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O presente artigo visa apresentar parte de uma investigação empírica que teve como objetivo: verificar de que forma um processo de criação do clown aplicado com idosos pode contribuir para o bem-estar e a vida com qualidade. Orientando-se com base em uma abordagem qualitativa, foi realizada uma pesquisa-ação com um grupo de idosos residentes em um centro para o convívio de idosos na cidade do Porto/Portugal. Desse modo, foi realizado um conjunto de atividades com os idosos: atividades de relaxamento; atividades corporais; e atividades de expressão corporal. O que contribuiu para uma maior vitalidade corporal, aquisição de uma maior desenvoltura dos movimentos, mais segurança em relação ao próprio corpo, mais independência pessoal, e uma melhor respiração, interação, criação, comunicação e desinibição corporal. Assim gerando impactos no seu bem-estar e para a melhoria da qualidade de vida dos idosos em questão.
This article aims to present part of an empirical investigation that aimed to: verify how a clown creation process applied to the elderly can contribute to well-being and quality of life. In this sense, guided by a qualitative approach, an action-research was carried out with a group of elderly residents in a center for the conviviality of the elderly in the city of Porto/Portugal. Thus,a set of activities was carried out with the elderly: relaxation activities; bodily activities; and body expression activities. This contributed to greater bodily vitality, acquisition of greater ease of movement, greater security in relation to one's own body, greater personal independence, and better breathing, interaction, creation, communication and bodily disinhibition. Thus, generating impacts on their well-being and improving the quality of life of the elderly in question.
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Toxoplasmosis is an infection of vast worldwide distribution whose etiologic agent is Toxoplasma gondii. This disease can cause problems ranging from mild symptoms to serious conditions, such as encephalitis, miscarriage and blindness. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to perform a diagnosis with reproducible techniques in order to obtain a good prognosis. The aim of this review was to analyze the efficiency of toxoplasmosis diagnostic techniques based on sensitivity and specificity results. Five research platforms in English language were used (Eric, Elsevier, Google Scholar, PubMed and SciELO), which contained data on the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. The search and selection were performed for studies published prior to June 2021. The search resulted in the inclusion of 13 articles published from 2005 to 2020. The data revealed the use of different samples in the standardization of techniques such as serum, total blood, colostrum and amniotic fluid. The flow cytometry, lateral flow immunoassay and qPCR techniques showed 100% sensitivity, whereas the ELISA, western blotting, qPCR and RE-LAMP techniques achieved 100% specificity. Significantly, the qPCR and LAMP techniques were more accurate when the likelihood ratio was assessed. The meta-analysis identified that ISAGA and western blotting have low sensitivity values and LIASON, ELFA and ELISA, using a silica bioconjugate, also have low specificity values. It was noted that a wide range of methods have high values of sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, the choice of the method will be based on the conditions and its financial viability.
Assuntos
Toxoplasma , Toxoplasmose , Humanos , Toxoplasma/genética , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática/métodos , Imunoensaio , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Anticorpos AntiprotozoáriosRESUMO
ABSTRACT Toxoplasmosis is an infection of vast worldwide distribution whose etiologic agent is Toxoplasma gondii. This disease can cause problems ranging from mild symptoms to serious conditions, such as encephalitis, miscarriage and blindness. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to perform a diagnosis with reproducible techniques in order to obtain a good prognosis. The aim of this review was to analyze the efficiency of toxoplasmosis diagnostic techniques based on sensitivity and specificity results. Five research platforms in English language were used (Eric, Elsevier, Google Scholar, PubMed and SciELO), which contained data on the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. The search and selection were performed for studies published prior to June 2021. The search resulted in the inclusion of 13 articles published from 2005 to 2020. The data revealed the use of different samples in the standardization of techniques such as serum, total blood, colostrum and amniotic fluid. The flow cytometry, lateral flow immunoassay and qPCR techniques showed 100% sensitivity, whereas the ELISA, western blotting, qPCR and RE-LAMP techniques achieved 100% specificity. Significantly, the qPCR and LAMP techniques were more accurate when the likelihood ratio was assessed. The meta-analysis identified that ISAGA and western blotting have low sensitivity values and LIASON, ELFA and ELISA, using a silica bioconjugate, also have low specificity values. It was noted that a wide range of methods have high values of sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, the choice of the method will be based on the conditions and its financial viability.
RESUMO
Free-living amoebae (FLA) are part of a group of protozoa found worldwide and in the most diverse environments. They resist various temperatures and disinfection methods, and are a risk to human health. Pathogenic strains grow at high temperatures and under hyperosmolarity conditions. Some FLA genera are mainly related to primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), skin ulcerations, corneal lesions, kidney and lung infections and keratitis. Therefore, studies that assess the pathogenic potential of FLA are public health issues of great concern. We aimed to evaluate the pathogenic potential of FLA isolated in salads from restaurants in vitro, using osmotolerance and thermotolerance tests. Forty-five isolates were used from ready-made salads purchased in restaurants in Jatai, Goias. Twelve isolates subjected to the osmotolerance test (26.6%) showed growth in 0.5 M mannitol, 18 (40.0%) in 1.0 M mannitol and 16 (35.5%) in 1.5 M mannitol, 13 (28.8%) isolates did not show growth. Four isolates that underwent the thermotolerance test (8.9%) showed growth at 25°C, 8 (17.8%) showed growth at 30°C, 3 (6.7%) showed growth at 37°C and 30 (66.7%) did not show growth. With the indices obtained in the present study, we concluded that 15.6% of the isolates were osmotolerant and thermotolerant. Our findings highlight a public health problem once these FLA are associated with harboring or being harbored by microorganisms responsible for diseases such as diarrhea and meningitis. Measures are required to improve food hygiene and so avoid FLA-related health problems.
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Contaminação de Alimentos , Higiene dos Alimentos , Diarreia , Amebíase , Termotolerância , Meningite , CeratiteRESUMO
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a malignant tumor originating from thyroid C-cells that can occur either in sporadic (70-80%) or hereditary (20-30%) form. In this study we aimed to identify recurrent copy number alterations (CNA) that might be related to the pathogenesis or progression of MTC. We used Affymetrix SNP array 6.0 on MTC and paired-blood samples to identify CNA using PennCNV and Genotyping Console software. The algorithms identified recurrent copy number gains in chromosomes 15q, 10q, 14q and 22q in MTC, whereas 4q cumulated losses. Coding genes were identified within CNA regions. The quantitative PCR analysis performed in an independent series of MTCs (n = 51) confirmed focal recurrent copy number gains encompassing the DLK1 (14q32.2) and AIFM3 (22q11.21) genes. Immunohistochemistry confirmed AIFM3 and DLK1 expression in MTC cases, while no expression was found in normal thyroid tissues and few MTC samples were found with normal copy numbers. The functional relevance of CNA was also assessed by in silico analysis. CNA status correlated with protein expression (DLK1, p = 0.01), tumor size (DLK1, p = 0.04) and AJCC staging (AIFM3p = 0.01 and DLK1p = 0.05). These data provide a novel insight into MTC biology, and suggest a common CNA landscape, regardless of if it is sporadic or hereditary MTC.
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Este artigo tem como objetivo refletir acerca de valores e necessidades existenciais que atravessam o ser humano na atualidade de apressamentos, de consumismos exacerbados e da busca por prazeres efêmeros que vêm produzindo a sensação de vazio existencial. Tal vazio estabelece também a necessidade da busca de sentido de vida. Para este artigo, foi tomado como material de análise a narrativa do filme Peaceful Warrior (2006); optou-se por uma investigação qualitativa, na qual foi realizado um levantamento bibliográfico e se utilizou a Análise Categorial, a fim de definir as unidades de análise do filme, codificá-las e interpretá-las. O estudo aponta que a dedicação no desenvolvimento de um talento e no protagonismo das experiências subjetivas possibilitam transformações existenciais para o seguimento de um caminho vital com sentido no contexto contemporâneo.
This article aims to reflect on the values and existential needs that constitute the human being in the present times of hurries, exacerbated consumerism and the search for ephemeral pleasures that have been producing the sensation of existential emptiness. Such emptiness also establishes the need for the search for meaning of life. For this article, the narrative of the film Peaceful Warrior (2006) was taken as analysis material. This is a qualitative investigation, in which a bibliographic research was carried out and the Categorial Analysis was used. This process defined the film analysis units, which were coded and interpreted. The article concludes that the dedication to the development of a talent and the protagonism of the subjective experiences allow existential transformations for a vital path with sense in the contemporary context.
Este artículo tiene como objetivo reflexionar acerca de valores y necesidades existenciales que atravesan el ser humano en la actualidad de apresuramientos, de consumismos exacerbados y de la búsqueda de placeres efímeros que vienen produciendo la sensación de vacío existencial. Tal vacío establece también la necesidad de la búsqueda de sentido de vida. Para este artículo, fue tomado como material de análisis la narrativa de la película Peaceful Warrior (2006); se optó por una investigación cualitativa, en la que se realizó un levantamiento bibliográfico y se utilizó el Análisis Categorial para definir las unidades de análisis de la película, codificarlas e interpretarlas. El estudio apunta que la dedicación para el desarrollo de un talento, y el protagonismo de las experiencias subjetivas posibilita transformaciones existenciales para el seguimiento de un camino vital con sentido en el contexto contemporáneo.
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Comportamento Social , Existencialismo/psicologia , Acontecimentos que Mudam a VidaRESUMO
O presente estudo buscou identificar significados atribuídos pelos idosos brasileiros ao tempo vivido na quarentena decorrente da pandemia de COVID-19. A partir de um levantamento nacional, de abordagem multimétodos, 276 idosos responderam a um questionário online, analisado a partir de estatística descritiva no SPSS e análise textual no IRaMuTeQ. Os resultados organizaram-se em três classes de evocações sobre a percepção do tempo na quarentena: Reações negativas na quarentena; Precauções e cuidados durante a quarentena; e Reações positivas na quarentena. Tais categorias nos levam a observar apreensões pouco associadas ao tempo livre, ao lazer e ao ócio, e permeadas por sensações desde angústias à apreensão de um olhar solidário para o próximo.
The present study aimed to identify meanings attributed by elderly Brazilians to the time lived in the quarantine resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. From a national survey, with a multi-method approach, 276 elderly people answered an online questionnaire, analyzed using descriptive statistics in SPSS and textual analysis in IRaMuTeQ. The results were organized in three classes of evocations about the perception of time in the quarantine: Negative reactions in the quarantine; Precautions and care during quarantine; and Positive reactions in the quarantine. Such categories lead us to observe apprehensions little associated with free time and leisures, but permeated by sensations ranging from anguish to the apprehension of a sympathetic look at others.
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Atividades de LazerRESUMO
To improve our understanding of the effects of standardized extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb) as a cognitive enhancer, we investigated the conditioned lick suppression-induced expression (mRNA and protein) of the GluN2B-containing N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor (GluN2B-NMDAR), serotonin (5-HT) 1A receptor (5-HT1AR), gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABAAR) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the dorsal hippocampal formation (dHF) of untreated and EGb-treated (0.25, 0.5 and 1.0â¯g.kg-1) groups of rats. To substantiate our data, we analysed the molecular changes in dHF following treatment with vehicle, with agonists or antagonists of GABAAR, GluN2B-NMDAR and 5-HT1AR or with one of these antagonists prior to EGb and fear memory acquisition. Additionally, we performed a pharmacological analysis of the drug-receptor-receptor interactions and their supplemental role in fear memory by blocking individual receptors and analysed the possible changes in expression level with each of the other receptors in the study as well as astrocytes. Our data show for the first time that EGb treatment not only upregulated GluN2B, GABAAR-α5, and GFAP compared with the control but also differentially upregulated GABAAR-α1 in the dHF and 5HT1AR in the CA3. We found that the activation of GABAARs (diazepam) and the inactivation of GluN2B-NMDARs (Ro25-6981) or 5-HT1AR ((S)-WAY100135) resulted in memory impairment. Further, higher doses of EGb treatment reversed the effect of blocking GluN2B (Pâ¯<â¯0.001) and 5-HT1AR (Pâ¯<â¯0.001). Here, treatment with Ro25-6981â¯+â¯EGb or (S)-WAY100135â¯+â¯EGb prevented the impairment of the acquisition of lick suppression in association with the upregulation or prevention of the downregulation of Grin2b expression as well as the expression of GluN2B-NMDA and/or α1 and α5 subunit-containing GABAAR in the CA1 (Pâ¯<â¯0.0001). Our data are in line with previous findings concerning the necessity of GluN2B for fear memory formation and add to the current knowledge of the role of the GABAAR-α1 and -α5 subunits and of GluN2B as a target of cognitive enhancers. Furthermore, our data show that these receptors play a complementary role in controlling the neural circuitry in the dHF that seems to be essential to conditioned lick suppression and the modulatory effects of EGb.
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Condicionamento Operante/efeitos dos fármacos , Hipocampo/efeitos dos fármacos , Rede Nervosa/efeitos dos fármacos , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Receptor 5-HT1A de Serotonina/efeitos dos fármacos , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato/antagonistas & inibidores , Antagonistas do Receptor 5-HT1 de Serotonina/farmacologia , Animais , Região CA3 Hipocampal/efeitos dos fármacos , Região CA3 Hipocampal/metabolismo , Diazepam/farmacologia , Moduladores GABAérgicos/farmacologia , Ginkgo biloba , Masculino , Memória/efeitos dos fármacos , Fenóis/farmacologia , Piperazinas/farmacologia , Piperidinas/farmacologia , Ratos , Ratos WistarRESUMO
The choice of appropriate therapeutic strategies may be influenced by intratumor heterogeneity and makes cancer treatment considerably more challenging. We aimed to evaluate the heterogeneity of BRAF exon 15 mutations in different areas of acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM). The entire exon 15 was sequenced in 4 different areas of paraffin-embedded samples from 26 patients with ALM. A total of 26 of 49 cases of ≥1 mm in depth of ALM identified by clinical, anatomical, and pathological data fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria for this study. Tumors had a mean Breslow depth of 7.2 mm and an average mitotic index of 3 mitosis/mm. Mutations distinct from the common V600E and V600K were detected in 31%, and intratumor heterogeneity was observed in 31% of samples. Interestingly, 63.5% of all mutations had been previously associated with cancer. Most (62.5%) of the missense BRAF exon 15 mutations found in the ALM samples examined here were deemed "detrimental" for protein function according to at least 2 functional prediction programs, and 3 mutations (37.5%) were predicted to be "neutral," with no effect on protein function. BRAF exon 15 mutations were detected frequently in ALM and displayed heterogeneity, a finding to be further investigated.
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Melanoma/genética , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas B-raf/genética , Neoplasias Cutâneas/genética , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Éxons , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Melanoma/patologia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Mutação , Neoplasias Cutâneas/patologia , Melanoma Maligno CutâneoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The incidence of thyroid carcinoma has increased in most populations, including pediatric patients. The increase is almost exclusively due to an increase in the incidence of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Genetic alterations leading to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway activation are highly prevalent in PTC, with BRAF V600E mutation being the most common event in adult PTC. Although a lower prevalence of BRAF V600E had been reported among pediatric patients, a higher prevalence of BRAF fusion has been identified in both radiation-exposed and sporadic pediatric PTC. However, little is known about the prognostic implications of BRAF fusions in pediatric PTC. PROCEDURE: In this study, we investigated the prevalence of BRAF alterations (AGK-BRAF fusion and BRAF V600E mutation) in a large set of predominantly sporadic pediatric PTC cases and correlate with clinicopathological features. Somatic AGK-BRAF fusion was investigated by RT-PCR and confirmed by FISH break-apart. The BRAF V600E mutation was screened using Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: AGK-BRAF fusion, found in 19% of pediatric PTC patients, was associated with distant metastasis and younger age. Conversely, the BRAF V600E, found in 15% of pediatric PTC patients, was correlated with older age and larger tumor size. CONCLUSION: Collectively, our results advance knowledge concerning genetic bases of pediatric thyroid carcinoma, with potential implications for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic approaches.