Introdução: o escorpionismo é um grave problema de saúde pública devido à alta incidência e aos óbitos resultantes. A espécie Tityus serrulatus, encontrada em Minas Gerais, está bem adaptada à vida domiciliar urbana e se reproduz por partenogênese, facilitando a proliferação e o crescente número de ocorrências nos últimos anos. Estudos como esse são importantes para elaboração de medidas direcionadas ao combate desse agravo. Objetivo: descrever as características clínico-epidemiológicas dos acidentes escorpiônicos atendidos em Ipatinga, Minas Gerais, no período de 2010 a 2014. Metodologia: trata-se de um estudo epidemiológico transversal observacional, realizado com dados obtidos das fichas de investigação de acidentes com animais peçonhentos do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação, de posse da Seção de Vigilância Epidemiológica da Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Ipatinga, referentes a todas as vítimas de acidentes escorpiônicos atendidos nos serviços de saúde da cidade no período de 1° de janeiro de 2010 a 31 de dezembro de 2014, notificados até 30 de julho de 2016. O processamento e tratamento dos dados foram realizados pelos programas Epi-info versão 7.0 e IBM SPSS Statistics 21. Aplicaram-se os testes de associação Qui-quadrado e de Fisher para as variáveis categóricas, com intervalo de confiança de 95%. Resultados: no intervalo estudado, foram atendidos 819 acidentados com animais peçonhentos no município. Desses, o animal mais frequentemente envolvido foi o escorpião (n=506, 62%). A incidência média anual de escorpionismo foi 40,86 acidentes/100.000 habitantes (±10,09), ocorrendo um maior número nos meses quentes e chuvosos. Metade dos casos foi registrada na zona rural (n=253, 50%). Os acidentes predominaram no sexo masculino (n=294, 58%), entre um e 20 anos (n= 306; 60%). Na maioria dos agravos, o tempo decorrido entre a picada e o atendimento médico foi de 1 a 3 horas (n= 275; 54%). Os locais mais acometidos foram as extremidades. Dos casos atendidos, 485 (96%) apresentaram manifestações locais e 203 (40%), manifestações sistêmicas. As principais alterações localizadas foram dor (n=486; 96%) e edema (n=167; 33%). Classificou-se a maioria dos acidentes como moderado (n=315; 62%). Na série histórica, a letalidade foi 0,2%. A maior parte dos acidentados (n=489, 97%) necessitou soroterapia específica, recebendo mais frequentemente duas a três ampolas no tratamento (n=279, 55%). Conclusão: o escorpionismo no Vale do Aço, entre 2010 e 2014, teve altas incidência e taxa de letalidade, se comparados ao Brasil. A caracterização dessas ocorrências na microrregião permite a avaliação da eficácia das medidas de controle adotadas até o momento, possibilitando implantar novas ações preventivas, com direcionamento adequado dos recursos, além de despertar o interesse na população para a prevenção. / Introduction: scorpionism is a serious public issue due to the high incidence and resulting deaths. The species Tityus serrulatus, found in Minas Gerais, is well adapted to urban domiciliary life and reproduces by parthenogenesis, facilitating its proliferation and increasing number of cases in the last years. Studies such as the current one are important for the elaboration of prevention measures against these accidents. Objective: to describe the clinic-epidemiological aspects of scorpionism accidents attended in Ipatinga, Minas Gerais, during the 2010-2014 period. Methodology: we performed a transversal observational epidemiological study, using data obtained from the Accidents with Venomous Animals Investigation Records of the Injuries Notification Information System, available from the epidemiological surveillance section of the health secretary of Ipatinga, analyzing all the scorpion accident victims attended in the city health services between January 1st 2010 and December 31st 2014. The data were treated using epi-info 7.0 and IBM SPSS statistics 21 software packages. The chi-square and Fisher association tests, with a 95% confidence interval, were used to analyze the categorical variables. Results: in the time period studied, 819 accidents with venomous animals were recorded. Among these, the most frequent was due to scorpions (n=506, 62%). The mean annual incidence of scorpionism was of 40.86 accidents/100.000 inhabitants (± 10.09), with a higher number occurring during the warm and rainy months. Half of the cases were recorded in the rural area (n=253, 50%). Accidents predominated in males (n=306, 60%). In most of the cases, the time between the sting and medical care was between 1 and 3 hours (n=275, 54%). The most common sting sites were the body extremities. From all cases, 485 (96%) showed local symptoms, while 203 (40% ) displayed systemic effects. The main local symptoms were pain (n=486, 96%) and edema (n=167, 33%). Most of the accidents (n=315, 62%) were classified as moderate. Lethality was of 0.2%. A majority of the patients (n=489, 97%) required specific anti-venom therapy, with two or three vials (n=279, 55%). Conclusion: Scorpionism, in the Ipatinga region, between 2010 and 2014, had a high incidence and lethality rates when compared to Brazil. The characterization of these cases in the micro-region allows to evaluate the efficacy of the control measures adopted so far, enabling the implantation of new prevention measures, with proper resources targeting, and also improves the interest of the population towards prevention.

Submitted by Jean Medeiros (jeanletras@uepb.edu.br) on 2016-03-07T16:56:23Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) PDF - Thassiany Sarmento Oliveira de Almeida.pdf: 3024763 bytes, checksum: f2347e8abee571c1685fdd4ccb584607 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Secta BC (secta.csu.bc@uepb.edu.br) on 2016-06-13T20:36:38Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 PDF - Thassiany Sarmento Oliveira de Almeida.pdf: 3024763 bytes, checksum: f2347e8abee571c1685fdd4ccb584607 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-13T20:38:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 PDF - Thassiany Sarmento Oliveira de Almeida.pdf: 3024763 bytes, checksum: f2347e8abee571c1685fdd4ccb584607 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-06-08 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The poisoning are considered a public health problem due to the accurate investigation of impossibility of its magnitude and consequences not very clear and little known, discriminating as a subjective issue. Being poisoning and Scorpion stings a social nature of problem, they should be studied under a micro-regional vision, and focal spot, according to the approach of the spatial distribution. Information about the spatial and temporal distribution of these diseases allow us to understand the occurrence of events in the territory. Objective: To evaluate scorpion accidents and suicide attempts in the city of Campina Grande, between 2010 and 2013, using GIS technique and then, spatial analysis of neighborhoods from socioeconomic indicators. Methodology: it is a study of the ecological and exploratory, in which it is used spatial analysis techniques of data area. The survey was conducted at the Service Center for Poison Control Campina Grande (Ceatox-CG). Results: were notified and attended by Ceatox CG-1466 Scorpion stings. The highest incidence occurred in females (n = 908, 61.9%), aged between 13:28 years (n = 428, 29.2%), which clinically showed a lightweight frame (n = 1401 , 95.6%), and pain (n = 1393, 95.0%) the most frequent local manifestation. The south of the city in the study had the highest number of registered cases (n = 548, 37.4%), followed by the West Zone (n = 510, 34.8%). A total of 446 suicide attempts were georeferenced, indicating an incidence of 120 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The sample was predominantly female (66.4%). In terms of age, 62.3% had up to 30 years. Kernel map showed areas of hot spots. Populations within the hot spots had a risk 38% higher (RR = 1.38; p = 0.0029) to commit suicide when compared to populations living in areas outside the hot spots. Also, the spatial high risk area averaged estimate 165 suicide attempts per 100,000 inhabitants. Final thoughts: so, from the characterization of the spatial risk, the Scorpion stings and suicide attempts may be reduced in number and morbidity, through education and adoption of the population prevention measures as well as through the guidance to patients for immediate health service demand for quick realization of appropriate clinical management. / As intoxicações são consideradas um problema de saúde pública em virtude da impossibilidade de averiguação exata de sua magnitude e das consequências não muito claras e pouco conhecidas, discriminando-se como um problema subjetivo Sendo as intoxicações e os acidentes escorpiônicos um problema de cunho social, elas devem ser estudadas sob uma visão microrregional, local e focal, segundo a abordagem da distribuição espacial. Informações sobre a difusão espacial e temporal dessas doenças permitem entender a ocorrência dos eventos no território. Objetivo: avaliar os acidentes escorpiônicos e as tentativas de suicídio no município de Campina Grande, entre 2010 e 2013, usando técnica de geoprocessamento e, em seguida, análise espacial dos bairros a partir de indicadores socioeconômicos. Metodologia: trata-se de um estudo do tipo ecológico e exploratório, no qual se utilizaram técnicas de análise espacial de dados de área. A pesquisa foi realizada no Centro de Assistência e Informação Toxicológica de Campina Grande (Ceatox-CG). Resultados: foram notificados e atendidos pelo Ceatox-CG 1.466 acidentes escorpiônicos. A maior incidência ocorreu em indivíduos do sexo feminino (n=908, 61,9%), na faixa etária compreendida entre 13 e 28 anos (n=428, 29,2%), que clinicamente apresentaram um quadro leve (n=1401, 95,6%), sendo a dor (n=1393, 95,0%) a manifestação local mais frequente. A Zona Sul da cidade em estudo concentrou o maior número de casos registrados (n=548, 37,4%), seguido pela Zona Oeste (n=510, 34,8%). Um total de 446 tentativas de suicídio foram georreferenciadas, apontando uma incidência de 120 casos a cada 100.000 habitantes. A amostra foi majoritariamente feminina (66,4%). Em relação à idade, 62,3% possuiam até 30 anos. O mapa de Kernel evidenciou áreas de hot spots. As populações dentro dos hot spots apresentaram um risco 38% maior (Risco Relativo= 1,38; p = 0,0029) de se suicidarem, quando comparadas a populações residentes em áreas externas aos hot spots. Além disso, a área espacial de alto risco apresentou uma estimativa média de 165 tentativas de suicídios por 100.000 habitantes. Considerações finais: assim, a partir da caracterização do risco espacial, os acidentes escorpiônicos e as tentativas de suicídio poderão ser reduzidos em número e em morbidade, através da educação e adoção de medidas de prevenção pela população, bem como por intermédio da orientação aos pacientes para a procura imediata do serviço de saúde, para a rápida efetivação do manejo clínico adequado.

Submitted by Jorge Silva (jorgelmsilva@ufrrj.br) on 2017-10-05T18:15:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2009 - Claudio Augusto Ribeiro de Souza.pdf: 20801764 bytes, checksum: 5ccabb4aecd0e4b2b4a83bbaacfdeaba (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-10-05T18:15:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2009 - Claudio Augusto Ribeiro de Souza.pdf: 20801764 bytes, checksum: 5ccabb4aecd0e4b2b4a83bbaacfdeaba (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-05-04 / CAPES / The genus Rhopalurus is reviewed in South America based on external morphology and hemispermatophore morphology of the males. Three species and two subspecies are synonymized: Rhopalurus amazonicus with R. laticauda, R. crassicauda with R. laticauda, R. acromelas with R. agamemnom, R. crassicauda paruensis with R. laticauda,R. pintoi kouruensis with R. pintoi. The genus present now seven valid species for South America. New data on distribution range and an identification key are presented. A comparative analysis of the morphology of male hemiespermatophore of 21 genera of the family Buthidae of Central and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia. The implications of these new data on the taxonomic organization of the family Buthidae are discussed. / O g?nero Rhopalurus ? revisado na Am?rica do Sul com base na morfologia externa e na morfologia do hemiespermat?foro dos machos. Tr?s esp?cies e duas subesp?cies s?o sinonimizadas: Rhopalurus amazonicus com R.. laticauda, R. crassicauda com R. laticauda, R. acromelas com R. agamemnom, R. crassicauda paruensis com R. laticauda, R. pintoi kouruensis com R. pintoi. O elenco do g?nero passa a apresentar sete esp?cies v?lidas para Am?rica do Sul. Novos dados de distribui??o e uma chave de identifica??o s?o apresentados. ? realizada a an?lise comparativa da morfologia dos hemiespermat?foros dos machos de 21 g?neros da fam?lia Buthidae das Am?ricas Central e Sul, Europa, ?frica e ?sia. S?o discutidas as implica??es destes novos dados na composi??o taxon?mica da fam?lia Buthidae.

Tityus serrulatus é o principal causador de acidentes por escorpião no Brasil. O seu veneno pode causar reações sistêmicas severas, como disfunção cardíaca e edema pulmonar agudo. Sabendo que fatores genéticos podem influenciar na gravidade dos sintomas apresentados pelos pacientes, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a ação do veneno de T. serrulatus na inflamação pulmonar em linhagens de camundongos geneticamente selecionados para máxima (AIRmax) ou mínima (AIRmin) resposta inflamatória a fim de verificar o envolvimento de fatores genéticos na resposta ao veneno. Após inoculação do veneno observaram-se alterações pulmonares, como presença de edema e hemorragia alveolar, bem como aumento do número de neutrófilos e macrófagos e detecção de citocinas pró-inflamatórias e quimiocinas mais significativamente nos pulmões dos camundongos AIRmax. Os resultados sugerem que o veneno do escorpião T. serrulatus é capaz de induzir inflamação pulmonar aguda, sendo maior nos animais AIRmax, sugerindo a importância de fatores genéticos na resposta inflamatória a venenos animais. / Tityus serrulatus is the main cause of scorpion accidents in Brazil. Its venom may cause severe systemic reactions such as cardiac dysfunction and acute pulmonary edema. Knowing that genetic factors may influence the severity of symptoms reported by patients, the aim of this study was to evaluate the action of T. serrulatus venom in lung inflammation in strains of mice selected for maximal (AIRmax) or minimal (AIRmin) inflammatory response in order to verify the involvement of genetic factors in response to the venom. After venom inoculation lung alterations were observed, such as presence of alveolar edema and hemorrhage as well as increased numbers of neutrophils and macrophages and the detection of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines most significantly in the lungs of AIRmax mice. The results suggest that T. serrulatus scorpion venom is able to induce higher acute lung inflammation in AIRmax animals, suggesting the importance of genetic factors in the inflammatory response to animal venoms.

Submitted by Sandra Pereira (srpereira@ufrrj.br) on 2017-10-05T13:34:35Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2009 - Claudio Augusto Ribeiro de Souza.pdf: 21273946 bytes, checksum: 90399a81f4785e952e86f0792d34dac4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-10-05T13:34:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2009 - Claudio Augusto Ribeiro de Souza.pdf: 21273946 bytes, checksum: 90399a81f4785e952e86f0792d34dac4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-05-04 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior, CAPES, Brasil. / The genus Rhopalurus is reviewed in South America based on external morphology and hemispermatophore morphology of the males. Three species and two subspecies are synonymized: Rhopalurus amazonicus with R. laticauda, R. crassicauda with R. laticauda, R. acromelas with R. agamemnom, R. crassicauda paruensis with R. laticauda,R. pintoi kouruensis with R. pintoi. The genus present now seven valid species for South America. New data on distribution range and an identification key are presented. A comparative analysis of the morphology of male hemiespermatophore of 21 genera of the family Buthidae of Central and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia. The implications of these new data on the taxonomic organization of the family Buthidae are discussed. / O g?nero Rhopalurus ? revisado na Am?rica do Sul com base na morfologia externa e na morfologia do hemiespermat?foro dos machos. Tr?s esp?cies e duas subesp?cies s?o sinonimizadas: Rhopalurus amazonicus com R.. laticauda, R. crassicauda com R. laticauda, R. acromelas com R. agamemnom, R. crassicauda paruensis com R. laticauda, R. pintoi kouruensis com R. pintoi. O elenco do g?nero passa a apresentar sete esp?cies v?lidas para Am?rica do Sul. Novos dados de distribui??o e uma chave de identifica??o s?o apresentados. ? realizada a an?lise comparativa da morfologia dos hemiespermat?foros dos machos de 21 g?neros da fam?lia Buthidae das Am?ricas Central e Sul, Europa, ?frica e ?sia. S?o discutidas as implica??es destes novos dados na composi??o taxon?mica da fam?lia Buthidae.

No description available.

Major constituents of the venom of various animals are peptidogenic in nature. Marine snails belonging to the species Conus are venomous predators that use small, structurally constrained peptides present in their venom for prey capture and defense. It is known that ~500 Conus species are present in nature and the venom of each of these Conus species is a complex mixture of nearly 100 peptides accounting for > 50,000 peptides with little overlap among the different species. The peptides isolated from the venom of Conus species are commonly known as conotoxins or conopeptides. Some of the common targets of these peptides include the different ion channels like Na+, K+, and Ca2+, and receptor subtypes such as nicotinic acetylcholine and NMDA receptors. The ion channels and receptor subtypes were targeted by conopeptides with high degree of specificity and selectivity. The structural information on the peptides from cone snails can prove to be a valuable starting tool for the understanding of the function of different ion channels and hence in the design of neuropharmacologically active drugs. Conotoxins are disulfide-rich peptides and the number of disulfide generally ranges from two to five. Based on the arrangement of cysteines in their primary sequence, they are classified into different superfamilies. The signal sequences of the precursors belonging to a particular superfamily are highly conserved and hence the members within the same family have, in common, the unique disulfide arrangement and pharmacological activity. Conotoxins are classified into eleven superfamilies till date. In order to understand the underlying the principles involved in the action of these peptides on different ion channels, one needs to know the three-dimensional structures which, in potential, will help in the identification of the pharmacophores responsible for the observed pharmacological activity. With the aim of studying the structure-activity relationships found among the conotoxins, we have initiated a study on the peptides isolated from the marine snails found in the Indian coastal waters. This thesis is focused in the structural studies of the peptide toxins from marine cone snails and a terrestrial scorpion. The tool used for the structural studies of these peptide toxins is Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the peptide toxins found among various animal species with more emphasis on conotoxins and scorpion toxins. In addition, the rationale behind the present study has also been explained. Chapter 2 describes the structure determination of two conopeptides isolated from Conus amadis, δ-Am2766 and Am2735, which are active on mammalian sodium channels. The structural aspects and comparison with other known conopeptides belonging to the same superfamily as that of these two peptides have also been described. Solution NMR studies of Ar1446 and Ar1248, two conopeptides isolated from the species Conus araneosus have also been studied using Homonuclear NMR methods. Ar1446 is a three disulfide-bonded peptide. Our studies have revealed that this peptide has a novel disulfide connectivity not previously observed in the M superfamily or any other superfamily of conotoxins. The structural features of Ar1446 will be described along with the NMR studies on two-disulfide bonded peptide, Ar1248, belonging to the A-superfamily of conotoxins. The main problem faced in the kind of study of peptides isolated from natural sources is the amount that can be isolated and purified to homogeneity. In order to obtain large quantities of peptides, we have successfully used Cytochrome b5 as fusion host to clone, over express and purify these peptides using recombinant methods. The use of recombinant methods has aided in the preparation of isotopically enriched peptides. The use of cyt b5 as fusion host for the large scale production of some of the peptides from Indian marine snails is described in Chapter 4. A novel pharmacologically active linear peptide, Mo1659 isolated from Conus monile, have been studied using Heteronuclear NMR methods. This peptide was cloned, over expressed and purified using Cytochrome b5 as a fusion host. Another linear peptide, Mo1692 (also from Conus monile), has been prepared using the same method and was studied using Homonuclear NMR methods. Both these peptides were liberated from the fusion host using cyanogen bromide cleavage and were subsequently purified using RP-HPLC. The results of the biosynthetic preparation and NMR studies of these two peptides have been described in Chapter 5. Chapter 6 describes the solution structure determination of a novel scorpion toxin characterized in the venom of the Indian red scorpion Buthus tamulus. The cloning, over expression, folding and purification of BTK-2 is described here. The structure and the function of this recombinantly produced BTK-2 will also be described.

Les scorpions du genre Androctonus, comme Androctonus australis en Algérie et en Tunisieou Androctonus mauretanicus au Maroc, sont responsables d’environ 100.000 piqûres par ansur l’ensemble du Maghreb, suivies de 1 % de décès. Ils posent un réel problème de santépublique. Les toxines «alpha» modulant les canaux sodium voltage-activés (Nav) sontresponsables de 80 à 90% de l’activité létale des venins d’Androctonus australis etmauretanicus. Cependant, certaines petites molécules sont aussi capables de bloquer lefonctionnement d’autres types de canaux ioniques, en particulier des canaux potassiumvoltage-activés (Kv).Au cours de cette thèse, nous avons isolé et caractérisé les composants du venind’Androctonus amoreuxi, scorpion largement distribué en Afrique du Nord et au Moyen-Orient, mais qui n’avait jusqu’ici fait l’objet d’aucune etude rigoureuse. Nous avons identifiéles constituants impliqués dans la toxicité du venin et précisé leurs propriétéspharmacologiques et immunologiques, ainsi que l’effet qu’elles induisent enélectrophysiologie sur des canaux Nav et Kv clonés exprimés dans l’ovocyte de Xenope.Nous avons recherché de nouveaux membres d’une famille de toxines récemment isolées, lesBirtoxines-like, et interprété leur polymorphisme biologique par la modélisation de leursstructures 3D. Enfin, nous avons mené à bien un programme portant sur les effetsantinociceptifs des toxines de scorpion chez la souris. Cela nous a permis de proposer uneexplication qui fait intervenir le système opiacé et la « contre-irritation ». L’effet des toxinesreconnues « analgésiques » a ensuite été testé en électrophysiologie sur des neuronesnocicepteurs. / The North African scorpion Androctonus australis in Algeria and Tunisia, or Androctonusmauretanicus in Morocco, are responsible of about 100.000 stings each year in Maghreb,followed by 1% of death. Small toxins modulating voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav),named “alpha”, are responsible of 80 to 90% of the total lethal activity from the Androctonusaustralis and mauretanicus venoms. However, smaller molecules are also able to block thefunctioning of another type of ionic channels, in particular, the voltage-gated potassiumchannels (Kv).During this thesis, we have isolated and characterized the compounds of the venom fromAndroctonus amoreuxi, a scorpion widely found in North Africa and Middle East, but neverseriously studied so far. We have identified the constituents implicated in the toxicity anddefined their immunological and pharmacological properties, as well as theirelectrophysiological effects on cloned Nav and Kv channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes.We also have looked for recently characterized new molecules, the Birtoxins-like, and tried toexplain their large biological polymorphism by 3D structural models. At last, we haveevaluated the antinociceptifs effects of scorpion toxins in mice. We have proposed that theantalgic effects observed after administration of scorpion toxins are partly due to a counterirritation phenomenon, which implicates the activation of an endogenous opioid system. The“analgesic” toxins have been further tested in electrophysiology on DRG neurons.