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Biomedical subjects

L M Oliveira

Publications and source records attributed to L M Oliveira.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Apolipoprotein E genotype has no effect on the free intracellular Ca2+ concentration of platelets from Alzheimer's disease patients.

The free intracellular Ca2+ concentration [Ca2+]i of platelets was investigated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and age-matched control subjects with distinct Apo E genotypes. No significant differences were found between the Apo E genotype and the [Ca2+]i levels of platelets (basal and alpha-thrombin stimulated) from AD patients and age-matched control subjects, suggesting that [Ca2+]i homeostasis of platelets from AD patients is independent of the Apo E genotype. The results are discussed in terms of involvement of Apo E and [Ca2+]i changes in the etiopathogenesis of AD.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Pediatric Escola Paulista de Medicina Range of Motion Scale: a reduced joint count scale for general use in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Different instruments are available to measure functional status in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA); however, none is based on the evaluation of joint range of motion (ROM). We designed and evaluated a ROM scale to be used as a complementary instrument in daily practice with JRA as well as in trials. METHODS: The 10 joint movements of the Pediatric Escola Paulista de Medicina Range of Motion scale (Pediatric EPM-ROM) were derived from 25 initial movements. The selection was based on 2 criteria: (1) consensus among 3 pediatric rheumatologists, one physical therapist, and one occupational therapist; and (2) choice of movements that presented the highest scores in a pilot study involving patients with JRA. The score for each joint ranges from 0 (full movement) to 3 (severe limitation) and the cutoff degrees of motion are, in general, based on the lack of ability to perform some activities of daily living. The test-retest reliability was assessed by administering the scale twice by the same observer, 4 to 10 days apart, always in the morning. The interobserver reliability was evaluated on the same day by 2 independent observers. Cross sectional construct validity was also assessed by correlating the values of some clinical variables with the scores of the Pediatric EPM-ROM scale. RESULTS: The instrument was applied to 34 patients with JRA, 11 systemic, 11 polyarticular, and 12 pauciarticular. The mean EPM-ROM score was 0.57 (SD 0.54, min 0, max 2.05). The test-retest and interobserver correlation coefficients were 0.96 and 0.98, respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficients comparing scores of the Pediatric EPM-ROM scale and other variables were satisfactory: Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire, r=0.55 (p<0.001); American College of Rheumatology global functional class, r=0.56 (p<0.001); and number of limited joints, r=0.65 (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Our results provide evidence that the Pediatric EPM-ROM scale is a valid instrument to measure joint ROM in JRA.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Simultaneous encoding of tactile information by three primate cortical areas.

We used simultaneous multi-site neural ensemble recordings to investigate the representation of tactile information in three areas of the primate somatosensory cortex (areas 3b, SII and 2). Small neural ensembles (30-40 neurons) of broadly tuned somatosensory neurons were able to identify correctly the location of a single tactile stimulus on a single trial, almost simultaneously. Furthermore, each of these cortical areas could use different combinations of encoding strategies, such as mean firing rate (areas 3b and 2) or temporal patterns of ensemble firing (area SII), to represent the location of a tactile stimulus. Based on these results, we propose that ensembles of broadly tuned neurons, located in three distinct areas of the primate somatosensory cortex, obtain information about the location of a tactile stimulus almost concurrently.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1997

Reconstructing the engram: simultaneous, multisite, many single neuron recordings.

Little is known about the physiological principles that govern large-scale neuronal interactions in the mammalian brain. Here, we describe an electrophysiological paradigm capable of simultaneously recording the extracellular activity of large populations of single neurons, distributed across multiple cortical and subcortical structures in behaving and anesthetized animals. Up to 100 neurons were simultaneously recorded after 48 microwires were implanted in the brain stem, thalamus, and somatosensory cortex of rats. Overall, 86% of the implanted microwires yielded single neurons, and an average of 2.3 neurons were discriminated per microwire. Our population recordings remained stable for weeks, demonstrating that this method can be employed to investigate the dynamic and distributed neuronal ensemble interactions that underlie processes such as sensory perception, motor control, and sensorimotor learning in freely behaving animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

[Hospitalization due to pneumonia: the influence of socioeconomic and pregnancy factors in a cohort of children in Southern Brazil].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of socioeconomic and gestational factors on admission due to pneumonia in the post-neonatal period. METHODOLOGY: Cohort. Children born in the city Pelotas, Brazil, in 1993. Cases were children admitted to hospital for 24 hours or more, between the ages of 28 and 364 days, with a diagnosis of pneumonia. RESULTS: Of the 5,304 children in the cohort, 152 (2.9%) were hospitalized with pneumonia. The positive predictive value of the clinical diagnosis compared to the radiological assessment was 76%. Analysis by conditional logistic regression showed that social class and maternal schooling were strongly inversely associated with pneumonia Children of adolescent mothers were twice as likely to be admitted. The relative risk for children whose mothers were of parity three or greater was 2.8 relative to primiparae. Maternal weight gain during pregnancy of less than 10 kg was associated with a 40% increase in risk. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic factors were important determinants of pneumonia admissions. Maternal age, parity and weight gain were also significant risk factors.

Brazil↗
PubMed1996

A randomized double-blind controlled trial of sulphasalazine combined with pulses of methylprednisolone or placebo in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Thirty-eight patients with rheumatoid arthritis meeting American College of Rheumatism (ACR) criteria were entered in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 6 months to assess whether monthly treatment with i.v. methylprednisolone (MP) enhances or accelerates the efficacy of sulphasalazine (SSZ). All patients had failed at least one second-line agent and were randomized to receive SSZ (2g/day) and pulses of MP (5 mg/kg), or SSZ+ (2 g/day) and pulses of saline (SA). A single infusion of 2 h was carried out in both groups for a total of three times (0, 1 and 2 months). The two groups were comparable at baseline regarding their demographic and clinical characteristics. Disease activity was evaluated every 2 months by means of: (1) joint count; (2) morning stiffness; (3) grip strength; (4) visual analogue pain score; (5) health assessment questionnaire; and (6) erythrocyte sedimentation rate. All outcome measures improved significantly in both groups (P < 0.001). Evaluation at each follow-up visit showed no significant differences between the groups in any of the adverse effects attributable to SSZ therapy (one SA vs two MP). Adverse effects attributable to SA/MP therapy were rare and mild. We concluded that repeated pulses of MP during the first 3 months of treatment did not improve the efficacy of SSZ. Therefore, there is no justification for using MP in this way during the induction phase of SSZ therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Crosscultural reliability of the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE: To translate into Portuguese the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire and to evaluate the reliability of the Portuguese version. METHODS: The original questionnaire was translated into Portuguese, without modifications, and it was administered to 53 children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and their parents. The reproducibility and construct validity were studied. RESULTS: We observed satisfactory Spearman's correlation coefficients among the instrument's score, a pain score (visual analog scale) and conventional clinical variables commonly used by the pediatric rheumatologists: disease activity index, number of involved joints, American College of Rheumatology functional class, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The test-retest reliability was established. CONCLUSION: Our results provide evidence of the reliability of the Portuguese version of the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Comparison of the effects of lab chow and casein diets based on body and brain development of rats.

1. In order to study the effects of protein quantity and quality on development, Wistar rats were submitted to four different diets during lactation and post-lactation periods. Three isocaloric diets were utilized with 6% (M), 16% (W16) and 20% (W20) of protein (casein), and the fourth diet (C) consisted of a commercial lab chow containing 22% protein. 2. During the lactation and post-lactation periods the body weights of dams and pups were recorded weekly. On the 49th day of age (21 days of suckling and 28 days of ad libitum chow), all animals were sacrificed and the brains removed and weighed. 3. Dams from all groups increased food intake during the lactation period, but dams of the M group consumed a lower amount of diet as compared with other groups. Only the body weight of M dams was affected by diet during the lactation period, but the body weight of pups from the M and C groups was lower than in the other two groups. At 49 days of age C and M pups showed a significantly lower brain weight compared with W16 and W20 pups. 4. Thus, a commercial lab chow diet does not promote normal body and brain development as compared with balanced diets containing 16 or 20% protein. These results emphasize the need for further studies in order to evaluate other biological and behavioral parameters that might be altered by a lab chow diet.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1992

The effect of elbow flexion and time of assessment on the measurement of grip strength in rheumatoid arthritis.

Grip strength is one of the traditional outcome measures commonly used in rheumatoid arthritis trials. This study evaluated the degree of morning variation and the effect of elbow flexion in the assessment of grip strength in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Grip strength was measured in 37 patients (1987 American Rheumatism Association criteria) at 8, 10, and 12 AM with a sphygmomanometer cuff folded on itself, taped permanently, and inflated to 20 mm Hg, with the elbow flexed at 90 degrees. At 10 AM grip strength was also measured with the elbow flexed at 30 and 130 degrees. Mean values for grip strength at 8, 10, and 12 AM were, respectively, 69, 79, and 83 mm Hg. Mean grip strength values with the elbow flexed at 30, 90, and 130 degrees were, respectively, 78, 79, and 75 mm Hg. There was a statistically significant correlation between grip strength and morning stiffness, grip strength and hand function, and grip strength and number of active joints. In rheumatoid arthritis trials, grip strength should be assessed at the same time of the day. Elbow flexion does not play a role in grip strength measurement.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Crosscultural reliability of the physical ability dimension of the health assessment questionnaire.

Functional ability evaluation constitutes an important outcome measurement in any proposed trial involving patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We performed a crosscultural study directed at the translation into Portuguese of the Physical Ability Dimension of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and the evaluation of its reliability. Five questions were modified in the Portuguese version of the HAQ to suit Brazilian conditions. The test-retest correlation coefficient was 0.905 (p less than 0.001) and the interobserver correlation coefficient was 0.830 (p less than 0.001) Our results provide evidence of instrument reliability. The instrument kept its face and content validity and the evaluation of the longitudinal construct validity is now in progress.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Intestinal parasitoses in preschool children of the slum communities of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil].

Prevalence of intestinal parasites was investigated in 1381 low-income children under five years of age from March 1990 to October 1991 in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Stool tests were run using the Blagg et al. method. Observed prevalence of infection was 54.5%. The most frequent parasites were Giardia lamblia and Ascaris lumbricoides (25.0% of the children). A significant statistical difference (p<0.05) was demonstrated between age and infection according to the species of parasite studied. Infection rates demonstrated the need for control of parasites in these child.

Age Distribution↗
PubMedDate not supplied

EPM-ROM Scale: an evaluative instrument to be used in rheumatoid arthritis trials.

Different tools are available for the measurement of functional status; however, only a few of them are based on the evaluation of the joint range of motion (ROM). This study is aimed at the design and evaluation of the measurement properties of a ROM scale to be used as an evaluative instrument in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) trials. The EPM-ROM Scale evaluates 10 distinct movements of the small and large joints. The score of each joint varies from 0 (full movement) to 3 (severe limitation) and the cut-off degrees of motion are, in general, based on the lack of ability to perform some determined activities of daily living. The test-retest characteristic of the scale was assessed by administering the scale twice, 5 days apart, to 35 RA patients. The product moment correlation was 0.775 (P less than 0.001). The cross-sectional construct validity of the scale was assessed by the concomitant scoring of the EPM-ROM Scale and the functional ability dimension of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (a reliable, valid and responsive instrument) in these patients. The product moment correlation was 0.518 (P less than 0.001). The evaluation of its longitudinal construct validity and responsiveness are now in progress.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗