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Background and Purpose: Fibromyalgia (FM) is associated with altered descending pain modulatory pathways, which can be assessed through Conditioned Pain Modulation (CPM). In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between CPM and self‐reported baseline characteristics in patients with fibromyalgia. We also performed a longitudinal analysis exploring CPM as a potential predictor of clinical improvement over time in individuals with FM. Methods: We performed cross‐sectional univariable and multivariable analyses of the relationship between CPM and other variables in 41 FM patients. We then performed longitudinal analyses, building linear mixed‐effects models with pain in the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) as the dependent variable, and testing for the interaction between time and CPM. We also tested the interaction between CPM and time in models using other outcomes, such as the revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and Quality of Life Scale (QOLs). Results: We found no association between CPM and other demographic and clinical variables in the univariable analysis. We found a statistically significant association in the multivariable linear regression model between CPM and the QOLs at the baseline after controlling for age, sex, and duration of symptoms. In the longitudinal analyses, we found that CPM is an effect modifier for clinical improvement over time for the pain VAS, QOLs, and FIQR: individuals with low‐efficient CPM at the baseline have a different (improved) pattern of response over time when compared to those with high‐efficient CPM. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that CPM is not a reliable biomarker of clinical manifestations in chronic pain patients during cross‐sectional assessments. However, our results are consistent with previous findings that CPM can be used to predict the evolution of clinical pain over time. We expect that our findings will help in the selection of patients with the best profile to respond to specific interventions and assist clinicians in tailoring pain treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding trait variation along environmental gradients is crucial for assessing the adaptive potential of species. We analysed the intraspecific variation in six morphological traits of Frullania ericoides across environmental gradients (elevation, canopy openness and distance to water sources) in a humid ecological refuge in Brazil's semi-arid region. The traits measured (mean and coefficient of variation) were: leaf lobe area, leaf lobule area, underleaf area, stem width, ratio between leaf lobule area and leaf lobe area, and ratio between the number of laminate lobules and the total number of lobules. Seventy specimens from eleven localities (populations) showed greater intrapopulation than interpopulation mean trait variation. All traits, except for the ratio between leaf lobule area and leaf lobe area, presented interpopulation differences. Two trait strategies emerged: one related to water storage and plant size, and the other linked to proportional increases in leaf lobule area and lobe area. The lower the elevation was, the higher were the mean values of leaf lobe area and leaf lobule area, and the variance of stem width. The species exhibited significant trait variation, which can be decisive in the responses of populations to new selective pressures of establishment and maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, the authors investigate the evolution of scientific literature on the Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara), the largest grouper species in the Atlantic. This species was considered threatened according to the IUCN for nearly three decades due to overfishing and has been protected from fishing in a large part of its range. For the purpose of evaluating the scientific production on an endangered species banned from fishing, the authors present a scientometry and synthesis review analysing the literature produced in the timeline and the content of their studies. To this end, they set up an almost 60‐year literary database through the Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar platforms. They analyse the publication and knowledge area patterns over the time in the world and in Brazil. They also feature the main areas, locations, ecosystems and types of those research studies and briefly describe the main records found in each decade. An increase in the number of publications was observed from the 1990s onwards worldwide, and particularly in Brazil from the 2000s, coinciding with the pioneering legislations for species protection. Most of the studies were classified within ecology and conservation and took place in countries that implemented moratoriums and had extensive areas of mangroves. Thus, fishing moratorium, classification as endangered, mangroves distribution and conservation all play a role in the studies distribution and contribute positively to the knowledge, as well as support conservation strategies for the species and its ecosystems of occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The frequency of cardiovascular diseases has increased throughout the world. People of African descent have been disproportionately affected, particularly if they reside in urban settings. In this work, we evaluate risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and other chronic diseases in rural and urban Afro‐derived communities (quilombo) in Central Brazil. We also determine if there are associations between the frequency of CVD risk factors, sex, and proximity to urban environments. Methods: Through a cross‐sectional study of participants (n = 347) within three Brazilian Afro‐derived communities: Kalunga (a semi‐isolated rural community; n = 214), Cocalinho (a non‐isolated rural village; n = 70), and Pé do Morro (an urban community; n = 63), we collected data regarding chronic disease (i.e., CVD, diabetes, and hypertension) risk through questionnaires, anthropometrics, blood pressure, and blood samples using standard protocols. Differences between variables were tested by the Chi‐square test of Pearson and Fisher's Exact Test, independent sample t‐tests, analysis of variances, and Kruskal‐Wallis tests (p ≤.05). Results: The prevalence of hypertension, overweight, obesity, and other cardiovascular risk factors were higher in the non‐isolated rural and urban communities than in the semi‐isolated rural community. We found significant sex differences in the distribution of the CVD risk factors, with all occurring at a higher frequency among females. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that Brazilian Afro‐derived communities are currently going through an epidemiological transition. The urban lifestyle and its environmental factors are likely contributing to an escalation in cardio‐metabolic disease risk. However, the magnitude of this transition differentially impacts the sexes, as females suffer a higher frequency of risk factors compared to males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Birdshot retinochoroiditis (BRC) is a rare and chronic bilateral uveitis mostly found in Caucasians. As few data are available about the clinical course of BRC in Hispanic patients, we aimed to report the clinical findings and the evolution of BRC in Brazilian patients. Methods: This retrospective cohort multicenter nationwide study was performed by analyzing the records of patients with BRC diagnoses from Brazilian ophthalmological centers from April 1995 to May 2020. Results: Forty patients (80 eyes) with a diagnosis of BRC were evaluated. The mean age was 53 years, and there was no sex predominance. All tested patients (34/40) were positive for HLA-A29. The diagnosis of BRC was made following the Levinson et al. criteria, and all ancillary tests were performed to exclude differential diagnoses. Clinical signs and symptoms, such as complications and treatment, were described. Conclusions: BRC evolution in Brazilian patients seems to have some peculiarities that diverge from the published literature available about Caucasians, as AS inflammation is higher in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND The rice stalk stink bug Tibraca limbativentris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is one of the most important rice pests in Brazil. The search for cultivars that tolerate insect injury is necessary to complement other less aggressive methods of pest suppression. The combination of integrated pest management tactics will reduce insecticide applications and improve the safety of food production. Here, we tested the tolerance response of Xingu, Canela de Ferro and Primavera rice genotypes in glasshouse experiments. In addition, we measured tolerance expressed in a variety of physiological responses, including gas exchange rates, leaf chlorophyll content and reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification. RESULTS: The results showed that the tolerance of the Primavera genotype to rice stalk stink bug damage was higher, due to (a) a lower reduction of photosynthetic activity, (41% reduction only 96 h after infestation) compared to Xingu and Canela de Ferro (56 and 65% reduction at 24 and 48 h after infestation, respectively); (b) the capacity to maintain the chlorophyll content after infestation, while Xingu and Canela de Ferro reduced their chlorophyll content to 20% and 25% at 72 and 48 h after infestation, respectively; (c) the antioxidative defense system being activated in the first 12 h after infestation, in which superoxide dismutase (SOD) showed an increase of 61% in its activity, and (d) the maintenance of its grain yield, number of panicles per plant, number of filled grains, and spikelets sterility. CONCLUSION: Rice genotypes tolerant to herbivory can be identified by measuring the effect of injury and the plant's physiological response by evaluating attributes such as grain yield and its components, gas exchange, chlorophyll content and ROS detoxification. Therefore, the use of rice genotypes tolerant to stalk stink bugs as a component of integrated pest management has the potential to reduce upland rice yield loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing body of evidence indicates that cerambycid beetles native to different continents may share pheromone components, suggesting that these compounds arose as pheromone components early in the evolution of the family. Here, we describe the identification and field testing of the pheromone blends of two species in the subfamily Cerambycinae that share 2-nonanone as an important component of their male-produced aggregation-sex pheromones, the South American Stizocera consobrina Gounelle (tribe Elaphidiini) and the North American Heterachthes quadrimaculatus Haldeman (tribe Neoibidionini). Along with 2-nonanone, males of S. consobrina also produce 1-(1 H -pyrrol-2-yl)-1,2-propanedione, whereas males of H. quadrimaculatus produce 10-methyldodecanol. Field bioassays conducted in Brazil (targeting S. consobrina) and Illinois (targeting H. quadrimaculatus) demonstrated that adults of both species were attracted only by the blends of both their pheromone components, and not to the individual components. The use of the pyrrole as a critical component for the former species is further evidence that this compound is a common pheromone structure among cerambycines in different biogeographical regions of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathogens and animal pests (P&A) are a major threat to global food security as they directly affect the quantity and quality of food. The Southern Amazon, Brazil's largest domestic region for soybean, maize and cotton production, is particularly vulnerable to the outbreak of P&A due to its (sub)tropical climate and intensive farming systems. However, little is known about the spatial distribution of P&A and the related yield losses. Machine learning approaches for the automated recognition of plant diseases can help to overcome this research gap. The main objectives of this study are to (1) evaluate the performance of Convolutional Neural Networks (ConvNets) in classifying P&A, (2) map the spatial distribution of P&A in the Southern Amazon, and (3) quantify perceived yield and economic losses for the main soybean and maize P&A. The objectives were addressed by making use of data collected with the smartphone application Plantix. The core of the app's functioning is the automated recognition of plant diseases via ConvNets. Data on expected yield losses were gathered through a short survey included in an "expert" version of the application, which was distributed among agronomists. Between 2016 and 2020, Plantix users collected approximately 78,000 georeferenced P&A images in the Southern Amazon. The study results indicate a high performance of the trained ConvNets in classifying 420 different crop-disease combinations. Spatial distribution maps and expert-based yield loss estimates indicate that maize rust, bacterial stalk rot and the fall armyworm are among the most severe maize P&A, whereas soybean is mainly affected by P&A like anthracnose, downy mildew, frogeye leaf spot, stink bugs and brown spot. Perceived soybean and maize yield losses amount to 12 and 16%, respectively, resulting in annual yield losses of approximately 3.75 million tonnes for each crop and economic losses of US$2 billion for both crops together. The high level of accuracy of the trained ConvNets, when paired with widespread use from following a citizen-science approach, results in a data source that will shed new light on yield loss estimates, e.g., for the analysis of yield gaps and the development of measures to minimise them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an arbovirus transmitted to humans through mosquito bites and can cause a series of symptoms ranging from a benign febrile illness to severe neurological conditions. We report the identification of CHIKV in a serum sample from an elderly woman with febrile illness and severe arthralgia in Brazil. The occurrence was found of peripheral polyneuropathy affecting the upper and lower limbs evidenced by electroneuromyographic findings. The patient was treated with a corticoid associated with methotrexate, suggesting that the pathophysiological basis of the case in question may be related to an immune-mediated response by T cells and inflammatory cytokines. This finding reinforces the need to be aware of the emergence of neuroinfections related to CHIKV and effective diagnoses for the early detection of neurological alterations, favoring the clinical management of these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last two decades, Brazil has advanced significantly with the expansion and improvement of its national system of protected areas. Until recently most of the expansion was concentrated in the Amazon region (with useful lessons). It also had an uneven ecological representation of coastal and marine ecosystems, concentrated in coastal waters. Despite significant advances, the levels of funding, staff and stakeholders' engagement remain relatively low for such a vast system.Within the past few years, key elements of a new strategy for protection of coastal and marine areas have started to emerge, combined with some participatory processes and a focus on expansion of the total area protected (from <1.5% protection of the country's marine area). These included: a renewed focus on priority areas for conservation; attention to national and international commitments and targets; clarity about the need for partnerships and funding; better engagement of Brazilian society and stakeholders; new, and more collaborative, models of protected areas management and conservation; and openness in the relationships with wider society.Significant results of this effort have started to appear: new large mosaics of oceanic protected areas were created; Amazon mangroves were recognized by the Ramsar Convention; new mangrove protected areas were created, besides other ones proposed; project proposals are under development with partners for better funding and sharing of responsibility; and there is a better engagement with stakeholders. The building of the Brazilian Blue Initiative is underway.The implementation of the proposed 15‐year marine strategy is at its onset: partnerships need to be strengthened and substantial funding is required. It will only be possible to manage the larger system of protected areas if there are more collaborative and innovative models for protected areas and conservation management. These should include partnerships with civil society, local and traditional communities and the private sector, as well as greater engagement of scientists and research institutions, stronger and more qualified tourism, volunteer work, etc. Further innovative funding mechanisms will also be needed along the way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To estimate the prevalence of major depressive episode (MDE) in patients with presumptive pulmonary tuberculosis (pre-PTB, defined by cough lasting X 3 weeks) and compare it between patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and without PTB. Methods: Patients with pre-PTB (n=260) were screened for depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Those individuals with scores X 10 were subsequently assessed with the depression module of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI-Plus) to confirm diagnosis. Associations of categorical variables with PTB and MDE were calculated using the chisquare test and OR. Results: PTB was confirmed in 98 patients (37.7%). A high proportion of both groups (active PTB and no PTB) screened positive for depression (60.2 vs. 62.1%, respectively). Among 159 patients who screened positive for depression, a subset of 97 (61.0%) were further evaluated with the MINI-Plus; current MDE was confirmed in 54.6% (53/97). On univariate and multivariate analysis, female sex was the only factor associated with the diagnosis of current MDE (p = 0.04). Conclusion: The prevalence of MDE was high among individuals with prolonged respiratory symptoms, independent of PTB diagnosis. This is consistent with other studies of depression in primary care in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the color and oxidative stabilities of longissimus lumborum (LL) and psoas major (PM) muscles from grain-finished Bos indicus cattle in Brazil. Methods: The LL and PM muscles were obtained 24 h post-mortem from eight (n = 8) Nellore bull carcasses, fabricated into 1.5-cm steaks, aerobically packaged, and stored at 4°C for nine days. Steaks were analyzed for myoglobin concentration, pH, instrumental color, metmyoglobin reducing activity (MRA) and lipid oxidation. Results: The LL steaks exhibited greater (p<0.05) redness, color stability, and MRA than their PM counterparts on days 5 and 9. The LL and PM steaks demonstrated similar (p>0.05) lightness and yellowness on days 0, 5, and 9. On the other hand, PM steaks exhibited greater (p<0.05) myoglobin concentration, pH, and lipid oxidation than their LL counterparts. Conclusion: These results indicated that muscle source influenced the color and oxidative stabilities of beef from grain-finished Bos indicus animals. These results highlighted the necessity of muscle-specific strategies to improve the color stability of beef from grain-fed Bos indicus cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lower urinary tract dysfunctions (LUTD) restrict quality of life, resulting in decreased work productivity and emotional well‐being. However, most people are not diagnosed because they do not seek medical treatment. In addition, some facilities do not adequately train health professionals in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. The study's objective was to develop a decision support system modelled on fuzzy logic that defines LUTD using the terminology of the International Continence Society. This methodological study aimed to develop a model that uses the maximum–minimum composition (max–min) of fuzzy relations that can perform differential diagnoses of LUTD. The model was tested in 100 cases (50 men and 50 women), and the data were obtained from medical records containing the clinical data and results of urodynamic studies. All medical records were reviewed by a specialist in urology. The model was capable of determining a diagnosis in full (62%) or partial (36%) agreement with the medical report. Agreement between the model and the medical report was excellent (kappa = 0·98, p ≪ 0·001, CI = 0·88–1) or substantial (kappa = 0·53, p ≪ 0·001, CI = 0·45–0·60), considering overestimative accordance (where accordance is assumed when at least one diagnosis is equal) and underestimative accordance (where accordance is assumed when all diagnoses are equal), respectively. The proposed model based on the max–min composition of fuzzy relationships is very simple and performed well. However, more tests are recommended before the model is used as a decision support system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Food Cravings Questionnaires, State (FCQ-State) and Trait (FCQ-Trait), are commonly used to assess food-craving behavior. This study aimed to develop and validate the Brazilian version of these questionnaires, and to explore potential gender differences in the trait version scores. Data were collected from (n = 611) undergraduate students. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to examine the questionnaires structure, and construct validity was assessed. The FCQ-State-Br and FCQ-Trait-Br presented good psychometric properties, adequate model fit, and internal consistency, in general and by gender. A conservation of original structure of the Food Cravings Questionnaires was verified in the Brazilian versions. A good performance in the evaluations concerning the discriminant and convergent validity seem to corroborate these structures. Overweight individuals showed an increase in food-craving behavior. In females, this increase occurred in the guilt dimension, whereas in males, the increase was in the lack of control dimension. In addition, female dieters presented higher scores on the guilt dimension compared with female non-dieters. FCQ-State-Br and FCQ-Trait-Br constitute valid instruments for measuring food-craving behavior in the Brazilian population. Moreover, these findings suggest that food cravings may be an important aspect to be considered in clinical management of overweight individuals, and may require a sex-specific approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Psoriasis is a chronic disease with worldwide prevalences of 0.6-4.8%. Its inherent chronic inflammatory component predisposes patients to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the associations of psoriasis with comorbidities and health risk factors such as smoking and alcohol intake, and to examine demographic differences in its occurrence in a southern Brazil population. Methods A case-control study was conducted at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre between April 2009 and March 2011. The sample comprised 350 patients with psoriasis and 346 healthy control subjects. Data were collected using a standardized questionnaire. Tobacco load and alcohol consumption per person were investigated. Physical examination included blood pressure, waist circumference ( WC), and body mass index ( BMI) calculation. Clinical evaluation investigated whether psoriasis was localized or widespread and the percentage of body surface area ( BSA) affected. Results Psoriasis patients exhibited an increased WC ( P < 0.01) and BMI ( P = 0.01) and higher incidences of smoking ( P < 0.01) and depression ( P < 0.01) than control subjects. A comparison of patients with involvement of <20% and >20% of BSA revealed significant differences in prevalences of hypertension ( P = 0.03) and diabetes ( P < 0.01). Conclusions The present study demonstrated higher incidences of depression, increased WC, overweight, obesity, and smoking in psoriasis patients compared with controls. Patients with >20% of BSA affected were 1.69 times more likely to have hypertension and 2.9 times more likely to have diabetes. Healthcare providers should be alert to the increased cardiovascular risk and metabolic specificities of patients with psoriasis. Appropriate information on healthy lifestyle habits, including maintenance of a healthy weight and participation in physical exercise, and avoidance of alcohol and smoking are fundamental. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several species of Aspidosperma (Apocynaceae) are used as treatments for human diseases in the tropics. Aspidosperma olivaceum, which is used to treat fevers in some regions of Brazil, contains the monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs) aspidoscarpine, uleine, apparicine, and N-methyl-tetrahydrolivacine. Using bio-guided fractionation and cytotoxicity testing in a human hepatoma cell line, several plant fractions and compounds purified from the bark and leaves of the plant were characterized for specific therapeutic activity (and selectivity index, SI) in vitro against the blood forms of Plasmodium falciparum. Methods: The activity of A. olivaceum extracts, fractions, and isolated compounds was evaluated against chloroquine (CQ)-resistant P. falciparum blood parasites by in vitro testing with radiolabelled [3H]-hypoxanthine and a monoclonal anti-histidine-rich protein (HRPII) antibody. The cytotoxicity of these fractions and compounds was evaluated in a human hepatoma cell line using a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and the SI was calculated as the ratio between the toxicity and activity. Two leaf fractions were tested in mice with Plasmodium berghei. Results: All six fractions from the bark and leaf extracts were active in vitro at low doses (IC50 < 5.0 µg/mL) using the anti-HRPII test, and only two (the neutral and basic bark fractions) were toxic to a human cell line (HepG2). The most promising fractions were the crude leaf extract and its basic residue, which had SIs above 50. Among the four pure compounds evaluated, aspidoscarpine in the bark and leaf extracts showed the highest SI at 56; this compound, therefore, represents a possible anti-malarial drug that requires further study. The acidic leaf fraction administered by gavage to mice with blood-induced malaria was also active. Conclusion: Using a bio-monitoring approach, it was possible to attribute the anti-P. falciparum activity of A. olivaceum to aspidoscarpine and, to a lesser extent, N-methyl-tetrahydrolivacine; other isolated MIA molecules were active but had lower SIs due to their higher toxicities. These results stood in contrast to previous work in which the anti-malarial activity of other Aspidosperma species was attributed to uleine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveTo build a life table and determine the factors related to the time of treatment of undernourished children at a nutrition rehabilitation centre (CREN), São Paulo, Brazil.DesignNutritional status was assessed from weight-for-age, height-for-age and BMI-for-age Z-scores, while neuropsychomotor development was classified according to the milestones of childhood development. Life tables, Kaplan–Meier survival curves and Cox multiple regression models were employed in data analysis.SettingCREN (Centre of Nutritional Recovery and Education), São Paulo, Brazil.SubjectsUndernourished children (n 228) from the southern slums of São Paulo who had received treatment at CREN under a day-hospital regime between the years 1994 and 2009.ResultsThe Kaplan–Meier curves of survival analysis showed statistically significant differences in the periods of treatment at CREN between children presenting different degrees of neuropsychomotor development (log-rank = 6·621; P = 0·037). Estimates based on the multivariate Cox model revealed that children aged ≥24 months at the time of admission exhibited a lower probability of nutritional rehabilitation (hazard ratio (HR) = 0·49; P = 0·046) at the end of the period compared with infants aged up 12 months. Children presenting slow development were better rehabilitated in comparison with those exhibiting adequate evolution (HR = 4·48; P = 0·023). No significant effects of sex, degree of undernutrition or birth weight on the probability of nutritional rehabilitation were found.ConclusionsAge and neuropsychomotor developmental status at the time of admission to CREN are critical factors in determining the duration of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Various studies showed that chemotherapy can control schistosomiasis morbidity, but association of measures (water supply, sewage disposal and increase of socioeconomic conditions) is necessary for transmission control. Methodology/Principal Findings: A survey dealing with socioeconomic conditions, snail survey, contact with natural waters, and clinical and stool examinations was undertaken at an endemic area in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The methodology used was the same for both evaluations (1981 and 2005). Four hundred and seventy-five out of 1,474 individuals studied in 1981 could be contacted. From these, 358 were submitted to stool examination, and 231 of them were clinically examined. Patients eliminating S. mansoni eggs in their stools were treated. The results showed that the prevalence rate in Comercinho, a municipality of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, was substantially reduced to 70.4% and 1.7% in 1981 and 2005, respectively, as well as the frequency of the hepatosplenic form (7% to 1.3%) after five treatments effectuated between 1981 and 1992. No other new case of this form was detected from 1981 onwards. Another important aspect to be considered was the improvement of people's living standard that occurred in the region after more than two decades' efforts (better housing, professional skill and adequate basic sanitation). Conclusion/Significance: The control of morbidity and very significant decrease of schistosomiasis transmission in an area until then considered as hyperendemic was possible by means of association of successive specific treatments of the local population, together with the construction of privies, water supply in the houses and improvement of socioeconomic conditions. Author Summary: A clinical-epidemiological reevaluation on schistosomiasis mansoni was performed in 2005, in the urban area of a little town, Comercinho, MG, specifically focusing on the inhabitants of the same area in 1981, when a first survey and treatment with oxamniquine were carried out. The surveys included: identification of the intermediary host, census, mapping of the city, socioeconomic survey, stool examination, clinical examination, research dealing with contact with natural waters, and treatment of the positive cases. From a population of 1,474 people studied in 1981, 358 were submitted to stool examination, and 231 were clinically examined. From 1981 to 1992 five specific treatments were performed with oxamniquine and the last one with praziquantel. The results obtained were compared and demonstrated that the prevalence in Comercinho decreased significantly (70.4% to 1.7%), as well as the hepatosplenic form (7% to 1.3%) in 1981 and 2005, respectively. Significant improvement in the life quality (improvement in the housing, professional qualification and basic sanitation) were observed and must be considered important for the schistosomiasis control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background and Aims: Predisposition to primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) has been classically linked to HLA-DRB1 locus. However, the presence of the HLA-DRB1*08 antigen has been reported in less than one-third of PBC patients from Northern Europe and Japan. Recently, polymorphisms in the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFA) gene promoter at position -308 and in exon 1 of the cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) gene at position 49 have been associated with susceptibility to PBC in Caucasians. In addition, the presence of HLA-DRB1*08 and the TNFA*1 allele was also linked to progression to end-stage liver disease. The aims of the present study were to investigate the frequencies of HLA-DR and DQ antigens and TNFA and CTLA-4 alleles in PBC patients from a different genetic background, as well as to assess the role of TNFA alleles and HLA-DR antigens in disease progression. Methods: Determination of HLA-DRB1, DQB1, TNFA and CTLA-4 alleles was performed in patients with PBC and healthy controls using polymerase chain reaction-based techniques. Results: Frequencies of HLA-DR and DQ antigens were similar in PBC patients and healthy controls. Accordingly, no association between TNFA and CTLA-4 alleles was observed in PBC patients. The histological stage at admission of patients with PBC also showed no correlation with HLA antigens and TNFA and CTLA-4 alleles. Conclusions: Susceptibility to PBC in Brazil is not associated with HLA-DR and DQ antigens and CTLA-4 genotypes. TNFA alleles were not shown to influence disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aromatic species Piper gaudichaudianum Kunth (Piperaceae) is widely used in Brazil for medicinal and ritualistic applications. In the current study, chemophenetic patterns were realized across season and circadian rhythm based on the chemical profile of essential oils (EOs) from leaves. Hydrodistilled essential oils were analyzed by GC-MS and GC-FID, and a new calculation of metabolite oxidation level, averaged for each individual molecule component of the EO, was used to explore the patterns of metabolism/biosynthesis. This new index used an intermediate calculation, the 'weighted average redox standard' (SRO), to enable a value for mixtures of metabolites to be generated, the 'general mixture redox index' (GMOR). The indices were subjected to a proof-of-concept approach by making comparison to outcomes from multivariate analyses, i.e., PCA and HCA. Chemical analysis demonstrated that the essential oils were dominated by sesquiterpenes, constructed of 15 classes of compound (C-skeletons), and 4 C-skeletons were recognized in the monoterpene group, giving a total of 19. The variation of chemical profiles was distinct at different phenological stages, but stronger chemical variation was evident between day and night as compared to season. Furthermore, due to comprehensive sampling across different regions, nine chemotypes were recognized, including those previously reported. The SRO and GMRO indices demonstrate that phenological variation of chemistry is mainly an outcome of redox fluctuations in terpene biosynthesis, changing from day to night. These indices also corroborate that chemical diversity is increased with oxidative metabolism. Lastly, the current study demonstrates pronounced phenotypic plasticity in P. gaudichaudianum, which makes it a suitable candidate to help further our understanding of chemophenetics and chemical ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the association of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) types 1 and 2 with HLA-DR and DQ loci by researchers from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Etiology and epidemiology of AIH; Reasons behind the higher prevalence of the autoimmune disease in females; Indications showing a genetic heterogeneity in susceptibility to AIH types 1 and 2.

Understanding the set of factors that promote and constrain a species' ability to exploit ecologically distinct habitats is central for addressing questions of intraspecific variability in behavior and morphology. In this study, we compared newly collected data with published data on body measurements, group size and composition, daily path length, home range, and reproductive output in wild common marmosets naturally inhabiting two contrasting environments in northeastern Brazil: the Atlantic Forest (AF), which is characterized by high biodiversity and reduced seasonality in food availability and the Caatinga (CAT), which is characterized by a severe hot and dry season lasting from 5 to 11 months, drought‐resistant plant species, and reduced primary productivity. Despite marked differences in ecological conditions, CAT marmosets and AF marmosets differed minimally in daily path length, home range, reproductive output, and infant survivorship. CAT marmosets were found to live in smaller groups containing fewer adult females than AF marmosets, and also were characterized by a greater surface area to body mass ratio, a trait that may represent an adaptation to the hot and dry conditions of the Caatinga. We propose that in conjunction with body mass reduction, minor adjustments in behavior, the exploitation of cacti as a source of water and nutrients, and access to exudates as a dependable year‐round food resource, common marmosets successfully used the same adaptive pattern to maintain high reproductive output and infant survivorship in exploiting these two ecologically distinct environments. Research Highlights: Despite naturally inhabiting two ecologically distinct habitats in northeastern Brazil, common marmosets did not differ in day range, home range, activity budget, social organization, reproductive output, or offspring survivorship. Common marmosets exploiting a Caatinga habitat were characterized by an increase in surface area to body mass, which appears to represent an adaptation to efficiently dissipate body heat and conserve water in this very hot and dry environment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the impact of multidimensional interventions on quality of life (QoL) and depressive symptoms in Brazilian older adults living in the community. Methods: Longitudinal, quasi-experimental study of older adults receiving conventional primary health care (PHC). The interventions were designed in response to a first round of data collection and validated through pilot testing in groups of older adults from another community. The validated interventions were then applied to an intervention group (IG). To measure their effect, we used the Medical Outcomes Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) quality of life scale and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30). Results: The sample comprised 118 participants. IG participants exhibited significant improvement in several QoL domains (SF-36): mental health (p = 0.010), general health perceptions (p = 0.016), and physical functioning (p = 0.045). No such improvement occurred in controls (p > 0.050). The prevalence of depression (GDS-30) fell from 36.7 to 23.3% in the IG, despite no significant difference (p = 0.272). Controls also reported a reduction in depressive symptoms, but only from 44.8 to 41.4% (p = 0.112). Conclusions: This multidimensional intervention was associated with significant improvement in mental health, general health perceptions, and physical functioning in a sample of Brazilian older adults. Clinical trial registration: RBR-92dbtx [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Connections between epidemiological findings and children's and adolescents' mental health policies have not been properly made in Brazil, and such nationwide studies are scarce. This epidemiological study (1) estimated the prevalence and predictors of parent-reported attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (ADHD-report), (2) estimated the probable diagnosis and risk of ADHD based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , 5th edition, criteria (ADHD-probable), and (3) estimated current psychostimulant use (ADHD-pst) in a representative nationwide sample of Brazilian school-aged children and adolescents. Data were obtained from 7114 school-aged children (49.9% boys) from 87 cities in 18 Brazilian states. Parents and teachers were interviewed using psychometrically sound questionnaires. Data and codes are available. The prevalence of ADHD-report, ADHD-probable, and ADHD-pst were 7.1%, 3.9%, and 1.9%, respectively. The agreement was low between ADHD-probable and ADHD-report (22.6%) and between ADHD-report and ADHD-pst (15.6%). Logistic regression revealed that predictors of all three categories were male gender (odds ratio [OR] = 1.71, 2.32, and 1.96, respectively), divorced parents (OR = 1.47, 1.65, and 1.68, respectively), and below-expectation school performance (OR = 3.1, 13.74, and 3.95, respectively). Socioeconomic status was a significant predictor of ADHD-report, and participants from lower classes were less frequently diagnosed with ADHD than their peers from upper classes (OR = 0.57, 95% confidence interval = 0.37-0.88, P = 0.012). The present findings provide an accurate description of ADHD in Brazil. We suggest disparities in agreement between report, risk, and psychostimulant use among children and adolescents and discrepancies between socioeconomic classes concerning the prevalence of an ADHD diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut microbiome has the potential to buffer temporal variations in resource availability and consumption, which may play a key role in the ability of animals to adapt to a broad range of habitats. We investigated the temporal composition and function of the gut microbiomes of wild common marmosets ( Callithrix jacchus ) exploiting a hot, dry environment-Caatinga-in northeastern Brazil. We collected fecal samples during two time periods (July-August and February-March) for 2 years from marmosets belonging to eight social groups. We used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, metagenomic sequencing, and butyrate RT-qPCR to assess changes in the composition and potential function of their gut microbiomes. Additionally, we identified the plant, invertebrate, and vertebrate components of the marmosets' diet via DNA metabarcoding. Invertebrate, but not plant or vertebrate, consumption varied across the year. However, gut microbiome composition and potential function did not markedly vary across study periods or as a function of diet composition. Instead, the gut microbiome differed markedly in both composition and potential function across marmosets residing in different social groups. We highlight the likely role of factors, such as behavior, residence, and environmental heterogeneity, in modulating the structure of the gut microbiome., Importance: In a highly socially cohesive and cooperative primate, group membership more strongly predicts gut microbiome composition and function than diet., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Mpox is a zoonotic disease historically reported in Africa. Since 2003, limited outbreaks have occurred outside Africa. In 2022, the global spread of cases with sustained interhuman transmission and unusual disease features raised public health concerns. We explore the mpox outbreak in Rio de Janeiro (RJ) state, Brazil, in an observational study of mpox-suspected cases from June to December 2022. Data collection relied on a public healthcare notification form. Diagnosis was determined by MPXV-PCR. In 46 confirmed cases, anti-OPXV IgG was determined by ELISA, and seven MPXV genomes were sequenced. A total of 3095 cases were included, 816 (26.3%) with positive MPXV-PCR results. Most positive cases were men in their 30 s and MSM. A total of 285 (34.9%) MPXV-PCR+ patients live with HIV. Eight were coinfected with varicella-zoster virus. Anogenital lesions and adenomegaly were associated with the diagnosis of mpox. Females and individuals under 18 represented 9.4% and 5.4% of all confirmed cases, respectively, showing higher PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values and fewer anogenital lesions compared to adult men. Anti-OPXV IgG was detected in 29/46 (63.0%) patients. All analyzed sequences belonged to clade IIb. In RJ state, mpox presented a diverse clinical picture, represented mainly by mild cases with low complication rates and prominent genital involvement. The incidence in females and children was higher than usually reported. The observation of a bimodal distribution of Ct values, with few positive results, may suggest the need to review the diagnostic criteria in these groups., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

This study aimed to determine the occurrence of hemoplasmas and tick-borne pathogens (TBP) (Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, and Ehrlichia sp.) in horses and ticks' salivary glands, and determine the factors associated with exposure/infection in a rural settlement in southern Brazil. Blood samples from 22 horses were screened for anti-T. equi and anti-Ehrlichia sp. antibodies by an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) assays. Samples were also tested by PCR assays for T. equi and B. caballi (18S rRNA and rap-1 genes, respectively), hemoplasmas (16S rRNA gene), and Ehrlichia sp. (dsb gene). Ticks were removed from the animals (inspection) and the environment (flannel trawling and dry ice traps), and morphologically identified. Additionally, salivary glands DNA was extracted from 28 adult ticks infesting the animals and four nymphs from the environment, and further screened for Ehrlichia sp. and hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. Anti-T. equi and anti-Ehrlichia sp. antibodies were detected in 40.91% (nine/22; 95% CI: 23.26-61.27) and 31.81% (seven/22; 95% CI: 16.36-52.68) horses, respectively. Theileria equi, B. caballi, and hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. DNA was detected in 59.09% (13/22), 4.55% (one/22), and 50% (11/22) horses, respectively. All horses tested negative in the PCR for Ehrlichia sp. All sequences showed ≥99% identity with multiple T. equi, B. caballi, and Mycoplasma ovis sequences deposited in GenBank database. Adult ticks were identified as Dermacentor nitens (44/47; 93.62%) and Rhipicephalus microplus (three/47; 6.38%). Ticks' salivary glands were negative for Ehrlichia sp., while 39.29% from adults (11/28) and 50% from nymphs (two/four) from the environment were positive for hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. This is the first report of M. ovis infection in horses from Brazil and the first detection of hemoplasma DNA in salivary glands of D. nitens and R. microplus ticks. Further studies are needed to elucidate the vector competence of ticks to transmit hemoplasmas., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declared no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Nellore (Bos indicus) cows play an important role in Brazilian beef production. Here, we investigated whether modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) technology could contribute to improving the quality of Nellore cow steaks. To verify this, steaks obtained from Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) were stored at 2 °C for 28 days using different packaging systems, with one being vacuum and the others being three MAP systems: 75% O 2 /25% CO 2 (75%O 2 -MAP), 60% CO 2 /0.2% CO/39.8% N 2 and 40% CO 2 /0.4% CO/59.6% N 2 (0.2%CO-MAP and 0.4%CO-MAP, respectively). Steaks packaged using the CO-MAP showed improved color stability of fresh meat. In turn, the 75%O 2 -MAP drastically affected the oxidative stability related to proteins and lipids compared to both anaerobic environments (CO-MAP and vacuum). The CO-MAP increased tenderization and ultrastructural changes when compared to the aerobic MAP without affecting pH, collagen or cooking loss, which were influenced by the storage time. In conclusion, MAP technology may improve the quality and appearance of fresh meat originating from Nellore cows, being a promising alternative for the Brazilian beef industry., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Styrax camporum Pohl. (Styracaceae) is a woody species that grows on acidic soils from the Brazilian savanna with high aluminum (Al) saturation (m% > 50%), where it accumulates ~ 1500 mg Al per kg dry leaves. Using nutrient solution, a previous study showed that 1480 μM Al causes toxicity symptoms, which raises the question whether less than 1480 μM Al could cause beneficial effects on this species. Here, we checked possible altered gas exchange rates, damage to organelles in root tips and the association between Al exposure and mitochondria occurrence in cells of root tips, once organic acids from Krebs cycle exuded by the roots of this species when exposed to Al have been recently evidenced. Five-month-old plants were grown in nutrient solution with 0, 740 and 1480 μM Al for 90 days. Plants exposed to 1480 μM Al showed less developed root system, reduced plant height and low gas exchange rates in relation to those exposed to 0 and 740 μM Al, confirming that 1480 μM Al is toxic to S. camporum. However, plants exposed to 0 and 740 μM Al had similar number of leaves, plant height, root biomass, root length, total plant biomass and gas exchange rates, indicating that no beneficial effects from 740 μM Al could be noted on this species. In plants exposed to 0 and 740 μM Al, mitochondria were noted at the root tip, while at 1480 μM Al these organelles were not evident due to the conspicuous vacuolation of root cells. S. camporum shows limited tolerance to Al in nutrient solution. In addition, this species is not dependent on Al to grow and develop because the plants grew well under 0 and 740 μM Al.

Objective: Depression is highly prevalent in hemodialysis patients, but few studies have evaluated older hemodialysis patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of depression, its associated factors and its impact on quality of life in an older population on hemodialysis., Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including 173 hemodialysis patients aged 60 years or older in Recife, Brazil. Depression was evaluated using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview when depressive symptoms (according to the 5-item Geriatric Depression Scale) were present. Quality of life was assessed with the Control, Autonomy, Self-realization and Pleasure Questionnaire (CASP-16). Data were also collected on sociodemographic, laboratory (albumin, parathormone, hemoglobin, and phosphorus) and dialysis (dialysis vintage, vascular access and hemodialysis adequacy) characteristics., Results: Depression was present in 22.5% of the sample. Depressed patients presented low CASP-16 quality of life scores (31.6 vs. 24.2, p < 0.001), twice the odds of albumin levels < 3.8 g/dL (OR 2.36; 95%CI 1.10-5.07; p = 0.027) and higher parathormone levels (OR 1.06; 95%CI 1.00-1.13; p = 0.05)., Conclusion: Older hemodialysis patients have a high prevalence of depression. Depressed patients presented poor quality of life, lower serum albumin and higher parathormone levels. Teams dealing with older hemodialysis patients should include depression and quality of life assessments in care protocols.

Objective: To evaluate the plasma cytokine levels during T cell-mediated inflammatory responses and compare the metabolic markers between overweight and obese perimenopausal women without systemic diseases., Methods: Sixty perimenopausal women were divided into two groups (overweight and obese). Participants in both groups had their waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) measured and blood samples collected for the evaluation of estradiol, fasting glucose, leptin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-17A levels, and lipid profile., Results: In univariate analysis, women with obesity showed increased WHtR, fasting glucose, leptin, and IL-6 (p < 0.05) levels; however, significant differences were not observed in IL-10 or IL-17A (p > 0.05) levels. In the receiver operating characteristic curve, the highest areas under the curve were shown for leptin (0.856) and IL-6 (0.706). IL-6 levels correlated with both hs-CRP (r = 0.302, p = 0.020) and leptin (r = 0.294, p = 0.022). However, in multivariate analysis, IL-6 was not associated with a greater likelihood of obesity (OR = 1.61; 95% CI: 0.82-3.15; p = 0.16), when potential confounders were considered., Conclusion: IL-6 levels varied between overweight and obese perimenopausal women, and this association was weaker when adjusted for other clinical variables., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Tick-borne diseases (TBD) constitute an important group of illness affecting animals and humans worldwide. In Brazil, carthorses are frequently exposed to ticks and tick-borne pathogens, leading to impairment of horse performance and imposing restrictions by the international veterinary authorities for the importation of horses. Accordingly, this study has aimed to i) determine the prevalence of the TBD agents Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, Ehrlichia spp., and hemotropic mycoplasmas in carthorses, ii) identify the tick species parasitizing the animals, and iii) determine factors associated with exposure/infection in Foz do Iguaçu City, Parana state, southern Brazil. A total of 103 carthorses were screened for anti-T. equi and anti-Ehrlichia spp. antibodies by indirect fluorescent antibody assays (IFA). Samples were also tested by PCR assays targeting the 18S rRNA gene of T. equi and B. caballi, and 16S rRNA gene of hemoplasmas. Additionally, PCR assays targeting the 16S rRNA, disulfide bond formation protein (dsb) and tandem repeat proteins 36 (trp36) genes of Ehrlichia spp. were also performed. Antibodies to T. equi and Ehrlichia spp. were detected in 43/103 (41.75%; 95% CI: 32.10-51.88%) and 5/103 (4.85%; 95% CI: 1.59-10.97%) horses by IFA, respectively. DNA of T. equi and B. caballi were found in 25/103 (24.27%; 95% CI: 16.36-33.71%) and 10/103 (9.71%; 95% CI: 4.75-17.13%) carthorses, respectively, and all tested negative for Ehrlichia spp. and hemoplasmas. All sequences showed ≥99% identity with multiple T. equi and B. caballi 18S rRNA gene sequences deposited in GenBank. Overall, 191 Dermacentor nitens ticks were collected from 25/103 (24.27%) animals. Carthorses older than 5 years were more likely to be positive for T. equi (p < 0.05). In conclusion, equine piroplasmosis agents are highly prevalent in carthorses from Foz do Iguaçu City. The low prevalence of Ehrlichia spp. found may be due to the absence of Amblyomma ticks infesting animals, which should be further investigated., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of major depressive episode (MDE) in patients with presumptive pulmonary tuberculosis (pre-PTB, defined by cough lasting ≥ 3 weeks) and compare it between patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and without PTB., Methods: Patients with pre-PTB (n=260) were screened for depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Those individuals with scores ≥ 10 were subsequently assessed with the depression module of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI-Plus) to confirm diagnosis. Associations of categorical variables with PTB and MDE were calculated using the chi-square test and OR., Results: PTB was confirmed in 98 patients (37.7%). A high proportion of both groups (active PTB and no PTB) screened positive for depression (60.2 vs. 62.1%, respectively). Among 159 patients who screened positive for depression, a subset of 97 (61.0%) were further evaluated with the MINI-Plus; current MDE was confirmed in 54.6% (53/97). On univariate and multivariate analysis, female sex was the only factor associated with the diagnosis of current MDE (p = 0.04)., Conclusion: The prevalence of MDE was high among individuals with prolonged respiratory symptoms, independent of PTB diagnosis. This is consistent with other studies of depression in primary care in Brazil.

Objective: Food cravings play an important role in the neurobiology of appetitive behavior, being positively associated with negative feelings, eating disorders, and obesity. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Brazilian Food Cravings Questionnaire-Trait-reduced (FCQ-T-r), a short version of the most widely used measure of this behavior., Methods: Undergraduate students (n=505) completed the full version of the FCQ-T and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire. Respondents' height and weight were also measured. Exploratory factor analyses were performed., Results: The FCQ-T-r exhibited a single-factor structure and satisfactory internal consistency (α > 0.80). A positive correlation was observed between FCQ-T-r scores and those of the original version. Furthermore, FCQ-T-r scores correlated positively with uncontrolled eating and emotional eating behaviors. No correlation was found between body mass index and FCQ-T-r scores. Considering our sample characteristics, we suggested specific FCQ-T-r cutoff points for males and females in the Brazilian population., Conclusion: Our results support the structure of the Brazilian adaptation of the FCQ-T-r, which seems to be a viable instrument to investigate food cravings, particularly in time-constrained settings. Further studies are needed to verify these findings in other age ranges and clinical samples.

Background: This study evaluated admissions with severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) with pleural effusion (PE) in a pediatric university hospital and the impact of the increased average municipal human development index (M-HDI) in the local incidence of the disease in the last decade., Methods: This is a retrospective longitudinal study of patients (0-13 years old) with CAP. The municipal human development index (M-DHI) of the place of residence of patients was obtained. We calculate the crude odds ratios (ORs) of variables related to risk of developing PE. The variables that reached a significance level of 80% (P < 0.20) were selected for multivariate analysis. The logistic regression model was used for the selection of the parsimonious model, according to the likelihood ratio., Results: The 465 patients' ages ranged from 1 to 174 months. The median of age (months) in children with PE was 36.00; in children without the PE was 29.00 (P < 0.011); media of variation in M-HDI in the period in patients with PE was 0.767 ± 0.002 and in patients without PE was 0.778 ± 0.002 (P < 0.001). In the logistic regression model, the absence of comorbidity (OR = 2.909) and the HDI < 0.770 (OR = 3.015) were predictive factors associated with PE., Conclusion: The progressive increase of the M-DHI during the study period, although to a slightly higher level, was correlated with the reduction in the number of admissions with CAP with PE.

In the present study, we evaluated the prevalence of occult hepatitis B (OBI) in a population from the Brazilian Amazon region, identify circulating genotypes, and mutations in the S gene. One hundred eighty-one patients with negative serology for HBsAg and anti-HBs and positive serology for anti-HBc participated in the study. Detection of viral DNA, genotyping by sequencing, and analysis of nucleotide sequences to detect possible mutations were performed. HBV DNA was detected in 14.36% of the patients. Genotyping revealed genotype A in 88.46% of HBV DNA-positive subjects, with subgenotype A1 being the most prevalent (78.26%) followed by subgenotype A2 (21.74%). Genotype F was detected in 11.54% (all of them subgenotype F2). Amino acid substitutions were observed in the amplified S gene in individuals with OBI compared to HBsAg-positive individuals (evident infection). In conclusion, the results show a high prevalence of OBI in the population studied, with a pattern of genotypes A and F that circulate in the Brazilian Amazon region. Amino acid substitutions were detected in part of the S gene in patients with OBI. Further studies on the molecular epidemiology of HBV in this region are important to identify patients considered healthy but who are potential transmitters of the disease., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Cow raw milk cheese is widely eaten in Brazil. These products may be contaminated with pathogenic bacteria. In this work, we investigated the presence of Escherichia coli in raw milk cheese from different States in Brazil. From 147 "Minas" cheese samples, 28 cheeses were positive for E. coli. Among 39 E. coli isolates of the cheeses, one was positive for eae and negative for bpfA and efa1/lifA using PCR, and so was classified as atypical Enteropathogenic E. coli (aEPEC). Two other isolates were positive for extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) genes. The aEPEC isolate belongs to serogroup O127 and was classified in A phylogenetic group, and ExPEC isolates were found in O73:H12 (EC-2 strain) and O64474:H8 (EC-9 strain) serotype. This ExPEC belongs to A and C phylogenetic group, respectively. Most of E. coli strains belonged to Clermont phylogenetic groups A (28.2%), C, and E (23.1%). Six strains (15.4%) of E. coli were positive for group B1 and two (5.1%) for B2. E. coli isolates presented an aggregative (46.0%) and diffuse (12.6%) adherence pattern to HeLa cells, and the other isolates did not show adhesion (41.4%). Four E. coli isolates (10.3%) were shown to produce moderate biofilm. The antimicrobial resistance rate was tetracycline (25.6%), followed by ampicillin (17.9%), cefoxitin (7.7%), nalidixic acid (5.1%), and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (2.6%). One strain was resistant to three antimicrobials (tetracycline, ampicillin, and nalidixic acid). The presence of these microorganisms, the O127 strain, and a new serogroup in Brazil is a potential risk for public health.

Few reports described the presence of bla(KPC) and qnr genes in the same isolate. This study reports the combination of bla(KPC-2) and qnrB19 genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae ST340 isolate in Brazil. These findings draw attention to this combination in ST340 isolate, which is part of the CC258, disseminated in Latin America., (Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Here, we describe the metagenome and functional composition of a microbial community in a historically metal-contaminated tropical freshwater stream sediment. The sediment was collected from the Mina Stream located in the Iron Quadrangle (Brazil), one of the world's largest mining regions. Environmental DNA was extracted and was sequenced using SOLiD technology, and a total of 7.9 Gbp was produced. A taxonomic profile that was obtained by comparison to the Greengenes database revealed a complex microbial community with a dominance of Proteobacteria and Parvarcheota. Contigs were recruited by bacterial and archaeal genomes, especially Candidatus Nitrospira defluvii and Nitrosopumilus maritimus, and their presence implicated them in the process of N cycling in the Mina Stream sediment (MSS). Functional reconstruction revealed a large, diverse set of genes for ammonium assimilation and ammonification. These processes have been implicated in the maintenance of the N cycle and the health of the sediment. SEED subsystems functional annotation unveiled a high degree of diversity of metal resistance genes, suggesting that the prokaryotic community is adapted to metal contamination. Furthermore, a high metabolic diversity was detected in the MSS, suggesting that the historical arsenic contamination is no longer affecting the prokaryotic community. These results expand the current knowledge of the microbial taxonomic and functional composition of tropical metal-contaminated freshwater sediments.

The present work reports the detection of the first case of nosocomial Klebsiella oxytoca producing class A carbapenemase KPC-2 in Brazil. The isolate KPN106 carried a 65-kb IncW-type plasmid that harbors the blaKPC gene and Tn4401b. Moreover, we detected the presence of a class 1 integron containing a new allele, arr-8, followed by a 5'-truncated dhfrIIIc gene. In view of the recent results, we emphasize the high variability of the bacterial and genetic hosts of this resistance determinant.

Background & Aims: Evaluate in liver biopsies: (i) interobserver agreement of estimates of fat proportionate area (eFPA) and steatosis grading, (ii) the relationship between steatosis grades and measured fat proportionate area (mFPA, digital image analysis), (iii) the accuracy of eFPA, (iv) to present images to aid standardization and accuracy of eFPA., Methods: Twenty-one liver biopsies were selected from the Royal Free Hospital (RFH) histopathology archive to represent the full range of histopathological steatosis severity. As many non-overlapping fields of parenchyma as possible were photographed at ×20 objective magnification from the biopsies (n = 651). A total of 15 sample images were selected to represent the range of steatosis seen. Twelve hepatopathologists from 11 sites worldwide independently evaluated the sample images for steatosis grade [normal (none)/mild/moderate/severe], and eFPA (% area of liver parenchyma occupied by fat)., Results: The hepatopathologists had good linear correlation between eFPA and mFPA for sample images (r = 0.924, P < .001) and excellent concordance (kappa = 0.91, P < 0.001). Interobserver concordance of steatosis grade showed 'substantial agreement' (kappa = 0.64). There was significant difference between eFPA and mFPA in the sample images for mild, moderate and severe steatosis (P = 0.024, P < 0.001, P < 0.001 respectively): the observers consistently over-estimated the eFPA., Conclusion: Hepatopathologists showed 'excellent' interobserver agreement in eFPA and 'substantial' agreement in assigning steatosis grade (precision was high). However, compared with mFPA, eFPA was inaccurate. eFPA systematically exceeds mFPA; generally the overestimation increases with severity of steatosis. Considering that non-invasive technologies for estimating liver fat utilize histopathology as reference, such assessments would benefit from quantitative validation of visually estimated microscopic liver fat percentages., (© 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Retinochoroiditis manifests in patients infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Here, we assessed 30 sibships and 89 parent/case trios of presumed ocular toxoplasmosis (POT) to evaluate associations with polymorphisms in the NOD2 gene. Three haplotype-tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (tag-SNPs) within the NOD2 gene were genotyped. The family-based association test showed that the tag-SNP rs3135499 is associated with retinochoroiditis (P = .039). We then characterized the cellular immune response of 59 cases of POT and 4 cases of active ocular toxoplasmosis (AOT). We found no differences in levels of interferon γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin 2 produced by T-helper 1 cells when comparing patients with AOT or POT to asymptomatic individuals. Unexpectedly, we found an increased interleukin 17A (IL-17A) production in patients with POT or OAT. In patients with POT or AOT, the main cellular source of IL-17A was CD4(+)CD45RO(+)T-bet(-)IFN-γ(-) T-helper 17 cells. Altogether, our results suggest that NOD2 influences the production of IL-17A by CD4(+) T lymphocytes and might contribute to the development of ocular toxoplasmosis.

A study was designed to recover Listeria monocytogenes from pasteurized milk and Minas frescal cheese (MFC) sampled at retail establishments (REs) and to identify the contamination source(s) of these products in the corresponding dairy processing plant. Fifty milk samples (9 brands) and 55 MFC samples (10 brands) were tested from REs located in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. All milk samples and 45 samples from 9 of 10 MFC brands tested negative for L. monocytogenes; however, "brand F" of MFC obtained from REs 119 and 159 tested positive. Thus, the farm/plant that produced brand F MFC was sampled; all samples from the milking parlor tested negative for L. monocytogenes, whereas several sites within the processing plant and the MFC samples tested positive. All 344 isolates recovered from retail MFC, plant F MFC, and plant F environmental samples were serotype 1/2a and displayed the same AscI or ApaI fingerprints. Since these results established that the storage coolers served as the contamination source of the MFC, plant F was closed so that corrective renovations could be made. Following renovation, samples from sites that previously tested positive for the pathogen were collected from the processing environment and from MFC on multiple visits; all tested negative for L. monocytogenes. In addition, on subsequent visits to REs 159 and 119, all MFC samples tested negative for the pathogen. Studies are ongoing to quantify the prevalence, levels, and types of L. monocytogenes in MFC and associated processing plants to lessen the likelihood of listeriosis in Brazil.

Background: Concurrent autoimmune disorders (CAIDs) have been shown to occur in 22% to 34% of the patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Their presence has been linked to female gender, older age, and to certain HLA antigens, namely HLA-A11, DRB1*04, and DRB4*01., Aims: To assess the frequency and nature of CAID in Brazilian patients with AIH types 1 (AIH-1) and 2 (AIH-2) and to investigate the influence of age, gender, and genetic background in their occurrence., Patients and Methods: The presence and nature of CAID was studied in 143 patients [117 females, median age 11 (1.3 to 69)] with AIH-1 (n=125) and AIH-2 (n=28). HLA typing and tumor necrosis factor alpha gene promoter and exon 1 cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) gene polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction-based techniques., Results: The frequency of CAID was similar in patients with AIH-1 (14%) and AIH-2 (18%), but their nature was shown to vary. Arthritis was seen in half of the patients (n=8) with CAID and AIH-1 and in none of those with AIH-2. Subjects with AIH-1 and CAID were shown to be older [24 (1.3 to 61) vs. 11 (1.3 to 69) y, P=0.02] and to have more often circulating antinuclear antibody (76% vs. 40%, P=0.008) and less frequently antiactin antibodies (33% vs. 75%, P=0.008) when compared with their counterparts without CAID. No particular HLA-DR and DQ alleles, as well as tumor necrosis factor alpha and CTLA-4 genotypes, were associated with CAID., Conclusions: The nature, but not the frequency, of CAID was shown to vary in AIH-1 and AIH-2. In subjects with AIH-1, CAID was linked to older subjects and to the presence of antinuclear antibody. No predisposition to CAID was associated to HLA-DRB1*04 or DDB4*01 alleles. The observed lower frequency of CAID could be attributed to the lower age of disease onset in Brazilians and to differences in HLA-encoded susceptibility to AIH-1 observed in South America.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the antibody response induced by Plasmodium falciparum glutamate-rich protein (GLURP) in naturally exposed individuals from the Brazilian Amazon region (Rondonia State). The results showed that most individuals had IgG against two well-defined regions within P. falciparum GLURP, the relatively conserved N-terminal nonrepeat region (R0) and the immunodominant repeat region (R2), 67% and 79%, respectively. The peptides S4 from R2 (53%) and P11 from R0 (49%) were identified as immunodominant B cell epitopes and induced higher levels of antibodies. The number of GLURP peptides recognized and the levels of IgG against S4 and P11 peptides showed a positive correlation with age and time of exposure in the malaria-endemic area studied. The antibody responses against GLURP epitopes appear to be modulated by HLA class II antigens. Interestingly, the GLURP immunodominant B cell epitopes in individuals from a Brazilian malaria-endemic area are distinguishable from those of the African malaria-endemic area. Considering the importance of GLURP as a malaria vaccine candidate and the increasing focus on the use of subunit vaccines in the control of infectious diseases, the concern of the influence of class II allele frequencies in ethnically diverse populations may be important before vaccine trials are conducted among people naturally exposed to malaria parasites.

Mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene are present in approximately 50% of all human cancers. We sought to determine the frequency and type of p53 mutations in squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the oral cavity in a Brazilian population. To identify p53 mutations we used PCR-SSCP in tumor tissue microdissected from paraffin- embedded and from fresh-frozen sections followed by direct sequencing of SSCP bands with altered electrophoretic mobility. We identified p53 mutations in 40% of the human SCC analyzed. The mutations were of a broad spectrum, with a preponderance of G --> A and A --> G transitions with an apparent hotspot at the CpG dinucleotide at codon 290. Patient samples were stratified according to tobacco and alcohol consumption as well as by anatomic location of the tumor, and although trends did emerge, no statistically significant associations were obtained between the occurance of TP53 mutations and these lifestyle habits. We conclude that p53 mutations are common among oral cavity cancers in this population, and stress the significance of this study since it is the first analysis of p53 mutation in oral cancer in a southern Brazilian population.