Abstract Objective Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) affect approximately 10% of children worldwide and are related to psychosocial manifestations and compromised quality of life, both for children and their families. The assessment of emotional conditions of LUTS in children is recommended by International Children's Continence Society; however, there is no specific instrument in the Brazilian Portuguese language. Therefore, the aim of this study was to translate, culturally adapt and assess the internal consistency of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Pediatric Incontinence Questionnaire (PINQ). Material and methods This cross-sectional study was performed at two referral centers for childhood voiding dysfunction. The 20-item PINQ was translated into Brazilian Portuguese and culturally adapted according to Beaton, 2000. His-standard methodology consists of 6 phases: translation, synthesis, back-translation, expert committee, and pre-test. The internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. Results The PINQ-br version was developed, validated by a committee of experts, and pre-tested on 44 children diagnosed with lower urinary tract symptoms, 23 boys and 21 girls (mean age: 9.7 and 9.6 years old respectively), as well as on their parents. The internal consistency was considered satisfactory, reaching Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.74 when applied to children and 0.82 when applied to parents. Conclusions The PINQ was translated and culturally adapted to Brazilian Portuguese to assess the impact of LUTS on the health-related quality of life in Brazilian children and adolescents. (LUTS 10 families Childrens Children s Society however language Therefore translate PINQ. . (PINQ) crosssectional cross sectional dysfunction 20item item 20 Beaton 2000 Hisstandard His standard phases translation synthesis backtranslation, backtranslation back back-translation pretest. pretest pre test. test pre-test Cronbachs Cronbach PINQbr br developed experts pretested tested 4 2 mean age 97 9 7 9. 96 respectively, respectively , respectively) parents satisfactory 074 0 74 0.7 082 82 0.8 healthrelated health adolescents 1 (PINQ 200 07 0. 08 8

Abstract Hovenia dulcis is a plant commonly used as a pharmaceutical supplement, having displayed important pharmacological properties such antigiardic, antineoplastic and hepatoprotective. The purpose of this work was investigate the cytotoxic, genotoxic and mutagenic potential from fractions of Hovenia dulcis ethanolic extract on Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains FF18733 (wild type) and CD138 (ogg1). Ethanolic extract from Hovenia dulcis leaves was fractioned using organic solvents according to increasing polarity: Hexane (1:1), dichlorometane (1:1), ethyl acetate (1:1) and butanol (1:1). Three experimental assays were performed, such as (i) inactivation of cultures; (ii) mutagenesis (canavanine resistance system) and (iii) loss of mitochondrial function (petites colonies). The findings shown a decrease in cell viability in FF18733 and CD138 strains; all fractions of the extract were mutagenic in CD138 strain; only ethyl acetate and butanol fractions increased the rate of petites colonies for CD138 strains. Ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions induces mutagenicity, at the evaluated concentrations, in mitochondrial and genomic DNA in CD138 strain, mediated by oxidative lesions. In conclusion, it is possible to infer that the lesions caused by the extract fractions could be mediated by reactive oxygen species and might reach multiple molecular targets to cause cellular damage.

Resumo Ainda não existe uma definição consolidada de reforma tributária na literatura de finanças públicas. Este artigo se propõe a apresentar um conceito próprio de reforma tributária. Juntamente com a definição de reforma tributária, apresenta-se uma tipologia para a classificação destas reformas. Para aplicação do conceito e tipologia propostos, construiu-se uma base de dados de alterações e reformas tributárias na América Latina entre 1990 e 2004 com informações do Banco Interamericano de Desenvolvimento. Verificou-se que as reformas tributárias promovidas na América Latina se caracterizaram por se concentrarem em tributos relevantes sobre o consumo e a renda, com o objetivo de aumentar a arrecadação, implantadas de maneira gradual e de incidência geral. A experiência latino-americana pode ser útil para o caso brasileiro, que há vários anos vem tentando reformar o seu sistema tributário. Assim, reformas graduais, direcionadas para grandes tributos e de incidência ampla parecem ter mais chance de aprovação junto ao legislativo.

Abstract There is still no consolidated definition of tax reform in the public finance literature. This article proposes to present its own concept of tax reform. Together with the definition of tax reform the text presents a typology for the classification of these reforms. In order to apply the proposed concept and typology, a database of tax changes and reforms was built for Latin American countries between 1990 and 2004 with data from the Inter-American Development Bank. It was found that the tax reforms promoted in Latin America were characterized by focusing on relevant taxes on consumption and income, in order to raise revenue, and were implemented in a gradual manner and with overall incidence. The Latin American experience can be useful for Brazil, which for years has been trying to reform its tax system. Thus, gradual reforms, directed toward taxes of widespread incidence seem to have more chance of approval by the legislative body.

A enterocolite eosinofílica constitui uma condição extremamente rara, com poucos casos descritos na literatura, representando a manifestação menos frequente do amplo espectro dos distúrbios eosinofílicos gastrointestinais. Descrevemos o caso de um jovem que apresenta uma forma transmural da doença, manifestada por dor e distensão abdominal, diarreia aquosa com quatro dias de evolução, espessamento da parede intestinal e ascite. A ascite eosinofílica é provavelmente a forma de apresentação mais rara desta entidade. Constitui um desafio diagnóstico devido à sintomatologia inespecífica, associada à ausência de critérios histológicos de diagnóstico bem estabelecidos. Não existe igualmente um consenso relativamente à sua abordagem terapêutica, devendo ser individualizada de acordo com a idade do doente e a gravidade dos sintomas.

Eosinophilic enterocolitis is an exceptionally rare condition with few described cases in the literature, representing the least frequent manifestation of the wide spectrum of eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders. We describe a case of a young male patient presenting with a panmural form of the disease, manifested by abdominal pain, distention, and watery diarrhea with 4 days of evolution, bowel wall thickening, and ascites. Eosinophilic ascites is probably the most unusual presentation form of this entity. It poses a diagnostic challenge because of its nonspecific symptoms, associated with the absence of standardized histological criteria, hence requiring a high level of suspicion. There is also no consensus regarding treatment: it should be individualized according to the patient’s age and severity of symptoms.

Introdução e objectivos: A colonoscopia sem sedação pode constituir um procedimento doloroso e mal tolerado pelo doente, associando-se a um desempenho técnico subóptimo. Vários estudos demonstraram o benefício do método de troca de água, comparativamente à colonoscopia convencional com insuflação de ar, na redução do nível de dor na colonoscopia sem sedação. O objectivo deste trabalho foi analisar o impacto do método de troca de água no nível máximo de dor referido pelos doentes submetidos a colonoscopia sem sedação, comparativamente à colonoscopia convencional com ar. Métodos: Estudo comparativo unicêntrico, prospectivo e randomizado, cego para o doente, no qual os doentes foram alocados ao grupo água, no qual se utilizou o método de troca de água, ou ao grupo ar, no qual se utilizou a insuflação de ar. Resultados: Foram randomizados 141 doentes, 70 no grupo água e 71 no grupo ar. O nível máximo de dor referido pelos doentes submetidos a colonoscopia sem sedação, avaliado através de uma escala numérica de dor (0-10), foi significativamente inferior no grupo água (3.39 ± 2.32), comparativamente ao grupo ar (4.94 ± 2.10), p < 0.001. A taxa de colonoscopia indolor foi significativamente superior no grupo água (12.9 vs. 1.4%, p = 0.009). Não se verificam diferenças significativas entre os dois grupos relativamente à indicação do exame, qualidade da preparação intestinal, tempo de entubação cecal, tempo de retirada, número de mudanças de posição, taxa de detecção de adenomas, assim como complicações no pós-procedimento. Apenas o número de compressões abdominais foi significativamente diferente, verificando-se que o método de troca de água reduziu o número necessário durante a colonoscopia. Conclusões: O método de troca de água é seguro e constitui uma alternativa igualmente eficaz à colonoscopia convencional sem sedação, associando-se a uma menor dor durante o procedimento, sem comprometer as medidas de desempenho na colonoscopia.

Background & Aims: Unsedated colonoscopy can be painful, poorly tolerated by patients, and associated with unsatisfactory technical performance. Previous studies report an advantage of water exchange over conventional air insufflation in reducing pain during unsedated colonoscopy. Our goal was to analyze the impact of water exchange colonoscopy on the level of maximum pain reported by patients submitted to unsedated colonoscopy, compared to conventional air insufflation. Methods: We performed a single-center, patient-blinded, prospective randomized comparative study, where patients were either allocated to the water group, in which the method of colonoscopy used was water exchange, or the standard air group, in which the examination was accomplished with air insufflation. Results: A total of 141 patients were randomized, 70 to the water and 71 to the air group. The maximum level of pain reported by patients during unsedated colonoscopy, measured by a numeric scale of pain (0-10), was significantly lower in the water group (3.39 ± 2.32), compared to the air group (4.94 ± 2.10), p < 0.001. The rate of painless colonoscopy was significantly higher in the water group (12.9 vs. 1.4%, p = 0.009). There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding indications for the procedure, quality of bowel preparation, cecal intubation time, withdrawal time, number of position changes, adenoma detection rate, and postprocedural complications. Only the number of abdominal compressions was significantly different, showing that water exchange decreases the number of compressions needed during colonoscopy. Conclusions: Water exchange was a safe and equally effective alternative to conventional unsedated colonoscopy, associated with less intraprocedural pain without impairing key performance measures.

Abstract The deep-sea copepod Megacalanus princeps Wolfenden, 1904 was previously recorded from the northern and southeastern Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans, but not previously observed from southwestern Atlantic. Here we report its first occurrence in Brazilian waters. The current record increases the knowledge on the species distribution and on the deep-sea copepod fauna in the south Atlantic.

Abstract The caridean family Glyphocrangonidae Smith, 1884 is monotypic, including only the genus Glyphocrangon A. Milne-Edwards, 1881. The species of this genus are exclusively inhabitants of deep sea. The current contribution aims to enrich the knowledge of Glyphocrangon in the southwestern Atlantic, by reporting its occurrence and bathymetric distribution in the Potiguar Basin, northeastern Brazil. The samples were collected by R/V Luke Thomas and R/V Seward Johnson, with bottom trawling at isobaths of 400, 1,000 and 2,000 m, using an otter trawl semi-balloon. The specimens were identified and stored in the carcinological collection of the Museu de Oceanografia Prof. Petrônio Alves Coelho, in Recife, Brazil. A total of 810 specimens were examined from five species: Glyphocrangon aculeata A. Milne-Edwards, 1881, G. alispina Chace, 1939, G. longirostris (Smith, 1882), G. sculpta (Smith, 1882) and G. spinicauda A. Milne-Edwards, 1881. Glyphocrangon spinicauda was the most abundant with 334 individuals, and G. sculpta was the rarest, with only one individual. All species were recorded in the study area for the first time.

Abstract The crab Euchirograpsus americanus A. Milne-Edwards, 1880 (Plagusiidae) has so far only been recorded in Brazil in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Here we report its first occurrence from northeastern Brazil, from the Potiguar Basin in the state of Rio Grande do Norte.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a ecologia populacional de Callichirus major (Say, 1818) na praia de Piedade, Estado de Pernambuco, Brasil, através da análise de parâmetros como proporção sexual, período reprodutivo e o recrutamento de juvenis nesta população. As coletas foram realizadas mensalmente entre dezembro de 2010 e novembro de 2011. A temperatura do ar e das tocas, além da salinidade da água do mar foram medidas in situ. O teste t de Student foi aplicado para comparar os valores dos fatores abióticos entre as estações seca e chuvosa. A proporção sexual foi analisada para cada mês e durante todo o período estudado, e o teste do qui-quadrado foi aplicado para verificar se desvia significativamente da proporção esperada. O período reprodutivo foi determinado com base na frequência de fêmeas ovígeras. O recrutamento foi obtido com base na frequência de indivíduos imaturos. A influência de fatores abióticos na população foi avaliada através do coeficiente de Pearson. A temperatura do ar e das tocas variou significativamente entre os períodos seco e chuvoso, com valores mais elevados no período seco. Um total de 389 indivíduos C. major foram amostrados (174 ♂ e 215 ♀). A razão sexual foi de 1:1,24 (♂:♀), as fêmeas foram mais abundantes que os machos. No presente estudo, foi observado que o pico da fase reprodutiva e frequência de fêmeas ovígeras de C. major ocorreu na estação seca (verão equatorial). O recrutamento de jovens na população ocorreu durante todo o ano, especialmente entre o verão e o outono. De acordo com a matriz de correlação, o fator abiótico mais influente na abundância de C. major, especialmente em fêmeas ovígeras, é a temperatura das tocas. Este estudo cria uma linha de base para futuras pesquisas com C. major no Nordeste do Brasil.

The aim of this paper was to study the population ecology of Callichirus major (Say, 1818) at Piedade Beach, State of Pernambuco, Brazil, through the analysis of parameters such as sex ratio, reproductive period and recruitment of juveniles into this population. Sampling was taken monthly from December 2010 to November 2011. The burrow and air temperatures, as well as the sea water salinity, were measured in situ. A Student t test was applied to compare the value of abiotic factors between the dry and rainy seasons. The sex ratio was analyzed for each month and for the total studied period, and a Chi-square test was applied to verify if it deviated significantly from the expected proportion. The reproductive period was determined based on the frequency of ovigerous females. The recruitment was obtained based on the frequency of non-mature individuals. The influence of the abiotic factors was evaluated through a Pearson’s coefficient. The air and burrow temperatures varied significantly between the dry and rainy periods, with the highest values in the dry period. A total of 389 individuals of C. major (174 ♂ and 215 ♀) were sampled. The sex ratio was 1:1.24 (♂:♀), with females being more abundant than males. In this study, the most active reproductive period of C. major and frequency of ovigerous females was observed in the dry period (equatorial summer). Recruitment of juveniles into the population occurred throughout the year, between the summer and the autumn. According to the correlation matrix, the main abiotic factor influencing the abundance of C. major, especially of ovigerous females, was the burrow temperature. This study creates a baseline for further research with C. major in Northeastern Brazil.

The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two manual toothbrushes (conventional and orthodontic). The following clinical parameters were used: VPI (visible plaque index) and GBI (gingival bleeding index). Patients, 64 total (30 males and 34 females), in the permanent dentition, with a mean age of 17.8 years, were randomly selected from a practice specializing in orthodontics. Each participant received audio-visual instructions on oral hygiene as well as a kit of materials containing two manual toothbrushes (orthodontic and conventional). Each toothbrush was randomly allocated to one side of the mouth (split-mouth design) and used for a period of approximately 4 weeks. The VPI and GBI were measured by a single calibrated examiner before (T0) and after (T1) the implementation of interventions. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the VPI values between the groups, and the Student t-test for independent samples was used to compare GBI values. The level of significance was set at 5%. No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups at T0 for both VPI and GBI, and at T1 for the GBI. The manual orthodontic toothbrush produced a statistically lower VPI (P < 0.05) at T1, but this did not seem to be of clinical importance.

BACKGROUND: Steatosis is currently the most common chronic liver disease and it can aggravate ischemia-reperfusion (IR) lesions. We hypothesized that S-nitroso-N-acetylcysteine (SNAC), an NO donor component, can ameliorate cell damage from IR injury. In this paper, we report the effect of SNAC on liver IR in rats with normal livers compared to those with steatotic livers. METHODS: Thirty-four rats were divided into five groups: I (n=8), IR in normal liver; II (n=8), IR in normal liver with SNAC; III (n=9), IR in steatotic liver; IV (n=9), IR in steatotic liver with SNAC; and V (n=10), SHAN. Liver steatosis was achieved by administration of a protein-free diet. A SNAC solution was infused intraperitoneally for one hour, beginning 30 min. after partial (70%) liver ischemia. The volume of solution infused was 1 ml/100 g body weight. The animals were sacrificed four hours after reperfusion, and the liver and lung were removed for analysis. We assessed hepatic histology, mitochondrial respiration, oxidative stress (MDA), and pulmonary myeloperoxidase. RESULTS: All groups showed significant alterations compared with the group that received SHAN. The results from the steatotic SNAC group revealed a significant improvement in liver mitochondrial respiration and oxidative stress compared to the steatotic group without SNAC. No difference in myeloperoxidase was observed. Histological analysis revealed no difference between the non-steatotic groups. However, the SNAC groups showed less intraparenchymal hemorrhage than groups without SNAC (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that SNAC effectively protects against IR injury in the steatotic liver but not in the normal liver.

Foi realizado um estudo numa mata ripária (rio Paraguai, Brasil) para verificar a mortalidade da vegetação após uma cheia excepcional, em 1995. Indivíduos com diâmetro a altura do peito > 5cm foram marcados em 108 parcelas (10×10m) em 1994 e reamostrados em 1996. A taxa de mortalidade total foi de 4,1%. A mortalidade aumentou nas faixas topográficas mais altas, ao nível de comunidade, indicando que lugares onde as inundações são mais raras são mais afetados pelas grandes cheias.

A study was conducted in a riparian forest (Rio Paraguai, Brazil) to verify the vegetation mortality after an exceptional flooding in 1995. Individuals with diameter at breast height > 5 cm were sampled in 108 (10×10m) plots in 1994, and re-sampled in 1996. The total mortality rate was 4.1% per year. The mortality increased with the increasing of topographic positions, at community level, suggesting that places where the flooding is less frequent are more affected by extreme floods.

O carcinossarcoma 256 de Walker tem despertado o interesse de muitos pesquisadores como modelo experimental para estudo da biologia tumoral. OBJETIVO: estabelecer um modelo de tumor renal que possa ser usado para estudar in vivo e in vitro, as alterações impostas pelas neoplasias. MÉTODOS: utilizados vinte ratos Wistar, machos, adultos, pesando entre 250-300 g, oriundos do Laboratório de Cirurgia Experimental da Universidade Federal do Ceará. Sob anestesia inalatória procedia-se uma pequena incisão supraumbilical, e com manobra delicada fazia-se a exposição do rim direito. Neste órgão eram inoculadas 3x10(5) células tumorais viáveis. Os animais então eram mantidos em gaiolas individuais com as mesmas condições ambientais e com água e dieta ad libitum. RESULTADOS: o Carcinossarcoma 256 de Walker, implantado no parênquima do rim direito de ratos Wistar apresentou índice de pega de 100%, e crescimento rápido, invadiu por contiguidade as estruturas vizinhas, porém sem apresentar metástases, no entanto, levando os animais a óbito no curso médio de 14 dias. CONCLUSÃO: o modelo de implante de tumor de Walker no parênquima do rim direito de ratos Wistar é eficiente, tem reprodutibilidade, apresentando um índice de pega de 100%, e permitindo seu uso em linhas de pesquisa.

Walker carcinossarcoma 256 has a great interest as experimental model for studies on tumoral biology. OBJECTIVE: develop a kidney tumor model to be used in the evaluation of the biological behavior of neoplasms in vitro and in vivo environments. METHODS: twenty adult male Wistar rats weighting between 250-300 g were obtained from the Federal University of the Ceará Experimental Surgery Laboratory. Upon ether anesthesia, the right kidney of each animal was accessed through a supraumbelical incision and inoculated with a solution containing 3 x 10(5) tumor cells (Walker 256 carcinossarcoma tumor cells). Following anesthetic recovery the rats were returned to their cages, housed individually and allowed to eat and drink ad libitum. RESULTS: the post-operative average survival was 14 days. Tumor growth was encountered in all animals. The rats exhibited destruction of the kidney, invasion of the adjacent structures, but absence of metastasis. CONCLUSION: the kidney Walker tumor model proved to be an excellent tool for experimental studies on tumor behavior, due to its rapid growth and its easy reproduction.

Trata-se de estudo multidisciplinar, cujo objetivo é a obtenção de modelo discriminatório entre diagnóstico de tumores do ângulo ponto-cerebelar (APC) e de distúrbios otorrinolaringológicos. Presentemente, a realização de um acurado exame neurológico e/ou otorrinolaringológico é incapaz de firmar diagnóstico de tumor do APC, sem valer-se de exames radiológicos de alto custo (tomografia computadorizada, ressonância magnética). O modelo proposto foi obtido através da utilização de técnicas de inteligência artificial e apresentou bom nível de acurácia (88,4%) no teste de novos casos, considerando-se apenas o exame clínico e sem o auxílio de exames radiológicos.

We are concerned in this paper with learning classification procedures from known cases. More precisely, we provide a diagnostic model that discriminate between cerebellum-pontine angle (CPA) tumors and otorhinolaryngological (ENT) disorders. Usually, in order to distinguish between CPA tumors and ENT disorders one must perform clinical-neurological examination together with expensive radiological imagery (CT and MRI). The proposed model was obtained through artificial intelligence methods and presented a good accuracy level (88.4%) when tested against new cases, considering only clinical examination without radiological imagery results.