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Different growth models in cultures of Oreochromis niloticus (L.) and Cyprinus carpio L. were compared in Pernambuco, Brazil, The Chapman-Richards growth model was shown to be the most appropriate for Oreochromis niloticus, while Silva's model best expressed growth for Cyprinus carpio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fingolimod is an effective therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS). Isolated reports of very aggressive MS rebound after discontinuation of fingolimod are drawing neurologists' attention to this potentially severe complication of the drug., Objective: Our objective was to collect literature data on cases of MS rebound following fingolimod withdrawal. In addition, we report six new cases of this adverse event in Brazil., Methods: We carried out a systematic review of published data on cases of MS rebound after fingolimod was discontinued. In addition, the study reports a retrospective data series of Brazilian patients presenting this rebound reaction., Results: Twenty papers have been published reporting on 52 patients with severe MS rebound after fingolimod withdrawal. Six new patients are included in the present paper, all of them with aggressive rebound and accumulated disability sequelae., Conclusion: We recommend gradual discontinuation of fingolimod with replacement by other treatment. The washout period should not exceed 4 weeks.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, such as bad eating habits, are typical in adolescence and lead to the consumption of meals that are not always sufficient in vitamins A, E, β -carotene, excess calories and elevated serum leptin levels. The purpose of this research is to study the relationship between vitamin A deficiency (VAD), β -carotene deficiency ( β cD), vitamin E deficiency (VED) and to explore the association of leptin receptor Q223R polymorphisms with obesity and other risk factors for CVD. Method: This observational study included 237 adolescents recruited from Adolescents Reference Center, Brazil. It was collected: socioeconomic and clinical data, laboratory and molecular samples. Results: The average age was 14.93 ± 2.18 years, 66.2 % were girls, 38.0 % had high levels of total cholesterol (TC) between 10-14 years Triceps (TSF) and subscapular skinfolds (SSF) measurements were inversely correlated with VAD. There was also an association between VAD, β cD and high triglyceride (TG) levels. Adolescents with the RR genotype presented a trend toward higher levels of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), systolic blood pressure (SBP), TC, TG, low density lipoprotein (LDLC), leptin and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c). Conclusion: The girls had higher levels of leptin than boys. Abdominal fat, β cD and VED were observed in adolescents with VAD. Individuals with RR genotype have drawn attention to cardiovascular risk factors such as high rate of LDLC and reduced rate of HDLc. Thus, it is possible that individuals with this genotype may be more susceptible to the presence of cardiovascular risk factors.

Background: Linseed oil has been investigated as a rich source of n-3 series polyunsaturated fatty acids, which mainly produce a non-atherogenic lipid profile. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of linseed oil supplementation associated with nutritional guidelines on the lipid profiles of older adults, according to the intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA)., Methods: We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 110 older adults randomized in two groups: placebo and linseed oil. The linseed oil group received supplementation with 3 g of linseed oil. Both groups received nutritional guidance and were supplemented for 90 days with monthly blood collection for biochemical analysis. The dietary intake of saturated fat was subdivided into low (<7% SFA/day of the total energy value) and high consumption groups (>7% SFA/day of the total energy value)., Results: Low SFA (<7% SFA/day of total energy value) consumption was associated with lower total cholesterol concentrations. However, we observed that the linseed oil group, including older adults who consumed >7% SFA/day, had a greater reduction in total cholesterol than the placebo group (P=0.020). The same was observed for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (P<0.050), suggesting an additive effect of linseed oil and diet. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations were increased significantly in only the linseed group, suggesting that the nutritional intervention alone did not improve HDL cholesterol., Conclusion: The results suggest that the nutritional intervention was effective, but linseed oil showed notable effects by increasing the HDL cholesterol concentration. In addition, consumption of <7% SFA/day of the total energy value increased the effect of linseed oil, demonstrating the importance of reducing the consumption of saturated fat.

Objectives: To evaluate the susceptibility patterns among Streptococcus pneumoniae recovered during the years 2010-2012 and to correlate these with serotypes., Methods: Pneumococci from invasive sites were serotyped by sequential multiplex PCR and/or Quellung reaction. Etest strips were used to determine the minimal inhibitory concentrations, and the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines were used for interpretation. Genetic determinants of macrolide resistance were assessed by PCR, and the occurrence of the D phenotype was analyzed following the recommendations of the CLSI., Results: One hundred fifty-nine S. pneumoniae were studied; most were recovered from blood and were associated with serotypes 14, 3, 4, 23F, 20, 7F, 12F, 19A, and 19F. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine PCV7, PCV10, and PCV13 and 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine serotypes represented 38.2%, 48.7%, 64.5%, and 85.5%, respectively. β-Lactam non-susceptibility (non-meningitis) was basically related to serotype 19A. For meningitis, it was observed in 21.4% (serotypes 14, 3, 9V, 23F, and 24F). Resistance to erythromycin occurred in 8.2% and mefA was the most common macrolide genetic determinant. One isolate was resistant to levofloxacin. Non-susceptibility to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was 37.7% and to tetracycline was 22.0%., Conclusions: Our population of pneumococci represents a transition era, soon after the introduction of PCV10. Non-susceptible patterns were found to be associated with classical PCV serotypes (especially serotype 14), which is still highly prevalent, and non-PCV10 ones (19A), which may disseminate, occupying the biological niche left by the vaccine serotypes., (Copyright © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The susceptibility of four Rhodnius species to different Trypanosoma rangeli strains was evaluated using both intracoelomic inoculation and oral infection. Rhodnius prolixus, Rhodnius domesticus, Rhodnius neglectus and Rhodnius nasutus were infected with Trypanosoma rangeli Macias (Venezuela), Choachi (Colombia) and SC-58 (Brazil) strains, revealing distinct haemolymph and salivary glands infection rates. The obtained infection rates were revealed to be dependent on the method of infection and the triatomine species. Our results suggest the existence of a high adaptation between the strain and the local vector.

During the 1950s, three foci of Wuchereria bancrofti transmission were identified in the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. In Florianópolis, São José da Ponta Grossa and Barra da Laguna community treatment of bancroftian filariasis with diethylcarbamazine (DEC) was performed using two distinct approaches, without vector control or improvements in sanitation. In two of the three communities only microfilaraemic individuals were treated, while in Barra da Laguna the entire population received DEC treatment regardless of their infection status. In both cases, transmission of the parasite was blocked and no new cases were detected in all localities for up to 10 years. Recently, a new survey in São José da Ponta Grossa and Barra communities revealed no microfilaria-positive individuals, including residents that were positive in the 1950s. These data confirm that transmission of W. bancrofti was interrupted in Santa Catarina, and mass treatment appears to be more effective than treatment of microfilaraemic individuals only.

The objective of this study was to compare lactoferrin (LF) levels and unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC) of colostrum from Brazilian women aged 20-38 years of low (N = 28) and high (N = 15) socioeconomic level. Both groups received a similar amount of supplemental iron (25-65 mg/day) during pregnancy. We also determined the relationship between LF levels and UIBC, and between these components and maternal iron status. Both groups (low and high socioeconomic level) showed adequate and similar mean hematocrit (35.0 +/- 1.3% and 35.9 +/- 1.3%, respectively) and serum ferritin (64 +/- 12 micrograms/l and 57 +/- 12 micrograms/l, respectively) levels. Furthermore, LF levels (5.7 +/- 0.9 mg/ml and 5.5 +/- 0.6 mg/ml) and UIBC (3.8 +/- 0.3 micrograms/ml and 3.1 +/- 0.3 micrograms/ml) were not significantly different in the two groups of women, nor were they related to maternal hematocrit or serum ferritin. UIBC was significantly (P = 0.009), although weakly positively correlated (r = 0.45) with LF levels, suggesting that other colostrum ligands may contribute substantially to the capacity of colostrum to bind exogenous iron.