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Objective. The aim of this study was to verify the association between anxiety, depression, and obesity in metabolic syndrome (MetS) patients.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women associated with cardiovascular disease and obesity. The possible benefits of omega-3 supplementation in this syndrome have been discussed much. This study is aimed to verify, based on the scientific data published, if there are any benefits in the omega-3 supplementation in the treatment of PCOS and to indicate its possible dosages for the treatment of polycystic ovary. The work consists of a systematic review of clinical trials and cohort of the MEDLINE/PubMed database from 2009 to October 2019. All studies that analyzed the omega-3 supplementation in women with PCOS were included. Cross-sectional studies, review articles, systematic reviews, meta-analysis, duplicates, studies in animals or cell culture, studies with omega-3 supplementation via food or associated with other supplementations were not included, except those involving vitamin E. In total, 21 articles were selected. Despite the heterogeneity of the studies selected, indirect benefits were observed mainly regarding the glycemic profile, such as insulin resistance reduction, lipid profile modulation (i.e. decrease in total cholesterol, triglycerides, and elevation of high-density lipoprotein), and the regulation of the androgenic profile. As for the anthropometric profile, the studies were scarce and most of them had no significant meaning. Regarding the antioxidant profile and inflammatory biomarkers, the findings differ among studies, but promising results were observed with different doses over 12 weeks of use, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) reduction. Thus, omega-3 fatty acids promote indirect benefits in the treating of women with PCOS. However, to reveal well-defined standards for dosage and supplementation time, further studies are needed.

Background: To compare the best fetal weight formula with different biometric tables on the weight of Brazilian newborns. Methods: This observational study has tested the performance of different common fetal weight formulas and biometric tables. Weight estimates were performed by the methods of Warsof et al. (1977), Shepard et al. (1982), Hadlock et al. (1985), Furlan et al. (2012) and Stirnemann et al. (2017). The biometric tables selected were the following: Snijders and Nicolaides (1994), Hadlock et al. (1984), Papageorghiou et al. (2014) and Kiserud et al. (2016) and correlated to Pedreira et al. (2011) database, which was considered the gold standard. Statistical analyses were performed using the mean relative error, average absolute error and the Pearson correlation coefficient (r). Results: The best r was found when using the Snijders and Nicolaides (1994) biometric table with weight formula by Stirnemann et al. (2017). The average relative error was lower when using weight formula by Shepard et al. (1982) with biometric tables by Snijders and Nicolaides (1994), Papageorghiou et al. (2014) or Kiserud et al. (2016). On average, absolute error, the lowest r was obtained for the Furlan et al. (2012) weight formula and the Papageorghiou et al. (2014) biometric table. Conclusions: The best correlation was found for biometric table by Snijders and Nicolaides (1994) and fetal weight formula calculation for the estimation of Brazilian newborn weight by Stirnemann et al. (2017).

Propolis is produced by the honeybees by using resin and other plant secretions. Propolis from different geographical regions have different chemical compositions. This is because the chemical constituents of propolis depend on the vegetation surrounding the apiary. In this report we present a new approach using DNA barcoding for the identification of the botanical origin of propolis. Red propolis samples were collected at different times of the year from the state of Sergipe situated in Northeast Brazil. Extraction of the DNA from propolis was made using a CTA B method. Amplification was done using ITS 2 universal primers, followed by DNA sequencing. Sequence analysis confirmed the presence of Dalbergia ecastaphyllum in the Brazilian red propolis. Formononetin is a chemical marker for the Brazillian red propolis and D. ecastaphyllum. Propolis samples analysed by DNA sequencing, were also checked by Ultra-Fast Liquid Chromatography for the presence of formononetin. Peaks corresponding to formononetin were observed in all the analysed propolis samples. This is the first report of the botanical origin of propolis using DNA technology.

Abstract Background To assess and to compare the renal volume evolution in bitches during pregnancy by two-dimensional (2D) ultrasonography using the ellipsoid technique (volume = length x width x depth x 0.523) and three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography using the Virtual Organ Computer-aided AnaLysis (VOCAL) method. A longitudinal prospective study was performed with 17 normal Golden Retrievers bitches during pregnancy from heat to the last third of gestation. The ultrasound scans were performed by two veterinarians. The left and right kidneys were assessed in three moments (day 0 = non-pregnant bitches; days 1st to 20th of pregnancy and days 21st to 40th of pregnancy) by three techniques (ellipsoid; VOCAL 12° and VOCAL 30°). For reproducibility calculations, we used the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results The inferential result of the volumes in ANOVA revealed the interaction effect between side and moment (p = 0.009). The 3D techniques showed, in average, the same renal volumes (p = 0.137) regardless of the side and moment. Considering the right side, the renal volume in the day 0 was smaller than the day 21st to 40th (p = 0.029). Considering the left side, the renal volume at day 0 was smaller than the day 1st to 20th (p = 0.020) and day 21st to 40th (p = 0.007). It was found good intra observer reproducibility (ICC > 0.9) and none of the three techniques showed a good inter observer reproducibility (ICC Conclusion The renal volume bitches by 3D ultrasonography using the VOCAL method (12° and 30°) had good correlation with the volume obtained by 2D ultrasonography method.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based techniques are associated with accurate results with respect to HPV detection and genotyping, being able to identify viral DNA at low levels. However, differences in primer design influence their sensibility and specificity, depending on the HPV type assessed., Objective: The aim of the study was to comparatively evaluate the effectiveness of three different PCR-based strategies for HPV detection and genotyping from cervical samples., Study Design: The procedures were based on different primer design strategies, using MY09/MY11, EntroA, and type specific multiplex PCR primers., Results: Out of 411 samples of cervical scrapings, 45 (10.9%), 50 (12.2%), and 117 (28.5%) were positive for MY09/MY11, EntroA, and multiplex PCR, respectively. For MY09/MY11 positive samples, 36 were negative for EntroA and 23 for multiplex PCR. For EntroA positive samples, 40 were negative for MY09/MY11 and 26 for multiplex PCR. For multiplex PCR positive samples, 96 were negative for MY09/MY11 and 94 for EntroA. MY09/MY11 identified 12 different HPV types, EntroA detected eight types and multiplex PCR detected 11 HPV types. EntroA primers were able to detect HPV in more samples than MY09/MY11, while multiplex PCR, despite the limited targeted HPV types, presented higher sensibility than the other methods., Conclusions: The three methods presented different advantages and disadvantages, and the present study reinforces the need to use more than one molecular strategy for HPV detection and genotyping, and the development of novel methods which could overcome the limitations of the existing tests., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Women infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are more likely to manifest oncogenic viral infections including human papillomavirus (HPV). It was investigated the HPV prevalence, genotype distribution and HPV relationship with cervical lesions among women living with HIV in Sergipe state, Northeast Brazil. A prevalence survey was conducted including 270 HIV-infected women who attended the reference center for HIV in Sergipe from August 2014 to November 2017. Cervical samples were processed by the polymerase chain reaction for HPV-DNA detection. Among the 270 HIV-infected women, 190 (70.4%) were between 26 and 49 years old and 159 (55.6%) were coinfected with HPV. Among the coinfected women, 24 viral types were identified; 113 (72%) subjects had high-risk HPV types, and the most prevalent was HPV 16 (53/35.3%). Positive HPV status was statistically associated with having 0 to 8 years of schooling compared with ≥9 years of schooling; and have been diagnosed with HIV infection less than 5 years ago compared with more than 10 years. Cytological abnormalities were found in 13.4% (31/231) of women, most with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (16/51.6%). However, of women who had no cytological lesions or malignancy (200/86.6%), almost half were HPV DNA-positive (99/49.5%). In conclusion, the prevalence of HPV among women living with HIV in Sergipe was high. There was a high frequency of high-risk HPV infection, and a wide diversity of genotypes were detected, with HPV 16 being the most frequent., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The use of cultivars adapted to the climate and soil conditions associated with adequate irrigation supply maximizes lettuce agronomic performance. The aim of this work was to evaluate the agronomic performance of four lettuce cultivars submitted to five different drip irrigation depths under a protected environment in Viçosa-MG, Brazil. A randomized block design was applied in a split plot scheme with four replications, and several agronomic characteristics were evaluated by analysis of variance, Tukey range tests, regression and principal component analysis. A higher chlorophyll concentration in the Raider Plus cultivar promoted the production of more leaves, leading to a higher phytomass. The Luara cultivar presented a higher number of commercial leaves per plant than the other cultivars, regardless of the irrigation depth, reflected in a larger diameter and volume of the aerial part of the plants. The Raider Plus and Luara cultivars presented better root development than that of the other cultivars, reducing the effect of plant water stress even under lower irrigation depth conditions. Although higher water productivity (WP) was observed for the lowest irrigation depth (50% of ETc), important variables reached the maximum values at depths higher than 100% water replenishment. Therefore, Raider Plus and Luara cultivars with an irrigation depth of 110% of crop evapotranspiration provided better commercial lettuce quality and are recommended for lettuce cultivation in the research region and under conditions similar to those of the present study., Competing Interests: The company IRRIPLUS provided support through the structure and equipment provided. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

This study aimed to evaluate 1) the influence of gibberellic acid (GA3) in the development of Tifton 85 bermudagrass grown in constructed wetland systems (CWs) and 2) the plant's capacity to remove nutrients and sodium from synthetic municipal wastewater (SMW). The experiment was carried out in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and consisted of foliar applications of GA3 set in randomized blocks design, with four replicates and 6 treatments as following: NC (control with plants); 0 μM GA3; N1: 5 μM GA3; N2: 25 μM GA3; N3: 50 and N4: 100 μM GA3 per CWs, NC* (control with no plants): 0 μM GA3. The study was conducted over two crop cycles in the spring 2016. The parameters used to evaluate the performance of the Tifton 85 bermudagrass were its plant height, productivity, chlorophyll measurement, number of internodes, nutrients and Na removals. Chemical analyses of the effluents were conducted. In response to the application of GA3, the increase in height of Tifton 85 bermudagrass in the first crop cycle was higher than the increase in height in the second crop cycle. The decrease in plant growth in response to GA3 in the second crop cycle may be linked to the age of the plant tissue and climatic conditions. The greater growth of the plants cultivated in the CWs allows a more efficient removal of pollutants, using simple management and low cost. The results suggest that applying 50 μM of GA3 to the development of Tifton 85 bermudagrass provides higher dry matter yield and removal of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sodium for the first crop cycle in CWs. However, in the second crop cycle, the application of GA3 had no effect on dry matter production and nutrient removal by Tifton 85 bermudagrass in CWs., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist

Melipona subnitida (Hymenoptera: Apidae) is a stingless bee native to Caatinga biome in Brazil, well adapted to hot and dry climate of that region and has been traditionally explored for honey production. Here, we evaluate the genetic structure of 173 colonies of M. subnitida in northeast Brazil by partially sequenced mitochondrial genes cytochrome oxidase I (COI) to compare an introduced population isolated for 30 yr into the Island of Fernando de Noronha (IFN) with the continental populations. We identified high haplotype diversity (0.8220) with 14 haplotypes on the continental populations, being three new ones, compared with the database GenBank. The haplotype H4 was present at the center of network, occurring in four localities on mainland and fixed as a single haplotype on IFN. We propose that the island populations originally introduced carried one haplotype (H4), even though IFN population is suffering pressure by island effect through changes on morphology. Studies on island populations could be a model to understand the dynamics of isolated populations and sustainable management of this biome to preserve M. subnitida.

Background: The study of the genetic structure of Aedes aegypti is essential to understanding their population dynamics as well as for the analysis of factors responsible for their resistance and ecological adaptation. The use of molecular markers in identifying differences amongst populations of Ae. aegypti in different geographical areas as well as the temporal variation of the vector populations has contributed to the improvement of vector control strategies. The present study aims to determine the genetic variability of Ae. aegypti populations in a small geographical area (state of Sergipe, Northeastern Brazil) by means of inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) molecular markers., Results: ISSR markers revealed a more heterogeneous pattern of genetic diversity among the populations with an expected heterozygosity (H E ) ranging from 0.261 ± 0.03 to 0.120 ± 0.032, while a similar trend was detected through SNPs across populations with an H E between 0.375 ± 0.054 and 0.269 ± 0.042. The population's genetic differentiation assessed with ISSR and SNP markers indicated a very low structuring among the populations with the highest diversity observed within the populations 72 % (ISSR) and 92 % (SNP). Clustering analysis also suggested little variation among populations: the seven populations were grouped into only three ISSR clusters and a single panmictic group based on SNP markers. The present study identified a close relationship between the populations, which probably results mainly from passive gene flow between mosquitoes from distinct geographic regions, influenced by humans commuting along roads., Conclusions: There was an intense migration of mosquitos across municipalities, leading to a potential increase in risk of arbovirus and insecticide resistance associated-alleles spreading between mosquito populations.

In the present study, we used morphological and behavioral analyses to assess the effects of seasonality and morphoclimatic patterns on the morphology, behavior, and distribution of 71 colonies of Africanized honey bees in 3 distinct ecoregions (Zona da Mata, Agreste, and Sertão) within the State of Sergipe, north-eastern Brazil. We found a high rate of gene flow among the studied colonies. However, there were pronounced morphological differences among localities and ecoregions, and body shape (r = 0.06239; P = 0.05) and size (P < 0.001) varied with altitude. Regional groups were separated by phenotypic plasticity, rather than genetic divergence. We also found a significant difference in the hygienic behavior of these populations between the dry and rainy seasons (P = 0.022; α = 0.05) and between ecoregions (P = 0.001; α = 0.05). The main modulator of hygienic behavior was the influence of temperature (ρ = 0.065; P = 0.471; α = 0.05) and altitude (ρ = -0.294; P = 0.001; α = 0.05) on rainfall (ρ = 0.274; P = 0.002; α = 0.05). This supports the hypothesis that environmental factors influence the expression of hygienic behavior trait. The influence of environmental factors on the morphology, behavior, and distribution of Africanized honey bees, together with the identified polyphenisms, indicate high genetic variability within these populations that can be exploited in future bee handling and breeding programs.

Background . Changes in lipid profile are commonly reported in adult patients with malaria. However, a few studies evaluated lipid abnormalities in children continuously exposed to P. vivax . Objective . To evaluate lipid abnormalities in children with P. vivax infection and to assess if parasite count or the history of malaria correlates with lipid levels at admission. Methods . A total of 75 children were included in the study, from which 43 were slide confirmed infection by P. vivax . Serial blood samples were collected at admission and, on days 7 and 14, evaluated for the colorimetric measurements of triglycerides, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Results . The levels of total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL were significantly lower in malaria cases. The levels of VLDL and triglycerides were significantly higher in children with malaria. Such changes were transient and were not associated with parasite counting as well as with the history of malaria of patients. Conclusion . There are significant lipid abnormalities in children with low level of P. vivax infection and mild signs and symptoms of the disease, which are not associated with parasitaemia and previous episodes of disease., Competing Interests: The authors have no competing interests to disclose.

The successful distribution of A. mellifera is due to their ability to adjust to seasonal variations, considerable control over their internal physical environment and exploration of different resources. However, their populations have experienced different forms and levels of environmental pressure. This research aimed to verify the phenotypic plasticity in both size and shape of wings in A. mellifera using fluctuating asymmetry, based on geometric morphometrics from apiaries located in sites with high and low levels of anthropization. We sampled 16 locations throughout all five geographic regions of Brazil. At each site, samples were collected from 20 beehives installed in apiaries: 10 installed near high anthropogenic environments (Cassilandia - MS, Fortaleza - CE, Maringá - PR, Aquidauana - MS, Rolim de Moura - RO, Riachuelo - SE, Ubiratã - PR and Piracicaba - SP), and 10 in sites with low levels of human disturbance (Cassilândia - MS, Itapiúna CE, União da Vitória - PR, Aquidauana - MS, Rolim de Moura - RO, Pacatuba - SE, Erval Seco - RS, Rio Claro - SP). A sample of 10 individuals was taken in each hive, totaling 200 per location, for a total of 1,600 individuals. We used fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in size and shape of the forewing through geometric morphometrics. The FA analysis was conducted in order to check bilateral differences. The indexes of size and shape were submitted to analysis of variance (ANOVA), where the characters evaluated were used as factors to verify the size and shape differences. The results indicated an asymmetry on the shape of the wing (P < 0.001) but no asymmetry was observed on wing size. Considering FA as an environmental response and high and low impacted areas as a fixed factor, we observed significant differences (P < 0.05). The results for the wing shape in A. mellifera demonstrated that this feature undergoes more variation during ontogeny compared to the variation in size. We concluded that bee samples collected from colonies with higher levels of human disturbance had higher wing-shape asymmetry; the variation of fluctuating asymmetry in the wing shape of honeybees can be used as an indicator of the degree of environmental anthropization.

Objective: To analyze the association between physical activity (PA) and biological maturation in children and adolescents., Data Source: We conducted a systematic review in April 2013 in the electronic databases of PubMed/Medline, SportDiscus, Web of Science and Lilacs without time restrictions. A total of 628 articles potentially relevant were identified and 10 met the inclusion criteria for this review: cross-sectional or longitudinal studies, published in Portuguese, English or Spanish, with schoolchildren aged 9-15 year old of both sexes., Data Synthesis: Despite the heterogeneity of the studies, there was an inverse association between PA and biological maturation. The PA decreases with increased biological and chronological age in both sexes. Boys tend to be more physically active than girls; however, when controlling for biological age, the sex differences disappear. The association between PA and timing of maturation varies between the sexes. Variation in the timing of biological maturation affects the tracking of PA in early adolescent girls. This review suggests that mediators (BMI, depression, low self-esteem, and concerns about body weight) can explain the association between PA and biological maturation., Conclusions: There is a relationship between PA and biological maturation. PA decreases with increasing biological age with no differences between sexes. As for the timing of biological maturation, this relationship varies between sexes., (Copyright © 2014 Associação de Pediatria de São Paulo. Publicado por Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To identify sociodemographic and behavioral factors associated with abdominal obesity (AO) and high body fat percentage (high BF%) in adolescents from the city of Curitiba-PR., Methods: The sample consisted of 1,732 adolescents, aged 11 to 19 years, of both genders. The triceps and calf skinfolds were measured for the calculation of BF%, as well as the waist circumference. A questionnaire was completed by adolescents with the following type of residence, socioeconomic status, time spent watching TV on weekdays and weekends, and daily energy expenditure. Logistic regression was used to measure the association of sociodemographic and behavioral variables with abdominal obesity and high BF%., Results: Female were more likely to have high BF% (OR: 2.73; 95% CI: 2.32-3.33), but were less likely to have abdominal obesity (OR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.44-0.78). Older individuals (16-19 have high BF% (OR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.02-1.83). The older age groups (13-15 years and 16-19 years) had an inverse association with abdominal obesity. Regarding daily energy expenditure, the less active individuals were more likely to present high BF% (OR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.07-1.71) and obesity (OR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.09-1.80)., Conclusions: Interventions to increase physical activity levels in young people should be designed in order to combat excess body fat should designed to combat excess adiposity., (Copyright © 2014 Sociedade de Pediatria de São Paulo. Publicado por Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of high Blood Pressure (BP) among adolescents in a Brazilian city. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 653 adolescents (57.9% female) of high school level between 14 and 19 years of age. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of all subjects were measured. Social and demographic variables and lifestyle factors and body mass index were obtained. Binary logistic regression, crude and adjusted, was employed with a significance level of 5%. The mean SBP and DBP were 111.9 mmHg and 69.9 mmHg, respectively. The prevalence of high BP levels was 12.4%. The multivariable analysis revealed that males (OR: 2.37, 95% CI: 1.45, 3.90), adolescents with maternal education < 8 years (OR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.03, 3.30) and overweight (OR: 3.79, 95% CI: 2.23, 6.43) had greater indices of high BP. The interaction term between males and overweight represented the subgroup with greater indices of high BP (OR: 6.41, 95% CI: 3.00, 13.16). High BP affects adolescents from Ponta Grossa, State of Paraná, and the groups with greater indices of high BP were males, with low maternal educational level and overweight.

Background: Rotavirus is an important aetiological agent for severe diarrhoea in infants and young children worldwide. Anti-rotavirus antibodies in human colostrum and milk may interfere with rotavirus vaccination seroconversion., Aims: To verify the presence of anti-rotavirus secretory IgA antibodies (SIgA) and the neutralizing capacity of 30 colostrum and 30 milk samples from Brazilian women in two different centres and analyze their persistence throughout lactation., Methods: Colostrum and milk samples from healthy nursing mothers were tested for the presence of anti-rotavirus SIgA using conventional ELISA and their capacity to neutralize rotavirus using MA-104 cell cultures. Total IgA concentrations and anti-rotavirus SIgA levels were measured in samples collected from three mothers during 90 or 240 days of the lactation period., Results: Colostrum samples showed higher levels of anti-rotavirus SIgA and higher neutralizing ability than in milk. However, these antibodies levels were not statistically different. In addition, there was no correlation between antibody levels and the neutralizing activity observed in colostrum and milk samples. Follow-up of three mothers demonstrated the persistence of anti-rotavirus and total IgA levels throughout lactation., Conclusions: These results support the encouragement of breastfeeding as a mechanism of protection against rotavirus infection in lactating infants. Components other than SIgA antibodies might play an important role in virus neutralization.

Purpose: In this retrospective study, the aim was to compare individual histopathologic parameters of malignancy between nonmetastatic and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue., Materials and Methods: Sixty-two cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue were selected and examined according to the system established by Brandwein-Gensler et al (Am J Surg Pathol 29:167, 2005) and included the pattern of invasion (most to least favorable), lymphocytic infiltration, perineural invasion, risk score, keratinization, eosinophilia, perivascular invasion, and tumor thickness., Results: The least favorable pattern had no association with nodal metastasis (P > .05). The scarcity or density of the lymphocytic infiltration, perineural invasion, and a risk score ≥ 3 were associated with nodal metastasis (P < .05). Keratinization, eosinophilia, perivascular invasion, and tumor thickness had no association with nodal metastasis (P > .05). A significant positive correlation was found between the pattern of invasion and perineural invasion and between the pattern of invasion and tumor thickness (P < .05)., Conclusions: The scarcity or density of the lymphocytic infiltration, perineural invasion, and histopathologic risk score may be helpful as parameters of histologic malignancy for the evaluation of metastatic and nonmetastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue., (Crown Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a contagious disease caused by a virus of the poxvirus family. In children, the disease commonly manifests as a variable number of discrete umbilicated papules on the face and trunk. In healthy and immunosuppressed adults, the disease appears on or near the genital organs and is often sexually transmitted. MC involving the intraoral mucosa has been documented but is rare. We report a case of MC involving the oral mucosa exclusively and discuss the main clinical, histopathologic, and therapeutic characteristics, comparing the findings with cases of this rare oral presentation described in the literature., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: In recent years, visceral leishmaniasis, a major public health problem, has been spreading from the rural to urban areas in many areas of Brazil, including Aracaju, the capital of the State of Sergipe. However, there are no studies of the sandfly fauna in this municipality or its variation over the year., Methods: Phlebotomine sandflies were collected from a rural area of Aracaju from September 2007 to July 2009. Modified CDC ultra-violet (UV) light traps were used to evaluate sandfly monthly distribution and their presence in the domestic and peridomestic environments., Results: The most abundant species was Lutzomyia longipalpis (90.4%) followed by Evandromyia lenti (9.6%). A chicken shed trap site had the highest proportion of L. longipalpis (51.1%) and large numbers of L. longipalpis were also collected in the houses closest to the chicken shed. There was a positive correlation between monthly rainfall and L. longipalpis abundance., Conclusions: Lutzomyia longipalpis is the most abundant species and is probably the main vector of the visceral leishmaniasis agent in the rural area of Aracaju. An increase in L. longipalpis frequency was observed during the rainy season. The peridomicile-intradomicile observations corroborate the importance of chicken sheds for the presence of L. longipalpis in the peridomestic environment. The great numbers of L. longipalpis inside the houses confirm the endophilic behaviour of this species and the possibility of visceral transmission in the intradomicile.

Urogenital infections are extremely prevalent during pregnancy and are an important cause of premature labor. However, the prevalence of urogenital infections during childbirth is not well known. Objective. Identify urogenital infections present at the beginning of labor in both full-term and preterm pregnancies. Study Design. Ninety-four women were admitted to the inpatient maternity clinic of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). In total, 49 women in preterm labor and 45 women in full-term labor were included in the study, and samples of urinary, vaginal, and perianal material were collected for microbiological analysis. Results. The prevalences of general infections in the preterm labor group and the full-term labor group were 49.0% and 53.3% (P = 0.8300), respectively. Urogenital infections in the preterm and full-term labor groups included urinary tract infection in 36.7% and 22.2% of women, vaginal candidiasis in 20.4% and 28.9% of women, bacterial vaginosis in 34.7% and 28.9% of women, and group B streptococcus in 6.1% and 15.6% of women, respectively. Conclusions. Urogenital infections were prevalent in women in preterm labor and full-term labor; however, significant differences between the groups were not observed.

Background: Immune-mediated skin diseases encompass a variety of pathologies that present in different forms in the body., Objective: The objective of this study was to establish the prevalence of the principal immune-mediated skin diseases affecting the oral cavity., Methods: A total of 10,292 histopathology reports stored in the archives of the Anatomical Pathology Laboratory, Department of Oral Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, covering the period from 1988 to 2009, were evaluated. For the cases diagnosed with some type of disease relevant to the study, clinical data such as the gender, age and ethnicity of the patient, the anatomical site of the disease and its symptomatology were collected., Results: Of all the cases registered at the above-mentioned service, 82 (0.8%) corresponded to immune-mediated skin diseases with symptoms affecting the oral cavity. The diseases found in this study were: oral lichen planus, pemphigus vulgaris and benign mucous membrane pemphigoid. Oral lichen planus was the most common lesion, comprising 68.05% of the cases analyzed. Of these cases, 64.3% were women and the cheek mucosa was the anatomical site most commonly affected (46.8%)., Conclusion: Immune-mediated skin diseases affecting the oral cavity continue to be rare, the prevalence found in this study being similar to that reported for the majority of regions worldwide. Nevertheless, early diagnosis is indispensable in the treatment of these diseases, bearing in mind that systemic involvement is possible in these patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess a sample of obstetrician-gynecologists on their technical knowledge of PGD as well as their views of PGD and sex selection (SS)., Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study, carried out during a Congress on Gynecology and Obstetrics. A self-report questionnaire was offered to all professionals registered to attend the Congress and answers of 723 physicians were analyzed., Results: Of the participants, 436 (60.3%) were female and 287 (39.7%) were male; 517 (71.5%) had children. Regarding knowledge of PGD techniques, 63.2% had heard something about PGD and/or preconception SS. Concerning SS, physicians believed that SS is always the couple's choice (36.4%), should be the couple's choice only in specific situations (42.6%), or did not agree that SS should be a couple's choice (17.4%). A majority of the respondents were in favor of PGD and believed that pre-embryos with 6-8 cells are human life in potency., Conclusions: In spite of a small percentage of gynecologists-obstetricians in Brazil had knowledge of PGD techniques, many of them recognized it to be a method to prevent genetic diseases and agreed with its use. The SS appears to be highly accepted for use in specific situations., (2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To determine and to compare the levels of secretory immunoglobulin A in samples of colostrum and milk of mothers of term and preterm neonates., Material and Methods: The levels of secretory immunoglobulin A of 10 mothers of term neonates and 10 mothers of preterm neonates were determined from 5 mL of colostrum or milk collected on the 1st, 4th, 10th and 15th days of the puerperal period, using the radial immunodiffusion technique. We employed anamnesis, as well as physical and gynecological exams in women in the puerperal period. All the patients were attended at the Januário Cicco Maternity College., Results: The secretory immunoglobulin A levels were significantly higher in the colostrum and milk of mothers of preterm neonates when compared with the levels found in colostrum and milk of mothers of term neonates (Mann-Whitney test, p<0.0001). There was a significant decline in the secretory immunoglobulin A levels of the colostrum and milk of the mothers of term and preterm neonates during the four periods (Kruskal-Wallis test, p<00001)., Conclusions: The secretory immunoglobulin A levels in colostrum and milk of mothers of preterm neonates were significantly higher than in the mothers of term neonates, demonstrating immunological adaptation in preterm neonate breast-feeding.

Purpose: To determine the concentration of total secretory IgA and evaluate the repertoire of IgA antibodies to enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and Shigella flexneri antigens in colostrums and milk from mothers in Natal, RN., Methods: The sample was constituted by 22 healthy clinically women whose babies were born at public hospital in Natal, RN. To determine total secretory IgA a radial immunedifusion tecnique (Mancini et al, 1965), was employed and to detect specific antibodies, immuneenzimatic assays, ELISA was used., Results: The median values of total secretory IgA concentration presented individual variations with high levels in colostrums samples, decreasing during lactation, it was observed a p < 0.001 among the samples from the first day of lactation, to the thirtieth for total IgA concentration. All the donators present in colostrum and milk specific antibodies to Escherichia coli enteropathogenic (EPEC) and Shigella flexneri with titles higer in colostrum. There was parallel and directional pattern between total IgA and IgA anti-EPEC and Shegella flexneri, during period., Conclusion: The concentrations of total SIgA and specific antibodies to enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and Shigella flexneri in colostrums and milk in our study do not differ from others accomplished among populations with the same social and econimic features, stressing the importance of human milk as a protector agent against pathogens.

We examined the spatial implications of maximum flight distance for several species of stingless bees. Data suggested that maximum flight distance in Meliponini is a function of body size, especially generalized wing size, which can be estimated through principal component analysis. For six species of stingless bees, flight distances and generalized wing sizes were highly correlated (r = 0.938). This indicates that species of Meliponini occupy an effectively larger area as body size increases, which has important implications in the spatial dynamics of local populations restricted to forest fragments. We also used the fitted linear regression model to estimate the maximum flight distance for 12 other species of Meliponini. The results of this research may provide insights for future studies of biological conservation.

The recently developed geometric morphometrics methods represent an important contribution of statistics and geometry to the study of biological shapes. We propose simple protocols using shape distances that incorporate geometric techniques into linear quantitative genetic models that should provide insights into the contribution of genetics to shape variation in organisms. The geometric approaches use Procrustes distances in a curved shape space and distances in tangent spaces within and among families to estimate shape heritability. We illustrate the protocols with an example of wing shape variation in the honeybee, Apis mellifera. The heritability of overall shape variation was small, but some localized components depicting shape changes on distal wing regions showed medium to large heritabilities. The genetic variance-covariance matrix of the geometric shape variables was significantly correlated with the phenotypic shape variance-covariance matrix. A comparison of the results of geometric methods with the traditional multivariate analysis of interlandmark distances indicated that even with a larger dimensionality, the interlandmark distances were not as rich in shape information as the landmark coordinates. Quantitative genetics studies of shape should greatly benefit from the application of geometric methods.

Aneurysms caused by atherosclerosis are relatively frequent, as a consequence of the high incidence of this degenerative disease of the arteries. Other types of aneurysm, for example, those of infectious etiology, are more uncommon. Bacterias and fungi are able to cause aneurysms in several parts of the arterial tree. Stengel et al (1943), in a review of world literature described 217 cases of mycotic aneurysms. The Stedman's Medical Dictionary refers to a special type of aneurysm observed in horses, caused by intra-vascular migration of a worm, the Strongylus vulgaris. It has been named verminous aneurysm and generally involves the mesenteric arteries. We haven't found in medical literature any similar observations refering to human cases. The purpose of this paper is to describe a case of aneurysm the etiology of which we have imputed to the filaria (Wuchereria bancrofti). This case was observed in Marcilio Dias Naval Hospital, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.