Universidade Estadual de Londrina

About: Universidade Estadual de Londrina is a education organization based out in Londrina, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Toxoplasma gondii. The organization has 13052 authors who have published 19291 publications receiving 212123 citations.

Cardiac autonomic modulation is determined by gender and is independent of aerobic physical capacity in healthy subjects.

Abstract: Background Aerobic physical capacity plays an important role in reducing morbidity and mortality rates in subjects with cardiovascular diseases. This action is often related to an improvement in the autonomic modulation of heart rate variability (HRV). However, controversies remain regarding the effects of physical training on cardiac autonomic control in healthy subjects. Therefore, our objective was to investigate whether aerobic capacity interferes with the autonomic modulation of HRV and whether gender differences exist. Methods Healthy men and women (N=96) were divided into groups according to aerobic capacity: low (VO2: 22-38 ml/kg-1 min-1), moderate (VO2: 38-48 ml/kg-1 min-1) and high (VO2 >48 ml/kg-1 min-1.) We evaluated the hemodynamic parameters and body composition. The autonomic modulation of HRV was investigated using spectral analysis. This procedure decomposes the heart rate oscillatory signal into frequency bands: low frequency (LF=0.04-0.15Hz) is mainly related to sympathetic modulation, and high frequency (HF=0.15-0.5Hz) corresponds to vagal modulation. Results Aerobic capacity, regardless of gender, determined lower values of body fat percentage, blood pressure and heart rate. In turn, the spectral analysis of HRV showed that this parameter did not differ when aerobic capacity was considered. However, when the genders were compared, women had lower LF values and higher HF values than the respective groups of men. Conclusion The results suggest that aerobic physical capacity does not interfere with HRV modulation; however, the cardiac modulatory balance differs between genders and is characterized by a greater influence of the autonomic vagal component in women and by the sympathetic component in men.

Profile of suicide attempts using intentional overdose with medicines, treated by a poison control center in Paraná State, Brazil

Abstract: This study presents the profile of suicide attempts using intentional overdose with medicines, treated at the Poison Control Center in Londrina, Parana State, Brazil. A retrospective study of cases treated from 1997 to 2007 was performed. Suicide attempts were significant among unemployed men, housewives, and retired women, and there was an association with other substances in 51.5% of the cases, with a higher frequency among men. 51.1% of the men combined the medicine with an alcoholic beverage, while in women, 84.8% of the associations involved other medicines. The most frequent pharmacological groups were tranquilizers (25.5%), antidepressants (17%), anticonvulsants (15%), and NSAIDs (11.9%). Prescribers must evaluate patients correctly before prescribing psychoactive drugs, since this is the pharmacological group most frequently associated with suicide attempts. Awareness-raising campaigns for rational use of medicines and social programs for suicidal patients should also help decrease the frequency of such cases.

Mutagenicity of sediment and biomarkers of oxidative stress in fish from aquatic environments under the influence of tanneries.

Abstract: The mutagenicity of interstitial water and organic extracts from the sediments in the Cadeia and Feitoria Rivers, RS, Brazil, were evaluated by Salmonella microsuspension bioassay using TA97a, TA98, TA100 and TA102 strains, in the absence and presence of S9 mix. At the contaminated site, the mutagenic responses for interstitial water, suggested the presence of frameshift and base pair substitution mutagens, including oxidative substances. Organic extracts presented direct or indicative mutagenesis to the TA97a, TA98 and TA100 strains. In general, an exogenous metabolic systems decreased the mutagenicity of the samples. High concentrations of total chromium found in the sediment and interstitial water as well as total mercury in the sediment of the contaminated site, when compared to the control area, may help explain the mutagenic results. The livers of Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys collected in this impacted area, compared to a non-polluted site, were analyzed for oxidative stress parameters. Compared to the controls, there was a significant increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) at levels of substances reactive to thiobarbituric acid (TBARS), and in the chemiluminescence of hepatic cells in fish in the polluted area. The concentration of cytochromes P450 and b5 decreased drastically in the fish at the polluted site, while the catalase activity did not change. It was possible to correlate the biological changes in the fish with the presence of mutagenic compounds in sediment and interstitial water in this area.