Caraparu virus (group C <Emphasis Type="Italic">Orthobunyavirus</Emphasis>): sequencing and phylogenetic analysis based on the conserved region 3 of the RNA polymerase gene

Here, for the first time, we report the nucleotide sequence of Caraparu virus (CARV) L segment and the analysis of the RNA polymerase region 3 encoded by this segment. The 1,404 bp nucleotide sequence shares the highest identity with Bunyamwera, La Crosse, Oropouche, and Akabane virus sequences. The amino acid sequence was deduced and aligned with sequences from members of the Bunyaviridae family and used for phylogenetic analysis. The CARV clustered in the Orthobunyavirus genus. The premotif A and motifs A–E are present in the region 3 of the Bunyaviridae family, were also conserved in CARV L protein, as well as other conserved regions among Orthobunyavirus genus. The nucleotide sequence data reported in this article have been submitted to the GenBank nucleotide sequence database: EF122411     

Histological and Genotoxic Biomarkers in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prochilodus lacustris</Emphasis> (Pisces,Prochilodontidae) for Environmental Assessment in a Protected Area in the Northeast of Brazil

The quality of aquatic environments all around the world is being altered by different human activities that represent direct threat to the ecological system and the aquatic biota. This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of histological and genotoxic alterations in Prochilodus lacustris as indicators of anthropic impacts in a lacustrine environment in northeast Brazil. The histological alterations were evaluated using the histological alteration index, and the genotoxic alterations were detected using the micronuclei test, at three sampling stations (S1, S2 and S3). The gills presented lesions with three stages of severity, with mild lesions more frequent in the specimens collected at station S1. Mild hepatic tissue lesions were the most frequent type in both areas. Micronucleus analysis showed that station S3 was the most affected. The biological responses observed indicated that the fish are under influence of environmental changes. It is important to highlight that the organisms collected at station S3 had a more compromised health status.     

Effects of pelvic floor muscle training during pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of pelvic floor muscle training in 46 nulliparous pregnant women. METHODS: The women were divided into 2 groups: an exercise group and a control group. Functional evaluation of the pelvic floor muscle was performed by digital vaginal palpation using the strength scale described by Ortiz and by a perineometer (with and without biofeedback). RESULTS: The functional evaluation of the pelvic floor muscles showed a significant increase in pelvic floor muscle strength during pregnancy in both groups (P < .001). However, the magnitude of the change was greater in the exercise group than in the control group (47.4% vs. 17.3%, P < .001). The study also showed a significant positive correlation (Spearman's test, r = 0.643; P < .001) between perineometry and digital assessment in the strength of pelvic floor muscles. CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic floor muscle training resulted in a significant increase in pelvic floor muscle pressure and strength during pregnancy. A significant positive correlation between functional evaluation of the pelvic floor muscle and perineometry was observed during pregnancy.     

Effect of a 24-h continuous walking race on cardiac autonomic control

This study investigated the relationships between walking speed and heart rate (HR) variability (HRV) in eleven subjects during a 24-h race. It was hypothesized that the nycthemeral rhythm on HR is preserved during the race. RR intervals and walking speed were measured. Fast Fourier transform was applied to samples of 1,024 successive RR intervals collected every hour from a HR monitor. Walking speed was averaged every hour and decreased (first lap: 8.8 ± 0.3 vs. last lap: 7.3 ± 0.8 km h⁻¹, P < 0.001) with HR also decreasing (max at 19:00 h: 143 ± 9 vs. min at 7:00 h: 117 ± 14 beats min⁻¹, P < 0.001) following a third order polynomial shape. HRV power spectral components followed distribution patterns similar to the mean RR during the race with a minimum in the early evening (19:00–20:00 h) and a maximum in the morning (5:00–8:00 h). Thus, as for mean RR, spectral components over time are also fitted to a third order polynomial regression. LF/HF ratio increased linearly (min = 0.5 ± 0.3, max = 2.8 ± 5.3, P = 0.02). Although mean HF peak did not decrease significantly over time, it was positively correlated with walking speed. In conclusion, this study showed that despite a constant decrease in walking speed, HR circadian rhythm is preserved during a continuous 24-h walking race. The short-term HRV components remain linked to HR whereas the LF/HF ratio increases linearly until the end of the race whatever HR is.     

Evidence for a pseudo-outbreak of Candida guilliermondii fungemia in a university hospital in Brazil

Fungal infections due to Candida species represent an important cause of nosocomial bloodstream infections. We report a large pseudo-outbreak of Candida guilliermondii fungemia that occurred in a university hospital in Brazil. C. guilliermondii was identified in 64 (43%) of the 149 blood samples drawn between June 2003 and July 2004. The samples were from patients in different wards of the hospital but concentrated in pediatric units. None of the patients had clinical signs of fungemia, and observational analysis revealed errors in the collection of blood samples. During the investigation of the pseudo-outbreak, C. guilliermondii was isolated from environmental surfaces and from the skin and nails of members of the nursing team. Through a subtyping analysis it was found that some of the nonpatient isolates were highly related to the patient isolates, and all the patient isolates were highly related. This is consistent with the hypothesis that the pseudo-outbreak was from a limited number of common sources. The adoption of intervention measures was effective in resolving the outbreak, supporting the hypothesis that the outbreak was due to poor techniques of drawing blood samples for culture.     

Inspiratory muscle endurance testing: pulmonary ventilation and electromyographic analysis

This study analyzed regional pulmonary ventilation and electromyographic (EMG) activity of the respiratory muscles during an inspiratory muscle endurance (IME) test in 10 young women. Radioaerosol (99mTc-DTPA) was generated using a jet nebulizer connected to a linear inspiratory loading system. The lung scintigraphic analysis showed an increase in the radioaerosol deposition using loads of 20 and 30 cmH(2)O (p<0.01). The vertical gradient showed a larger radioaerosol deposition in the medium third of the lungs during the control period (p<0.001). There were larger amounts of radioaerosol deposition in the medium third when compared with the upper and lower third at 30 cmH(2)O (p<0.001). The horizontal gradient showed a larger deposition in the intermediate and central segments during all phases (p<0.00). Electromyographic activity from the muscles of the lower rib cage increased with loads of 20 and 30 cmH(2)O (p<0.03). There was an increase in deposition of radioaerosol when the load increased (r=0.584, p=0.000 for the left lung and r=0.609, p=0.000 for right lung). These findings suggest that during the IME test, EMG activity in the muscles of the lower rib cage increase during progressive respiratory workloads is associated with a greater radioaerosol deposition in the medium third and intermediate and central segments of the lungs.     

Evaluation of two biodegradable nerve guides for the reconstruction of the rat sciatic nerve

The purpose of this study was to test in vivo two different nerve guides, one of PLGA made of a novel proportion (90:10) of the two polymers, Poly(L-lactide):Poly(glycolide), with (DL-lactide-epsilon-caprolactone) copolyester (Neurolac) tube, in promoting nerve regeneration across a 10 mm-gap of the rat sciatic nerve. Finally, end-to-end coaptation was performed. Motor and sensory functional recovery was assessed throughout the healing period of 20 weeks and the repaired nerves were processed for morphological analysis. Both motor and sensory functions improved significantly in all experimental nerve repair groups, although the rate and extent of recovery was significantly higher in the end-to-end group. No significant differences were detected in the comparison between the two types of tubes. Compatible with results of functional tests, morphological analysis showed that axon regeneration occurred in both PLGA and Neurolac experimental groups but disclosed a different pattern of degradation of the two types of tubes with larger biodegradation of PLGA material by the end of 20 weeks. These results suggest that both types of biomaterial are a good substrate for preparing tubular nerve guides and the different pattern of degradation does not seem to influence the degree of nerve regeneration.