We measured visual performance in achromatic and chromatic spatial tasks of mercury-exposed subjects and compared the results with norms obtained from healthy individuals of similar age. Data were obtained for a group of 28 mercury-exposed subjects, comprising 20 Amazonian gold miners, 2 inhabitants of Amazonian riverside communities, and 6 laboratory technicians, who asked for medical care. Statistical norms were generated by testing healthy control subjects divided into three age groups. The performance of a substantial proportion of the mercury-exposed subjects was below the norms in all of these tasks. Eleven of 20 subjects (55%) performed below the norms in the achromatic contrast sensitivity task. The mercury-exposed subjects also had lower red-green contrast sensitivity deficits at all tested spatial frequencies (9/11 subjects; 81%). Three gold miners and 1 riverine (4/19 subjects, 21%) performed worse than normal subjects making more mistakes in the color arrangement test. Five of 10 subjects tested (50%), comprising 2 gold miners, 2 technicians, and 1 riverine, performed worse than normal in the color discrimination test, having areas of one or more MacAdam ellipse larger than normal subjects and high color discrimination thresholds at least in one color locus. These data indicate that psychophysical assessment can be used to quantify the degree of visual impairment of mercury-exposed subjects. They also suggest that some spatial tests such as the measurement of red-green chromatic contrast are sufficiently sensitive to detect visual dysfunction caused by mercury toxicity. Correspondence

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ABSTRACT:The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial activity of propolis samples from Goiás, Paraná and São Paulo States, Brazil, and their flavonoids content. Ethanolic extracts of propolis (EEP) were prepared (30g of propolis in 70% ethanol), and the microorganisms Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were tested. The methodology employed was agar diffusion using filter paper discs. Ampicillin and tetracycline were used as controls.

Using the conjunction of available SC indices, SC seems able to differentiate the nociceptive response to acute pain of different durations.

In this study we investigated the larval dispersal associated with larval predation in experimental populations of Chrysomya albiceps and Cochliomyia macellaria. Frequency distribution of sampling units (G test)

Resumo O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar a prevalência do uso de psicotrópicos nos adultos e idosos e os fatores associados, classes terapêuticas de medicamentos e fontes de obtenção. Foram analisados dados da Pesquisa Nacional sobre o Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos no Brasil (PNAUM/2013-2014). A prevalência do uso de ao menos um psicotrópico para o conjunto de adultos brasileiros foi de 8,7%. Nas análises ajustadas para adultos e idosos, observaram-se associações positivas entre uso de psicotrópicos e sexo feminino, pior autoavaliação de saúde e presença de doenças crônicas (p < 0,05). As classes terapêuticas mais utilizadas foram os antidepressivos (55,3%) por adultos e os ansiolíticos (59,3%) por idosos. Cerca de 23,0% dos psicotrópicos foram obtidos exclusivamente nas farmácias do SUS e os outros 77,0% por outras fontes. Os resultados mostraram baixa proporção de obtenção dos psicotrópicos no SUS e a necessidade de políticas que incentivem a prescrição e tratamentos com mais racionalidade, promovendo melhor qualidade de vida e garantia do direito à saúde a população.

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