bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prediction of post-operative pain following arthroscopic subacromial decompression surgery: an observational study
Authors: Davis Anthony , Chinn David J , Sharma Sunil
Published: May 2013

Background: Arthroscopic shoulder surgery is increasingly performed as a day case procedure. Optimal post-operative pain relief remains a challenge due to considerable variations in the level of pain experienced between individuals. Our aim was to examine whether the preoperative electrical pain threshold was a strong predictor of elevated postoperative pain levels following arthroscopic subacromial decompression (ASD) surgery. Methods: Forty consenting patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade 1-2 presenting for elective ASD surgery were recruited. Patients’ electrical pain thresholds were measured preoperatively using a PainMatcher® (Cefar Medical AB, Lund, Sweden) device. Following surgery under general anaesthesia, the maximum pain experienced at rest and movement was recorded using a visual analogue scale until the end of postoperative day four. Results: In univariate analyses (t-test), the postoperative pain experienced (Area Under Curve) was significantly greater in patients with a low pain threshold as compared with a high pain threshold at both rest (mean 12.5, S.E. 1.7 v mean 6.5, S.E.1.2. P=0.008) and on movement (mean 18.7, S.E. 1.5 v mean 14.1, S.E.1.4. P=0.031). In multivariate analyses, adjusting for additional extra analgesia, the pain experienced postoperatively was significantly greater in the low pain threshold group both at rest (mean difference 4.9, 95% CI 1.5 to 8.4, P=0.007) and on movement (mean difference 4.1, 95%CI 0.03 to 8.2, P=0.049). Conclusions: Preoperative pain threshold can predict postoperative pain level following ASD of the shoulder. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01351363 Level of Evidence: II
Mobile phones affect multiple sperm quality traits: a meta-analysis
Authors: Dama Madhukar Shivajirao , Bhat M Narayana
Published: May 2013

As mobile phone usage is growing rapidly, there is a need for a comprehensive analysis of the literature to inform scientific debates about the adverse effects of mobile phone radiation on sperm quality traits. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis of the eligible published research studies on human males of reproductive age. Eleven studies were eligible for this analysis. Based on the meta-analysis, mobile phone use was significantly associated with deterioration in semen quality (Hedges’s g = -0.547; 95% CI: -0.713, -0.382; p < 0.001). The traits particularly affected adversely were sperm concentration, sperm morphology, sperm motility, proportion of non-progressive motile sperm (%), proportion of slow progressive motile sperm (%), and sperm viability. Direct exposure of spermatozoa to mobile phone radiation with in vitro study designs also significantly deteriorated the sperm quality (Hedges’s g = -2.233; 95% CI: -2.758, -1.708; p < 0.001), by reducing straight line velocity, fast progressive motility, Hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test score, major axis (µm), minor axis (µm), total sperm motility, perimeter (µm), area (µm2), average path velocity, curvilinear velocity, motile spermatozoa, and  acrosome reacted spermatozoa (%). The strength of evidence for the different outcomes varied from very low to very high. The analysis shows that mobile phone use is possibly associated with a number of deleterious effects on the spermatozoa.
Has incentive payment improved venous thrombo-embolism risk assessment and treatment of hospital in-patients?
Authors: Child Sue , Sheaff Rod , Boiko Olga , Bateman Alice , Gericke Christian A
Published: May 2013

This paper focuses on financial incentives rewarding successful implementation of guidelines in the UK National Health Service (NHS). In particular, it assesses the implementation of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) venous thrombo-embolism (VTE) guidance in 2010 on the risk assessment and secondary prevention of VTE in hospital in-patients and the financial incentives driving successful implementation introduced by the Commissioning for Quality and Innovation for Payment Framework (CQUIN) for 2010-2011. We systematically compared the implementation of evidence-based national guidance on VTE prevention across two specialities (general medicine and orthopaedics) in four hospital sites in the greater South West of England by auditing and evaluating VTE prevention activity for 2009 (i.e. before the 2010 NICE guideline) and late 2010 (almost a year after the guideline was published). Analysis of VTE prevention activity reported in 816 randomly selected orthopaedic and general medical in-patient medical records was complemented by a qualitative study into the practical responses to revised national guidance. This paper’s contribution to knowledge is to suggest that by financially rewarding the implementation of national guidance on VTE prevention, paradoxes and contradictions have become apparent between the ‘payment by volume system’ of Healthcare Resource Groups and the ‘payment by results’ system of CQUIN.
REDES DE COOPERAÇÃO DE PEQUENAS E MÉDIAS EMPRESAS: OS FATORES COMPETITIVOS APLICADOS EM UMA REDE DE IMOBILIÁRIAS
Authors: Alves Juliano Nunes , Balsan Laércio André Gassen , Bazzo Paula Silva , Lubeck Rafael Mendes , Grohmann Márcia Zampieri
Published: May 2013

Propõe-se a identificar, em uma rede de imobiliárias, a ocorrência dos cinco fatores competitivos observados por Verschoore e Balestrin (2006), através de um estudo de caso com enfoque qualitativo-descritivo. As evidências empíricas foram coletadas por meio de entrevistas. A partir da análise dos dados identificou-se que a união dos integrantes faz com que ocorra um maior poder de barganha. Também um melhor fluxo de informações facilitando a solução de problemas e principalmente a disseminação da informação entre os integrantes. Outro resultado é que o aumento da confiança consegue-se diminuir os custos de transações entre os associados. Sugere-se estudos em outros relacionamentos interorganizacionais.
Divulgação das Compras Públicas de Alimentos para a Merenda Escolar em Municípios Catarinenses
Authors: Soares Laura Letsch , Vicente Ernesto Fernando Rodrigues
Published: May 2013

Compras públicas com suporte de processamento de dados são uma aplicação de governo eletrônico ou e-administração importante. O pregão eletrônico, além de agilizar as compras, facilita a divulgação das etapas das licitações, conferindo maior transparência á gestão. Este estudo descritivo objetiva identificar como vêm sendo divulgadas ao público, com o uso das TIC´s, as aquisições de alimentos do Pnae. Ele se justifica pela materialidade dos recursos financeiros envolvidos e pela relevância social do Programa. A amostra pesquisada foi definida em função das matrículas no ensino fundamental do censo escolar de 2009, registradas no INEP. Nos resultados utiliza-se a abordagem qualitativa. Eles revelam que há municípios que ainda não dispõem de websites institucionais, não utilizam a homepage do TCU para divulgar as compras e não utilizam pregão eletrônico. Conclui-se, que a internet não vem sendo utilizada para promover accoutability dos processos de compras à sociedade, especialmente no âmbito do Pnae.
A Flexibilidade Organizacional como Fator Estratégico para a Obtenção de Vantagem Competitiva: um Estudo nas Pequenas Indústrias Metalúrgicas da Região de Osasco-SP
Authors: Barreto Antonio Fernandes , Pozo Hamilton
Published: May 2013

O objetivo da pesquisa foi investigar se a flexibilidade organizacional pode fornecer competitividade às micro e pequenas empresas (MPEs), em especial as pequenas indústrias metalúrgicas, gerando assim uma vantagem competitiva. Foi utilizado como instrumento de pesquisa um questionário com escala de concordância tipo likert, compreendendo o modelo organizacional flexível, composto pelos fatores: organização do trabalho; gestão de pessoas e processo decisório; e foco no cliente, desenvolvido por Mendes (2002). A pesquisa se caracteriza de natureza exploratória, cujos métodos utilizados são o qualitativo e o quantitativo na avaliação do modelo utilizado. Os resultados foram analisados com a aplicação de estatística não-paramétrica pela análise das medianas e comparação de dados. Obtendo como resultado a concordância com o modelo organizacional flexível e a competitividade demonstrada pela longevidade encontrada na amostra pesquisada.
Correlação entre Clima Organizacional e Inovação: importância do gerenciamento de variáveis que influenciam o ambiente inovativo de uma universidade pública federal
Authors: Oliveira Rosana Augusta de , Santos Moacir José dos , Tadeucci Marilsa de Sá Rodrigues
Published: May 2013

As universidades possuem papel decisivo na geração de tecnologias que propiciam a melhoria de processos e produtos, os quais, como consequência, contribuem para a qualidade de vida da sociedade. Ao considerar a relevância da universidade nesse sentido, o presente trabalho procura analisar fatores do clima organizacional que influenciam a esfera inovativa, na visão dos docentes que atuam no Campus Universitário de Gurupi/UFT, por meio de aplicação de questionário. A pesquisa objetiva demonstrar a importância do gerenciamento destas variáveis a fim de se criar ou manter um clima permanente de renovação e inovação. Concluiu-se que o ambiente predisposto à inovação do Campus de Gurupi não pode ser classificado como prejudicado, devendo ter melhorias no sentido de serem gerenciados com mais foco e cuidado os recursos humanos e materiais, que são indispensáveis à inovação, como também é preciso suplantar a falta de unidade com o intuito de se efetivar a cooperação entre setores. Palavras-chave: clima organizacional; ambiente inovativo; universidade pública federal.
Importância do Agronegócio para o Crescimento Econômico de Brasil e Estados Unidos
Authors: Figueiredo Adelson Martins , Dos Santos Maurinho Luiz , De Lima Jandir Ferrera
Published: May 2013

O Acordo Agrícola da Rodada Uruguai não conteve o protecionismo na agricultura mundial, tornando-se tema importante nos fóruns de negociações multilaterais da OMC. Este trabalho objetiva estimar e comparar o grau de importância dos setores agroindustriais na geração de crescimento econômico no Brasil e nos EUA. Para isso, usaram-se as matrizes de insumo-produto de Brasil e EUA na estimação de índices de Rasmussen-Hirschman e de índices puros de ligação. Esses indicadores mostram que setores da agricultura, pecuária e agronegócio são importantes para a geração do crescimento econômico em ambos os países, mas com maiores impactos no crescimento da economia brasileira.Palavras-chave: agronegócio; crescimento econômico; Brasil; EUA.
Carreiras sem fronteiras e transição profissional no Brasil: desafios e oportunidades para pessoas e organizações. Elza Fátima Rosa Veloso. 1. ed. São Paulo: Atlas, 2012
Authors: Trevisan Leonardo Nelmi
Published: May 2013

Resenha apresenta e comenta conteúdo do livro "Carreiras sem Fronteiras e Transição Profissional no Brasil" da Profa. Dra. Elza Fátima Rosa Veloso. A resenha elenca aspectos históricos das teorias sobre carreitas bem como os principais conceitos a ela relacionados, ao longo dos diversos capítulos da obra. A resenha destaca atualidade do tema no Brasil, bem como sua evolução recente.
Ranibizumab: The First Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Inhibitor Approved for the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema
Authors: Evoy Kirk E , Abel Steven R
Published: May 2013

OBJECTIVE:

To review the pharmacology, efficacy, and safety data available for ranibizumab and compare the drug to other therapeutic options for diabetic macular edema (DME) to determine its likely role in therapy.

DATA SOURCES:

A PubMed search was initially used to identify all trials pertaining to the use of ranibizumab for DME. This search was conducted in February 2013 without a time frame for exclusion of older trials (all references included were published between January 1987 and February 2013). Following a review of the references of these articles, additional sources were obtained from PubMed, the manufacturer's website, and clinicaltrials.gov.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:

Trials conducted in animals and those written in a language other than English were excluded. Abstracts of remaining trials were reviewed for determination of relevance to this review. Preference was given to randomized controlled trials. Additional information sources were obtained from a review of references as deemed necessary by the authors.

DATA SYNTHESIS:

Six Phase 2 or 3 randomized controlled trials studying the effects of ranibizumab in patients with DME were identified. Within these trials, ranibizumab consistently produced significantly greater gains in mean best corrected visual acuity than focal/grid laser photocoagulation or sham (7.4-12.5 letter improvement with ranibizumab vs 0.5-3 letters following focal/grid laser photocoagulation monotherapy) with a favorable safety and tolerability profile. Ranibizumab was also studied in combination with focal/grid laser photocoagulation, showing no additional gains in vision versus ranibizumab monotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS:

The identified trials provide support for the safety and efficacy of ranibizumab in the treatment of vision loss due to DME and present a strong case for the shift to first-line treatment with vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors from focal/grid laser photocoagulation, the standard of care since the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study of 1985.
Formulaicity in an agglutinating language: the case of Turkish
Authors: Durrant Philip
Published: May 2013

This study examines the extent to which complex inflectional patterns found in Turkish, a language with a rich agglutinating morphology, can be described as formulaic. It is found that many prototypically formulaic phenomena previously attested at the multi-word level in English – frequent co-occurrence of specific elements, fixed ‘bundles’ of elements, and associations between lexis and grammar – also play an important role at the morphological level in Turkish. It is argued that current psycholinguistic models of agglutinative morphology need to be complexified to incorporate such patterns. Conclusions are also drawn for the practice of Turkish as a Foreign Language teaching and for the methodology of Turkish corpus linguistics.
Noun-Noun sequences and the complement-modifier distinction: a corpus-based study
Authors: Portero Muñoz Carmen
Published: May 2013

The aim of this paper is to question the relevance of the complement-modifier distinction in Noun-Noun sequences. It will be argued that neither syntactic nor semantic criteria provide a completely reliable basis for the distinction between complement and modifier in the context of post-head complements or modifiers and even less so in the case of nominal complements or modifiers in pre-head position, i.e. in Noun-Noun sequences. More specifically, it will be contended that the distinction between complements and modifiers in Noun-Noun sequences cannot be held on cognitive grounds either. With this aim it will firstly be shown that there are different types of associations between the two nouns in Noun-Noun sequences, namely thematic-relation associations (e.g. food shopping) and peripheral associations (e.g. strip shopping). Secondly, evidence will be provided to show that, in spite of the fact that these various associations may correspond to our intuitions about the complement-modifier distinction, they manifest a similar degree of semantic bondedness and combination frequency. In order to measure the semantic bondedness and frequency of the different types of relations in Noun-Noun sequences a pilot study on a sample of Noun-Noun sequences will be conducted using corpus data. The relative frequency with which two nouns are combined correlates with different degrees of ‘semantic bonding’, which can be seen as a sign of cognitive relevance. As a result of this, it will be shown that, even in the case of relational nouns, the most frequent combinations are not always thematic-relation ones. In addition, some sequences where nouns are combined with other nouns denoting peripheral relations show a higher degree of semantic bonding than others in which they are combined with thematic-relation nouns. Finally, the distinction between complements and modifiers in Noun-Noun sequences will be addressed from the point of view of interpretation. In spite of the fact that thematic relation interpretations are assumed to have priority over property interpretations, this priority may be reversed by different factors.
The Balanced Survivor Average Causal Effect
Authors: Greene Tom , Joffe Marshall , Hu Bo , Li Liang , Boucher Ken
Published: May 2013

: Statistical analysis of longitudinal outcomes is often complicated by the absence of observable values in patients who die prior to their scheduled measurement. In such cases, the longitudinal data are said to be “truncated by death” to emphasize that the longitudinal measurements are not simply missing, but are undefined after death. Recently, the truncation by death problem has been investigated using the framework of principal stratification to define the target estimand as the survivor average causal effect (SACE), which in the context of a two-group randomized clinical trial is the mean difference in the longitudinal outcome between the treatment and control groups for the principal stratum of always-survivors. The SACE is not identified without untestable assumptions. These assumptions have often been formulated in terms of a monotonicity constraint requiring that the treatment does not reduce survival in any patient, in conjunction with assumed values for mean differences in the longitudinal outcome between certain principal strata. In this paper, we introduce an alternative estimand, the balanced-SACE, which is defined as the average causal effect on the longitudinal outcome in a particular subset of the always-survivors that is balanced with respect to the potential survival times under the treatment and control. We propose a simple estimator of the balanced-SACE that compares the longitudinal outcomes between equivalent fractions of the longest surviving patients between the treatment and control groups and does not require a monotonicity assumption. We provide expressions for the large sample bias of the estimator, along with sensitivity analyses and strategies to minimize this bias. We consider statistical inference under a bootstrap resampling procedure.
Double Dissociation between the Anterior Cingulate Cortex and Nucleus Accumbens Core in Encoding the Context versus the Content of Pavlovian Cocaine Cue Extinction
Authors: Torregrossa Mary M. , Gordon Jessica , Taylor Jane R.
Published: May 2013

One strategy proposed to treat addictive disorders is to extinguish the association between environmental stimuli (cues) and actions associated with drug use to reduce relapse. The context specificity of extinction learning, however, impairs the ability of addicts to generalize extinction training to the drug-taking context. We previously reported that the NMDA receptor partial agonistd-cycloserine administered after pavlovian extinction of cocaine cues in the nucleus accumbens core (NAc) reduced cue-induced renewal. Nevertheless, it was unclear whether this was due to disrupted contextual encoding of extinction or enhanced extinction consolidation. Thus, we examined the effect of the NMDA receptor antagonistd-AP5 on context encoding versus cue extinction learning. We also determined the role of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in encoding the cue extinction memory or the context, due to its projections to NAc, and hypothesized the role in conflict monitoring and contextual modulation of decision making. Using rats, we observed that NMDA receptor antagonism in the NAc did not alter context encoding but did interfere with acquisition of the cue extinction memory, i.e., learning, conversely inactivation of the ACC reduced the contextual encoding of extinction but did not interfere with the acquisition or expression of extinction. The observed effects were not present in the absence of cue extinction training. Additionally, the contextual memory did not appear to be consolidated in the ACC as neither postsession inactivation nor protein synthesis inhibition impaired context-appropriate responding. These results have implications for overcoming the context specificity of extinction to treat psychiatric disorders including addiction.
The Human Brain Processes Syntax in the Absence of Conscious Awareness
Authors: Batterink Laura , Neville Helen J.
Published: May 2013

Syntax is the core computational component of language. A longstanding idea about syntactic processing is that it is generally not available to conscious access, operating autonomously and automatically. However, there is little direct neurocognitive evidence on this issue. By measuring event-related potentials while human observers performed a novel cross-modal distraction task, we demonstrated that syntactic violations that were not consciously detected nonetheless produced a characteristic early neural response pattern, and also significantly delayed reaction times to a concurrent task. This early neural response was distinct from later neural activity that was observed only to syntactic violations that were consciously detected. These findings provide direct evidence that the human brain reacts to violations of syntax even when these violations are not consciously detected, indicating that even highly complex computational processes such as syntactic processing can occur outside the narrow window of conscious awareness.
Cholinergic Control over Attention in Rats Prone to Attribute Incentive Salience to Reward Cues
Authors: Paolone Giovanna , Angelakos Christopher C. , Meyer Paul J. , Robinson Terry E. , Sarter Martin
Published: May 2013

Some rats [sign-trackers (STs)] are especially prone to attribute incentive salience to reward cues, relative to others [goal-trackers (GTs)]. Thus, reward cues are more likely to promote maladaptive reward-seeking behavior in STs than GTs. Here, we asked whether STs and GTs differ on another trait that can contribute to poor restraint over behavior evoked by reward cues. We report that, relative to GTs, STs have poor control over attentional performance, due in part to insufficient cholinergic stimulation of cortical circuitry. We found that, relative to GTs, STs showed poor performance on a sustained attention task (SAT). Furthermore, their performance fluctuated rapidly between periods of good to near-chance performance. This finding was reproduced using a separate cohort of rats. As demonstrated earlier, performance on the SAT was associated with increases in extracellular levels of cortical acetylcholine (ACh); however, SAT performance-associated increases in ACh levels were significantly attenuated in STs relative to GTs. Consistent with the view that the modulatory effects of ACh involve stimulation of α4β2* nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs), systemic administration of the partial nAChR agonist ABT-089 improved SAT performance in STs and abolished the difference between SAT-associated ACh levels in STs and GTs. Neither the nonselective nAChR agonist nicotine nor the psychostimulant amphetamine improved SAT performance. These findings suggest that individuals who have a propensity to attribute high-incentive salience to reward cues also exhibit relatively poor attentional control. A combination of these traits may render individuals especially vulnerable to disorders, such as obesity and addiction.
“Master” Neurons Induced by Operant Conditioning in Rat Motor Cortex during a Brain-Machine Interface Task
Authors: Arduin Pierre-Jean , Frégnac Yves , Shulz Daniel E. , Ego-Stengel Valérie
Published: May 2013

Operant control of a prosthesis by neuronal cortical activity is one of the successful strategies for implementing brain-machine interfaces (BMI), by which the subject learns to exert a volitional control of goal-directed movements. However, it remains unknown if the induced brain circuit reorganization affects preferentially the conditioned neurons whose activity controlled the BMI actuator during training. Here, multiple extracellular single-units were recorded simultaneously in the motor cortex of head-fixed behaving rats. The firing rate of a single neuron was used to control the position of a one-dimensional actuator. Each time the firing rate crossed a predefined threshold, a water bottle moved toward the rat, until the cumulative displacement of the bottle allowed the animal to drink. After a learning period, most (88%) conditioned neurons raised their activity during the trials, such that the time to reward decreased across sessions: the conditioned neuron fired strongly, reliably and swiftly after trial onset, although no explicit instruction in the learning rule imposed a fast neuronal response. Moreover, the conditioned neuron fired significantly earlier and more strongly than nonconditioned neighboring neurons. During the first training sessions, an increase in firing rate variability was seen only for the highly conditionable neurons. This variability then decreased while the conditioning effect increased. These findings suggest that modifications during training target preferentially the neuron chosen to control the BMI, which acts then as a “master” neuron, leading in time the reconfiguration of activity in the local cortical network.
In vivoStimulus-Induced Vasodilation Occurs without IP3Receptor Activation and May Precede Astrocytic Calcium Increase
Authors: Nizar Krystal , Uhlirova Hana , Tian Peifang , Saisan Payam A. , Cheng Qun , Reznichenko Lidia , Weldy Kimberly L. , Steed Tyler C. , Sridhar Vishnu B. , MacDonald Christopher L. , Cui Jianxia , Gratiy Sergey L. , Sakadžić Sava , Boas David A. , Beka Thomas I. , Einevoll Gaute T. , Chen Ju , Masliah Eliezer , Dale Anders M. , Silva Gabriel A. , Devor Anna
Published: May 2013

Calcium-dependent release of vasoactive gliotransmitters is widely assumed to trigger vasodilation associated with rapid increases in neuronal activity. Inconsistent with this hypothesis, intact stimulus-induced vasodilation was observed in inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) type-2 receptor (R2) knock-out (KO) mice, in which the primary mechanism of astrocytic calcium increase—the release of calcium from intracellular stores following activation of an IP3-dependent pathway—is lacking. Further, our results in wild-type (WT) mice indicate thatin vivoonset of astrocytic calcium increase in response to sensory stimulus could be considerably delayed relative to the simultaneously measured onset of arteriolar dilation. Delayed calcium increases in WT mice were observed in both astrocytic cell bodies and perivascular endfeet. Thus, astrocytes may not play a role in the initiation of blood flow response, at least not via calcium-dependent mechanisms. Moreover, an increase in astrocytic intracellular calcium was not required for normal vasodilation in the IP3R2-KO animals.
Inattention Blindness to Motion in Middle Temporal Area
Authors: Harrison Ian T. , Weiner Katherine F. , Ghose Geoffrey M.
Published: May 2013

Subjects naturally form and use expectations to solve familiar tasks, but the accuracy of these expectations and the neuronal mechanisms by which these expectations enhance behavior are unclear. We trained animals (Macaca mulatta) in a challenging perceptual task in which the likelihood of a very brief pulse of motion was consistently modulated over time and space. Pulse likelihood had dramatic effects on behavior: unexpected pulses were nearly invisible to the animals. To examine the neuronal basis of such inattention blindness, we recorded from single neurons in the middle temporal (MT) area, an area related to motion perception. Fluctuations in how reliably MT neurons both signaled stimulus events and predicted behavioral choices were highly correlated with changes in performance over the course of individual trials. A simple neuronal pooling model reveals that the dramatic behavioral effects of attention in this task can be completely explained by changes in the reliability of a small number of MT neurons.
Multiple Modes of Phase Locking between Sniffing and Whisking during Active Exploration
Authors: Ranade Sachin , Hangya Balázs , Kepecs Adam
Published: May 2013

Sense organs are often actively controlled by motor processes and such active sensing profoundly shapes the timing of sensory information flow. The temporal coordination between different active sensing processes is less well understood but is essential for multisensory integration, coordination between brain regions, and energetically optimal sampling strategies. Here we studied the coordination between sniffing and whisking, the motor processes in rodents that control the acquisition of smell and touch information, respectively. Sniffing, high-frequency respiratory bouts, and whisking, rapid back and forth movements of mystacial whiskers, occur in the same theta frequency range (4–12 Hz) leading to a hypothesis that these sensorimotor rhythms are phase locked. To test this, we monitored sniffing using a thermocouple in the nasal cavity and whisking with an electromyogram of the mystacial pad in rats engaged in an open field reward foraging behavior. During bouts of exploration, sniffing and whisking showed strong one-to-one phase locking within the theta frequency range (4–12 Hz). Interestingly, we also observed multimode phase locking with multiple whisks within a sniff cycle or multiple sniffs within a whisk cycle—always at the same preferred phase. This specific phase relationship coupled the acquisition phases of the two sensorimotor rhythms, inhalation and whisker protraction. Our results suggest that sniffing and whisking may be under the control of interdependent rhythm generators that dynamically coordinate active acquisition of olfactory and somatosensory information.
Imbalance between Excitation and Inhibition in the Somatosensory Cortex Produces Postadaptation Facilitation
Authors: Cohen-Kashi Malina Katayun , Jubran Muna , Katz Yonatan , Lampl Ilan
Published: May 2013

Adaptation is typically associated with attenuation of the neuronal response during sustained or repetitive sensory stimulation, followed by a gradual recovery of the response to its baseline level thereafter. Here, we examined the process of recovery from sensory adaptation in layer IV cells of the rat barrel cortex usingin vivointracellular recordings. Surprisingly, in approximately one-third of the cells, the response to a test stimulus delivered a few hundred milliseconds after the adapting stimulation was significantly facilitated. Recordings under different holding potentials revealed that the enhanced response was the result of an imbalance between excitation and inhibition, where a faster recovery of excitation compared with inhibition facilitated the response. Hence, our data provide the first mechanistic explanation of sensory facilitation after adaptation and suggest that adaptation increases the sensitivity of cortical neurons to sensory stimulation by altering the balance between excitation and inhibition.
Brain Changes in Older Adults at Very Low Risk for Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Fjell Anders M. , McEvoy Linda , Holland Dominic , Dale Anders M. , Walhovd Kristine B. ,   for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: May 2013

Alzheimer's disease (AD) has a slow onset, so it is challenging to distinguish brain changes in healthy elderly persons from incipient AD. One-year brain changes with a distinct frontotemporal pattern have been shown in older adults. However, it is not clear to what extent these changes may have been affected by undetected, early AD. To address this, we estimated 1-year atrophy by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 132 healthy elderly persons who had remained free of diagnosed mild cognitive impairment or AD for at least 3 years. We found significant volumetric reductions throughout the brain. The sample was further divided into low-risk groups based on clinical, biomarker, genetic, or cognitive criteria. Although sample sizes varied, significant reductions were observed in all groups, with rates and topographical distribution of atrophy comparable to that of the full sample. Volume reductions were especially pronounced in the default mode network, closely matching the previously described frontotemporal pattern of changes in healthy aging. Atrophy in the hippocampus predicted change in memory, with no additional default mode network contributions. In conclusion, reductions in regional brain volumes can be detected over the course of 1 year even in older adults who are unlikely to be in a presymptomatic stage of AD.
The Feedback-Related Negativity Signals Salience Prediction Errors, Not Reward Prediction Errors
Authors: Talmi Deborah , Atkinson Ryan , El-Deredy Wael
Published: May 2013

Modulations of the feedback-related negativity (FRN) event-related potential (ERP) have been suggested as a potential biomarker in psychopathology. A dominant theory about this signal contends that it reflects the operation of the neural system underlying reinforcement learning in humans. The theory suggests that this frontocentral negative deflection in the ERP 230–270 ms after the delivery of a probabilistic reward expresses a prediction error signal derived from midbrain dopaminergic projections to the anterior cingulate cortex. We tested this theory by investigating whether FRN will also be observed for an inherently aversive outcome: physical pain. In another session, the outcome was monetary reward instead of pain. As predicted, unexpected reward omissions (a negative reward prediction error) yielded a more negative deflection relative to unexpected reward delivery. Surprisingly, unexpected pain omission (a positive reward prediction error) also yielded a negative deflection relative to unexpected pain delivery. Our data challenge the theory by showing that the FRN expresses aversive prediction errors with the same sign as reward prediction errors. Both FRNs were spatiotemporally and functionally equivalent. We suggest that FRN expresses salience prediction errors rather than reward prediction errors.
Genomic Imprinting Effects of the X Chromosome on Brain Morphology
Authors: Lepage Jean-Francois , Hong David S. , Mazaika Paul K. , Raman Mira , Sheau Kristen , Marzelli Matthew J. , Hallmayer Joachim , Reiss Allan L.
Published: May 2013

There is increasing evidence that genomic imprinting, a process by which certain genes are expressed in a parent-of-origin-specific manner, can influence neurogenetic and psychiatric manifestations. While some data suggest possible imprinting effects of the X chromosome on physical and cognitive characteristics in humans, there is no compelling evidence that X-linked imprinting affects brain morphology. To address this issue, we investigated regional cortical volume, thickness, and surface area in 27 healthy controls and 40 prepubescent girls with Turner syndrome (TS), a condition caused by the absence of one X chromosome. Of the young girls with TS, 23 inherited their X chromosome from their mother (Xm) and 17 from their father (Xp). Our results confirm the existence of significant differences in brain morphology between girls with TS and controls, and reveal the presence of a putative imprinting effect among the TS groups: girls with Xpdemonstrated thicker cortex than those with Xmin the temporal regions bilaterally, while Xmindividuals showed bilateral enlargement of gray matter volume in the superior frontal regions compared with Xp. These data suggest the existence of imprinting effects of the X chromosome that influence both cortical thickness and volume during early brain development, and help to explain variability in cognitive and behavioral manifestations of TS with regard to the parental origin of the X chromosome.
Biochemistry of the normal dura mater of the human brain determination of water, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron, sulfur and nitrogen contents
Authors: Canelas Horacio M. , Aisen Julinho , Jorge Francisco B. De , Anghinah Abrão
Published: May 2013

The concentrations of water, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron, sulfur, and nitrogen were determined in samples of apparently normal dura mater removed from 18 subjects recently dead by craniocerebral trauma. The average concentrations expressed in dry weight were: water 79.55 g/100 g ± 2.52; sodium 1.63 mequiv/100 g ±0.27; potassium 3.68 mequiv/100 g ± 0.66; calcium 119.84 mg/100 g ± 107.40; phosphorus 68.2 mg/100 g ± 34.5; magnesium 0.61 mequiv/100 g ± 0.37; copper 249.8 /xg/100 g ± 109.4; iron 0.82 mg/100 g ± 0.28; sulfur 490.7 mg/100 g ± 22.5; nitrogen 3.33 g/100 g ± 0.17.
Ensaio clínico com novo antidepressivo (Doxepin) em pacientes internados
Authors: Marques-Assis Luís , Martins Clovis
Published: May 2013

A ação antidepressiva do Doxepin foi estudada em 17 pacientes internados. Em 8 casos foi feito o diagnóstico de psicose maníaco-depressiva, em 7 de depressão psiconeurótica e, em dois, de depressão involutiva. O tempo de tratamento variou de 10 a 42 dias. O Doxepin foi utilizado em doses máximas que variaram entre 125 e 300 mg/dia. Foram feitas avaliações semanais da sintomatologia, tendo sido registrados os efeitos colaterais espontaneamente referidos pelos pacientes. Controle laboratorial (leucocitometria, hematócrito, transaminase glutâmico-oxalacética, uréia e proteinúria) foram feitos antes, durante e após o tratamento. A análise dos resultados obtidos permitiu aos autores chegarem às seguintes conclusões: 1) os efeitos colaterais foram de pequena monta, não interferindo diretamente com o tratamento; 2) as provas laboratoriais não apresentaram alterações significativas; 3) o medicamento apresentou ação antidepressiva em 82,7% dos casos, com 52,9% de remissões; 4) as depressões psiconeuróticos foram as que melhor responderam ao tratamento.
Ausências mioclônicas: estudo comparativo da potência anticonvulsivante do nitrazepam (Mogadon) e do diazepam (Valium)
Authors: Lison Michel Pierre
Published: May 2013

Foi comparada a potência anticonvulsivamente do nitrazepam, do diazepam e da trimetadiona em 5 pacientes com ausências mioclônicas. Os doentes receberam, além das medicações anticonculsivantes, um placebo. O teste terapêutico foi constituído por tratamentos sucessivos de 4 dias, planejados com o fim de se eliminar os possíveis efeitos residuais de uma droga sobre a outra, administrada ulteriormente. Na análise dos resultados, a comparação das médias individuais dos diversos tratamentos foi baseada no teste de Tukey. Em dois casos não houve necessidade de análise estatística para demonstrar a superioridade do nitrazepam e do diazepam sobre os demais produtos utilizados; em outros dois, a aplicação do teste de Tukey levou à mesma conclusão. No quinto caso as flutuações do número de ausências mioclônicas durante o ensaio terapêutico sugerem comportamento semelhante, embora a análise estatística individual não revele diferenças significativas. Há indícios de que o nitrazepam tem ação superior ao diazepam sobre esse tipo de crise convulsiva. A trimetadiona revelou-se superior ao placebo, porém inferior ao nitrazepam e ao diazepam. O principal inconveniente do nitrazepam e do diazepam é o de precipitar crises generalizadas tônico-clônicas.
Manifestações neurológicas periféricas da periarterite nodosa: relato de três casos
Authors: Pereira Clemente A. B. , Sanvito Wilson , Lôbo Helio , Fleury Raul Negrão
Published: May 2013

Após ligeiras considerações a propósito das manifestações neurológicas da periarterite nodosa, são relatados três casos com comprometimento do sistema nervoso periférico. É salientada a maior freqüência de comprometimento do sistema nervoso periférico. Entre as síndromes neurológicas periféricas é ressaltada a maior freqüência das mononeuropatias múltiplas com o relato de dois casos (casos 1 e 3). O caso 2 é caracterizado pelo comprometimento polirradicular (polirradiculoneurite). Finalmente, o caso 3 é caracterizado pela associação de mononeuropatias múltiplas com uma síndrome do forâme rasgado posterior. O diagnóstico da periarterite nodosa, em todos os casos, foi confirmado pelo exame histopatológico.
Cisto cisticercótico incluido em adenona da supra-renal
Authors: Wittig Ehrenfried O. , Kasting Gilda , Cravo Marcos
Published: May 2013

Os autores fazem o registro de um caso anátomo-patológico de cisto cis-ticercótico incluído em adenoma de supra-renal. O caráver apresentava cis-ticercose no cérebro, na musculatura estriada e no coração. Na literatura compulsada não foi encontrada referência a caso semelhante. Em virtude da falta de informações quanto aos antecedentes não foi possível fazer correlação anátomo-clínica. É admitida a hipótese de que o parasita tenha se alojado no tumor pré-formado.
Desempenho no Judiciário: conceituação, estado da arte e agenda de pesquisa
Authors: Gomes Adalmir de Oliveira , Guimarães Tomás de Aquino
Published: May 2013

O desempenho no Judiciário constitui um tema socialmente importante, no entanto, a pesquisa nessa área ainda carece de volume e sistematização teórica e metodológica que possibilitem a institucionalização do conhecimento. Diante disso, foi realizada uma análise da produção científica a respeito do tema. Foram revisados estudos empíricos publicados entre 1992 e 2011, que apresentavam como objetivo avaliar ou mensurar o desempenho em judiciários. Os resultados mostram que o conceito de desempenho judicial é multidimensional, multinível e tem como elemento central os juízes. Eficiência e celeridade são as dimensões de desempenho mais abordadas. Os resultados indicam que o tema é pouco explorado na área de administração pública. Com base nos resultados encontrados é oferecida uma agenda de pesquisa para estudos futuros.
Associação entre depressão, níveis de dor e falta de apoio social em pacientes internados em enfermarias de clínica médica
Authors: Marques Camila Andrade , Stefanello Betina , Mendonça Camila Nemoto de , Furlanetto Letícia Maria
Published: May 2013

OBJETIVO: Verificar a associação entre depressão, níveis de dor e falta de apoio social em pacientes clínicos internados. MÉTODOS: Em um estudo transversal, 1.147 adultos admitidos nas enfermarias de clínica médica de um hospital universitário foram selecionados por randomização e avaliados durante a primeira semana de internação. Foram utilizados: Subescala Cognitivo-afetiva do Inventário Beck de Depressão (BDI-13), Índice Charlson de Comorbidade Física e escalas numéricas para avaliar dor e percepção de gravidade física. Foram considerados deprimidos os pacientes que pontuaram acima de 10 no BDI-13. Investigou-se apoio social por meio da pergunta direta: "Com quantos parentes ou amigos você se sente à vontade e pode falar sobre tudo ou quase tudo?". Foram considerados como tendo falta de apoio social os pacientes que relataram ter menos que quatro parentes ou amigos confidentes. Foram utilizados os testes T de Student, Qui-quadrado e Regressão Logística. RESULTADOS: Dos 1.147 pacientes, 25,3% apresentavam depressão. Escolaridade [odds ratio (OR): 0,96; intervalo de confiança (IC): 0,89-0,96; p < 0,001], renda familiar (OR: 0,92; IC: 0,86-0,99; p = 0,018), maior intensidade de dor (OR: 1,04; IC: 1,00-1,08; p = 0,036), falta de apoio social (OR: 2,02; IC: 1,49-2,72; p < 0,001) e percepção de maior gravidade física (OR: 1,07; IC: 1,02-1,13; p = 0,008) se associaram independentemente à depressão. CONCLUSÃO: Pacientes clínicos deprimidos relatam mais falta de apoio social e dor, mesmo após controlar para variáveis confundidoras sociodemográficas e clínicas.
Programas metacognitivos com enfoque em cognição social na reabilitação da esquizofrenia: uma revisão sistemática
Authors: Tonelli Hélio Anderson , Liboni Fernanda , Cavicchioli Diego Augusto Nesi
Published: May 2013

OBJETIVO: Revisar sistematicamente a literatura sobre programas psicoterapêuticos para a esquizofrenia com enfoque em CS, cujos métodos envolvam estratégias metacognitivas. MÉTODOS: Foi realizada uma busca na base MedLine, por trabalhos publicados em inglês ou português utilizando a frase "Social cognition" AND "Schizophrenia" [Mesh] AND "Psychotherapy" [Mesh] e os limitadores "Humans", "Clinical Trial", "Meta-Analysis" e "Randomized Controlled Trial". Adicionalmente, foram elaborados critérios de inclusão para selecionar os trabalhos com abordagem metacognitiva. RESULTADOS: Dezessete estudos foram selecionados, abrangendo essencialmente programas de reconhecimento do afeto facial e de emoções, Teoria da Mente (ToM), imitação e tomada de perspectiva em situações sociais. CONCLUSÃO: A maior parte dos estudos mostrou que seus programas são eficazes para melhorar medidas de psicopatologia, CS e funcionamento social. Futuras pesquisas deverão esclarecer sobre segurança, especificidade e durabilidade dessas intervenções.
Valor nutricional e energia metabolizável de subprodutos do trigo utilizados para alimentação de suínos em crescimento
Authors: Wesendonck William Rui , Kessler Alexandre de Mello , Ribeiro Andréa Machado Leal , Somensi Marcelo Luiz , Bockor Luciane , Dadalt Julio Cezar , Monteiro Alessandra Nardina Trícia Rigo , Marx Fábio Ritter
Published: May 2013

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o valor nutricional e energético de subprodutos do trigo, em dietas para suínos em crescimento, e obter equações de predição da energia metabolizável. Foram utilizados 36 suínos machos, castrados, alojados em gaiolas metabólicas individuais. Realizou-se a coleta total de fezes e urina em dois períodos de dez dias: cinco para adaptação e cinco para coleta. Utilizou-se o delineamento de blocos ao acaso, tendo-se considerado o período de coleta como bloco, com seis tratamentos e seis repetições. A dieta referência foi substituída em 30% por um dos subprodutos testados: farinheta, farelo fino, farelo de trigo, farelo grosso e farelo grosso moído; este último usado para avaliar a influência da granulometria na digestibilidade. A fibra bruta foi a variável que proporcionou a melhor estimativa da energia metabolizável. O farelo fino foi superior em energia digestível e metabolizável, em comparação ao farelo grosso moído. O farelo grosso moído apresentou os menores coeficientes de digestibilidade, e a diminuição de seu diâmetro geométrico médio não aumentou a digestibilidade dos nutrientes e da energia. Entre os subprodutos avaliados, a farinheta apresenta maior energia digestível, energia metabolizável e proteína digestível, o que mostra elevado potencial para utilização em dietas para suínos em crescimento.
Expressão do mRNA de genes mitocondriais e desempenho produtivo de codornas alimentadas com glicerol
Authors: Silva Stefânia Caroline Claudino da , Gasparino Eliane , Voltolini Débora Marques , Marcato Simara Marcia , Tanamati Fernanda
Published: May 2013

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de dietas com glicerol no desempenho produtivo de codornas japonesas de corte e na expressão do mRNA de genes mitocondriais da proteína adenina nucleotídeo translocase (ANT) e da proteína desacopladora (UCP), envolvidas no metabolismo energético e na resposta ao estresse oxidativo. As codornas foram alimentadas com dietas contendo 0, 8 e 12% de glicerol, em substituição parcial ao milho. Aos 28 dias de idade, o RNA total foi extraído de amostras do músculo do peito e a síntese do cDNA foi feita por meio de qRT‑PCR com iniciadores específicos para genes da ANT e UCP, obtidos de Gallus gallus. A conversão alimentar e o consumo de ração foram avaliados para as três dietas testadas. A adição de 8% de glicerol não afetou o desempenho dos animais. No entanto, a adição de 12% aumentou o consumo de ração e piorou a conversão alimentar. O ganho de peso não foi afetado pela inclusão de glicerol na dieta. No grupo alimentado com 8% de glicerol, a expressão da UCP aumentou, mas a da ANT não variou, em comparação ao controle. A expressão da UCP foi menor e a da ANT foi maior no grupo alimentado com 12% de glicerol. A inclusão de 8% de glicerol na dieta não afeta o desempenho de codornas de corte, embora aumente a expressão da UCP. A inclusão de 12% de glicerol piora o desempenho e aumenta a expressão da ANT.