurotomy can be realised in an african hospital as Dakar Principal Hospital; short and medium results are good; African surgeons must go on studying this surgical technic.

A 26-year old female developed acute fulminant amoebic colitis during the post-partum period, successfully managed by subtotal colonic resection without anastomosis. Fulminant transmural amoebic colitis is a rare life-threatening complication of invasive bowel amebiasis. Pregnancy, delivery, diabetes mellitus and immunodeficiency are the main risk factors. At pathologic examination, bowel wall necrosis can be seen with amoebae present in the lumen of capillary vessels. The diagnosis of amoebic colonic perforation is difficult, especially in a non-endemic area. Conservative surgical management is required in non-perforated forms. If perforated, the bowel must be resected, limited to macroscopic lesions.

The mortality from abdominal gunshot wounds remains high, either in civilian or military cases. The severity factors of these wounds include bullet calibre and energy transfer of the missile. This paper studies some of the ballistics features of abdominal gunshot wounds. Practical guidelines are inferred concerning diagnosis and treatment of these wounds.

This case of a 63 year old man reports the simultaneous development of hepatic cholangiocarcinoma and fibrosarcoma of the sacrum 45 years after the systemic injection of Thorotrast. The characteristic radiologic aspect was an important criteria for diagnosis. Biopsies have confirmed the histology of both tumors. We describe the way to thorotrastosis diagnosis and characteristic malignant tumors, especially cholangiocarcinoma, induced by Thorotrast.

This retrospective study reviews 211 patients having sustained a bilateral groin hernia repair during a 3 year period. The procedure was the same for all the patients: via a Pfannensteil approach, a pre peritoneal prosthetic repair is performed, using two ePTFE patches, after resection of the hernial sacs and closure of the parietal gaps. The mean follow up was 2 years. During the post operative course, thirty seven of 211 patients sustained 10 local complications, 9 urethral catheter related complications and 11 residual pain. No prostheses infection or testicular atrophy was observed. Nine patients had recurrences (2.2% of 422 repairs). All the recurrences were due to incorrect technique, eight were successfully re operated on--Expanded PTFE is a reliable prosthetic material, easy to handle and well adapted to preperitioneal hernia repair.