Objective:To develop and validate an algorithm for laser wound therapy. Method:Methodological study and literature review. For the development of the algorithm, a review was performed in the Health Sciences databases of the past ten years. The algorithm evaluation was performed by 24 participants, nurses, physiotherapists, and physicians. For data analysis, the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and the chi-square test for independence was used. The level of significance of the statistical test was established at 5% (p<0.05). Results:The professionals’ responses regarding the facility to read the algorithm indicated: 41.70%, great; 41.70%, good; 16.70%, regular. With regard the algorithm being sufficient for supporting decisions related to wound evaluation and wound cleaning, 87.5% said yes to both questions. Regarding the participants’ opinion that the algorithm contained enough information to support their decision regarding the choice of laser parameters, 91.7% said yes. The questionnaire presented reliability using the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient test (α = 0.962). Conclusion:The developed and validated algorithm showed reliability for evaluation, wound cleaning, and use of laser therapy in wounds.

Objective To investigate the subjective well-being and quality of life in patients with intestinal stoma. Method This study was conducted at Ostomized People's Pole of Pouso Alegre. Data were collected in the period between December 2012 and May 2013, after approval by the Ethics Committee of the Universidade do Vale do Sapucaí under opinion No. 23,277. The participants were selected by a convenience non-probability sampling. The following instruments were used: a questionnaire on demographics and stoma; a Subjective Well-being Scale; and a Quality Outcome Scale. Results Regarding the Flanagan Quality of Life Scale, 16–22 points were obtained, indicating that these patients suffered changes in their quality of life. Regarding the scale of subjective well-being in three domains: positive affect – 43 (61.40%) individuals; negative affect – 31 (44.30%) individuals; and life satisfaction – 54 (77.10%), all subjects obtained a score of 3, characterizing a negative change in these domains. The mean Flanagan Quality of Life Scale score was 26.16, and the means for the domains included in the Subjective Well-being Scale were: positive affect: 2.51; negative affect: 2.23 and life satisfaction: 2.77, indicating that the intestinal stoma users who participated in the study had negative feelings related to their own self-esteem and to the loss of quality of life. Conclusion Patients with intestinal stoma who participated in this study had a change in their quality of life and in subjective well-being.

The objective was to characterize the clientele of ostomy patients living in Pouso Alegre, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Among the causes that led patients to acquire an ostomy, the most prevalent was neoplasia; the type of ostomy was a permanent colostomy. Most people were not told that they would be submitted to the stoma. In addition, individuals were not subject to stoma demarcation, and irrigation was not performed. Regarding the type of complication, 34 (48.60%) had dermatitis; 14 (20%), retraction; and 13 (18.60%), prolapse. With respect to stoma diameter, 34 (48.60%) had 20–40 mm and 23 (32.90%), 40–60 mm. With this study, we became aware of the profile of ostomized patients treated at the municipality of Pouso Alegre/MG; it is expected that, with these data, the improvement of care to this population can be subsidized. We suggest that nursing professionals think of health action strategies with respect to guidance on stoma manufacture and to measures aiming for the prevention of possible complications, promoting ways to help these patients to make decisions and to verbalize feelings, so that they feel supported in coping with changes in their body image, for the sake of survival.

Providencia stuartii is emerging as a significant drug-resistant nosocomial pathogen, which encourages the search for alternative therapies. Here, we have isolated Providencia stuartii phage Stuart, a novel podovirus infecting multidrug-resistant hospital isolates of this bacterium. Phage Stuart is a proposed member of a new Autographivirinae subfamily genus, with a 41,218-bp genome, direct 345-bp repeats at virion DNA ends, and limited sequence similarity of proteins to proteins in databases. Twelve out of the 52 predicted Stuart proteins are virion components. We found one to be a tailspike with depolymerase activity. The tailspike could form a highly thermostable oligomeric β-structure migrating close to the expected trimer in a nondenaturing gel. It appeared to be essential for the infection of three out of four P. stuartii hosts infected by phage Stuart. Moreover, it degraded the exopolysaccharide of relevant phage Stuart hosts, making the bacteria susceptible to serum killing. Prolonged exposure of a sensitive host to the tailspike did not cause the emergence of bacteria resistant to the phage or to serum killing, opposite to the prolonged exposure to the phage. This indicates that phage tail-associated depolymerases are attractive antivirulence agents that could complement the immune system in the fight with P. stuartii. IMPORTANCE The pace at which multidrug-resistant strains emerge has been alarming. P. stuartii is an infrequent but relevant drug-resistant nosocomial pathogen causing local to systemic life-threatening infections. We propose an alternative approach to fight this bacterium based on the properties of phage tailspikes with depolymerase activity that degrade the surface bacterial polymers, making the bacteria susceptible to the immune system. Unlike antibiotics, phage tailspikes have narrow and specific substrate spectra, and by acting as antivirulent but not bactericidal agents they do not cause the selection of resistant bacteria.

Objective: To develop and validate an educational manual on the prevention and treatment of trench foot for military personnel. Method: This is a prospective, descriptive, observational study. A manual was developed based on a literature review of books, theses and articles published in the last 10 years. The manual was evaluated by an expert committee of the Brazilian Army, and tested and validated by military students from an Army Sargent School in Brazil. Students evaluated the following parameters: definition of trench foot, risk of trench foot development among the military, risk factors, identification of trench foot, preventive measures, treatment of trench foot, and final considerations. Results: A total of 99 military students participated in the testing. Some parameters were exclusively evaluated by the experts, 12 physicians and 11 nurses, and rated as ‘good or very good’ as follows: thematic content (100%), graphic display (100%), topic sequence (100%), clarity of language and comprehension of information (91.3%) and illustrations (95.6%). Other parameters were rated as ‘good or very good’ by both the experts and military students, as follows: definition of trench foot (100% and 85.8%), risk of trench foot among the military (95.6% and 86.8%), risk factors (100% and 82.8%), identification of trench foot (100% and 86.8%), preventive measures (100% and 81.8%), treatment (95.6% and 84.8%) and final considerations (95.6% and 81.82 %), respectively. Cronbach's alpha was 0.891 for consistency and 0.854 for reliability. Conclusion: The educational manual was validated by health professionals, tested by military students, and showed to be a consistent, reliable and valid educational instrument for the prevention and treatment of trench foot.

Although previous studies have already confirmed the toxicological potential of abamectin (ABA) in different experimental models (from invertebrates to vertebrates), almost nothing is known about the impacts the exposure to this pesticide can cause on birds. Thus, the aim of our study is to investigate the cytotoxic effects on the erythrocytes of female Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) exposed to low abamectin concentrations. In order to do so, three experimental groups were proposed: "control," composed of quails exposed to abamectin-free drinking water; "ABA 1% median lethal dose (LD)," comprising birds exposed to water containing 15.5 mg a.i./L of abamectin (via commercial formulation Kraft® 36EC), and "ABA 10% LD," composed by birds exposed to water containing 155.0 mg a.i./L of abamectin. The micronucleus test and the tests applied to other nuclear abnormalities in the peripheral blood of birds were conducted 40 days after exposure. Our study revealed significant physical abnormalities in nuclear shapes (erythrocytes with asymmetric constriction nuclei, notched nuclei, indented and moved nucleus) of those birds exposed to higher abamectin levels. When all nuclear abnormalities were tallied, a significant dose-dependent trend was noted. Therefore, our study presents initial imprints on determination of abamectin-mediated cellular toxicity in avifauna which can be instrumental in checking polluted ecosystems.

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Obesity and chronic stress have been considered important public health problems that affect millions of people worldwide. Our aim was to analyze the effect of obesity associated with chronic stress on neurobehavioral parameters in female rats, considering that the association of these syndromes can enhance the negative effects on homeostasis. The animals were distributed into standard diet (Std), standard diet+stress (Std+stress), cafeteria diet (Cafe), and cafeteria diet+stress (Cafe+stress) groups. The animals of groups Std and Std+stress were fed with rodent standard feed. Groups Cafe and Cafe+stress, additionally to the standard feed, were offered palatable and calorie-rich processed food and cola-type soft drink ad libitum. From the eighth experimental week, groups Std+stress and Cafe+stress were subjected to restraint chronic stress model (50 days). After the stress protocol, predictive anxiety (open-field and elevated plus-maze tests) and depression (forced swim) were applied. The cafeteria diet was effective in inducing obesity. The ratio locomotion in the central quadrants/total locomotion evaluated during the open field test was not indicative of anxiogenic or anxiolytic effect in the animal's behavior. However, the elevated plus maze test showed that obese and stressed animals were prone to higher anxiety levels. In addition, the obese and stressed animals display less climbing behavior than all the other groups, which can be considered an indicator of depression-like behavior. Nevertheless, it is suggested that the mechanisms involved in effects of obesity associated with chronic stress be better investigated in female rats, considering the organic complexity related to these modern illnesses.