Encoding for several memory types requires neural changes and the activity of distinct regions across the brain. These areas receive broad projections originating in nuclei located in the brainstem ...which are capable of modulating the activity of a particular area. The histaminergic system is one of the major modulatory systems, and it regulates basic homeostatic and higher functions including arousal, circadian, and feeding rhythms, and cognition. There is now evidence that histamine can modulate learning in different types of behavioral tasks, but the exact course of modulation and its mechanisms are controversial. In the present paper we review the involvement of the histaminergic system and the effects histaminergic receptor agonists/antagonists have on the performance of tasks associated with the main memory types as well as evidence provided by studies with knockout models. Thus, we aim to summarize the possible effects histamine has on modulation of circuits involved in memory formation.
To identify risk factors for the development of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria in non-ventilated patients.
This was a retrospective observational ...cohort study conducted over a three-year period at a tertiary-care teaching hospital. We included only non-ventilated patients diagnosed with HAP and presenting with positive bacterial cultures. Categorical variables were compared with chi-square test. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine risk factors for HAP caused by MDR bacteria.
Of the 140 patients diagnosed with HAP, 59 (42.1%) were infected with MDR strains. Among the patients infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and those infected with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus, mortality was 45.9% and 50.0%, respectively (p = 0.763). Among the patients infected with MDR and those infected with non-MDR gram-negative bacilli, mortality was 45.8% and 38.3%, respectively (p = 0.527). Univariate analysis identified the following risk factors for infection with MDR bacteria: COPD; congestive heart failure; chronic renal failure; dialysis; urinary catheterization; extrapulmonary infection; and use of antimicrobial therapy within the last 10 days before the diagnosis of HAP. Multivariate analysis showed that the use of antibiotics within the last 10 days before the diagnosis of HAP was the only independent predictor of infection with MDR bacteria (OR = 3.45; 95% CI: 1.56-7.61; p = 0.002).
In this single-center study, the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics within the last 10 days before the diagnosis of HAP was the only independent predictor of infection with MDR bacteria in non-ventilated patients with HAP.
Abstract Background Postpartum depression affects parents of newborns. Major depression causes cognitive prejudice. Nothing is known about memory impairment in those affected of postpartum ...depression. This study has a purpose to assess working and short-term memories during the postpartum period in mothers and fathers in the city of Pelotas, RS, Brazil and also to correlate the changes in memory with postpartum depression, sociodemographic factors and possible confounding factors. Methods This cross-sectional study includes families assisted by the public health system. The sample consisted of fathers and mothers of live births, born from March to December 2008. The participants were evaluated during home visits using the Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the word span test. The cutoff point for depression in the EPDS scores was ≥ 13, and the word span scores were evaluated as discrete variables. Results The sample consisted of 395 individuals (222 women and 173 men). The prevalence of depression was 16.2% among mothers and 5.2% among fathers. Depressed individuals performed worse on the memory test. Limitations The number of men evaluated was smaller than that of women. That's a transversal study, so we have the prevalence bias. Conclusions This study shows that postpartum depression affects both men and women, and the symptoms of depression affect the working and short-term memories of affected individuals. Given that this was a larger study than those in the literature, the results emphasize the importance of detecting and treating postpartum depression and helping affected families.
elderly's malnutrition is linked, among other factors, to chronic-degenerative diseases, requiring an improvement in the clinical evaluation of nutritional status of this population. Studies have ...tried to find out new tools to assess aged-people nutritional status. One of most used scales to investigate nutritional status on geriatric patients is the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA).
the present study aims to evaluate nutritional status of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, by comparison with a control group, via Mini Nutritional Assessment.
a cross-sectional study, which includes 35 alzheimer's old-people and 43 control old-people, was performed evaluating nutritional status with MNA.
total score of MNA in the alzheimer group shows that 71.42% were in malnutrition risk, 14.28% were malnourished and 14.25% presented normal nutritional status. In addition, in the control group 79.06% of patients (n = 34) were classified as having normal nutritional status and 20.93% (n = 9), as being at risk of malnutrition.
results reinforce the purpose that MNA can be used as a proper instrument to evaluate nutritional status in elderly, mainly in AD, because measuring risk and nutritional status of this population is indispensable.
to evaluate the risk of dysphagia and its relationship with the stage of Alzheimer's Disease, as well as the relationship between the risk of dysphagia and nutritional status and caloric intake in ...elderly people with Alzheimer's disease.
the sample consisted of 30 subjects of both genders with probable Alzheimer's disease. The stage of the disease, nutritional status, energy intake, and risk of dysphagia were assessed.
it was found that increased risk of dysphagia is associated with the advance in the stages of Alzheimer's disease and that even patients in the early stages of disease have a slight risk of developing dysphagia. No association was found between nutritional status and the risk of dysphagia. High levels of inadequate intake of micronutrients were also verified in the patients.
an association between dysphagia and the development of Alzheimer's disease was found. The results indicate the need to monitor the presence of dysphagia and the micronutrient intake in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Spontaneous closure of a traumatic macular hole (TMH) is an unusual outcome. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and clinical follow-up enabled monitoring of this resolution during a period of a few ...weeks. We describe a case of spontaneous closure of a TMH with complete visual recovery in a 15 year-old boy and show the follow-up of the macular hole obtained using the Spectral Domain OCT.
Em março de 2020, a Organização Mundial de Saúde decretou a pandemia por Covid-19. Dados do Ministério da Saúde revelam que, até agosto de 2022, o Brasil teve mais de 34 milhões de casos. Diante ...dessa situação, várias estratégias foram desenvolvidas na tentativa de frear a pandemia. Este estudo objetivou realizar um levantamento patentométrico acerca de registros de patentes sobre a Covid-19 no âmbito da CT&I. A metodologia adotada foi uma busca do estado da arte por meio de patentometria no software Orbit Questel. Foram selecionadas dez patentes com tecnologias direcionadas para o combate à Covid-19, que trazem propostas com uso de robótica, inteligência artificial e fármacos. Nesse cenário, o Brasil possui quatro patentes, correspondendo a 2% da produção e situando-se em 12º lugar em um ranking de 20 países. Conclui-se que buscar ferramentas e produzir inventividades em uma situação como a pandemia é essencial.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative pathology that affects elderly people all over the world. Several studies have demonstrated that oxidative stress is an aggravating factor for AD ...development and progression. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the activity of two oxidative stress markers, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase (δ-ALA-D), as well as correlate them with blood metal levels and AD progression. For this purpose, 88 elderly individuals were divided in two groups: AD group (34 patients diagnosed with AD) and control group (34 subjects paired by age with the AD group). The Mini-Mental State Examination and the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) were used as tools to classify the AD progression. GPx and δ-ALA-D activities were measured in all subjects through blood tests. Both enzymes' activities were decreased in AD patients when compared to the age-matched control group, regardless of the CDR. Moreover, GPx activity was positively correlated with selenium levels in the blood; and the δ-ALA-D activity was negatively correlated with blood copper levels. Taken together, our results indicated that, for the first time, blood δ-ALA-D activity was significantly inhibited in AD patients. While literature reports conflicting data regarding GPx activity in AD patients, the δ-ALA-D activity seems to be a more consistent tool to be applied as an earlier AD marker.
PDF
