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ABSTRACT Backgrounds: COVID-19 pandemic led to a sharp decline in surgical volume worldwide due to the postponement of elective procedures. This study evaluated the impact of COVID-19 pandemic in surgical volumes and outcomes of abdominal surgery in high-risk patients requiring intensive care unit admission. Methods: patients admitted for postoperative care were retrospectively evaluated. Data concerning perioperative variables and outcomes were compared in two different periods: January 2017-December 2019 and January 2020-December 2022, respectively, before (period I) and after (period II) the onset of COVID-19 pandemic. Results: 1.402 patients (897 women, mean age 62+17 years) were investigated. Most of the patients underwent colorectal (n=393) and pancreato-biliary (n=240) surgery, 52% of elective procedures. Surgical volume was significantly lower in period II (n=514) when compared to period I (n= 888). No recovery was observed in the number of surgical procedures in 2022 (n=135) when compared to 2021(n=211) and 2020 (n=168). Subjects who underwent abdominal surgery in period II had higher Charlson comorbidity index (4,85+3,0 vs. 4,35+2,8, p=0,002), more emergent/urgent procedures (51% vs. 45%, p=0,03) and more clean-contaminated wounds (73,5% vs. 66,8%, p=0,02). A significant decrease in the volume of colorectal surgery was also observed (24% vs, 31%, p

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotypic characteristics of Toxoplasma gondii isolated from free-range chickens in the metropolitan area of Goiânia, Goiás, in Brazil’s central-west region. The seroprevalence rate was found to be 96%, according to an indirect hemagglutination assay. Brain and heart samples were processed by peptic digestion for a mice bioassay. The tissues were homogenized and the resulting samples were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which revealed that 64% of them contained the parasite's DNA. The mice bioassay revealed 15 isolates, 8 of them tachyzoites isolates from the peritoneal lavage and 7 from brain cysts. T. gondii genotypes were determined through PCR-RFLP, using the following markers: SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, alt. SAG2, Apico and CS3. Three genotypes were identified, inclued ToxoDB #65, and the other two are not yet described in the literature. Hence, we conclude that the isolates obtained from the metropolitan area of Goiânia showed relatively low genetic diversity.

Abstract Molecular methods such as Copro-PCR stand out in the diagnosis of T. gondii, because they are highly sensitive and specific, and can distinguish T. gondii from other morphologically similar coccids. The purpose was the detection of Toxoplasma gondii copro-prevalence by polymerase chain reaction in 149 fecal samples from stray and domiciled cats, using three distinct markers (B5-B6, 18S and 529bp RE). Oocysts of T. gondii/H. hammondi were detected in 15.4% by parasitology fecal tests (PFT), and 4% of these oocysts were positively identified as T. gondii by Copro-PCR. The presence of T. gondii genetic material was detected in 16.1%, but 12% of the samples that tested positive by Copro-PCR were negative in PFT. Samples with discordant results were subjected to a new Copro-PCR with 18S marker and a 529, and of the 17 samples, 9 contained T. gondii genetic material. A comparison of the PFT and the molecular methods showed the latter was more sensitive, since it detected 22.1% while the PFT detected 15.4%. Demonstrating the high sensitivity and specificity of the Copro-PCR, particularly with the association of primers (k=0.809), but also confirms the importance of using molecular techniques in laboratories, since Copro-PCR was able to detect samples considered negative by PFT.

The purpose of this study was to verify the seropositivity of IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies in serum samples and to detect T. gondii DNA detection in tissue from stray cats captured by the Zoonosis Control Center (ZCC) of Goiânia, state of Goiás, during 2016. Antibodies were analyzed by means of an indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA), while DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using primers that amplify the B1 gene in specimens of brain, muscle and heart from the animals. The serological analysis revealed that 87.4% (21/24) of the cats were positive and the molecular test indicated a positivity rate of 75% (18/24). These high rates of serological and molecular detection are worrisome for public health because they confirm the important role cats play in environmental contamination, and hence, in the transmission of toxoplasmosis to humans.

O presente trabalho implementa a metodologia apresentada por Hames (2005) para o cálculo de vazão e rebaixamento em aquíferos sedimentares. A metodologia discretiza as equações que regem o rebaixamento objetivando sua utilização em imagens bitmaps – mapa de bits. Foi desenvolvido um modelo em planilha eletrônica visando à construção futura de um aplicativo baseado em Sistemas de Informações Geográficas (SIG). Tal procedimento possibilitou maior compreensão do método, suas limitações teóricas e dificuldades de implementação. Facilitando, inclusive, o trabalho em equipe.