Mortalidade por causas externas no Município de São José do Rio Preto, no período de 1996-1998

Introduction: An epidemiological study of the mortality rates by injuries in São José do Rio Preto, State of São Paulo, Brazil, has been carried out. The period considered is 1996-1998. Objectives: To show injuries mortality rates in São José do Rio Preto-SP in 1996-98. Methods: The study was based on official data from the Mortality Information Service of the Brazilian Ministry of Health, and in a survey based on data from medical forensic examiners (IML). Software Epinfo6.0 and Tabwin was utilized for data analises. Results: The results were compared to values obtained in the literature for the other cities of São Paulo and Brazil. In the case of São José do Rio Preto, was observed a decrease in the number of deaths associated with external causes in the period, but particularly in deaths due to traffic accidents with motor vehicles an increase in cases of pedestrians killed by hit-and-run drivers, that is much larger than the corresponding values for Brazil and for the State of São Paulo. The study showed increase in rates of homicides, mainly in the 15 to 39 years age group. Conclusion: This result suggests that is important to start programs to reduce the number of deaths by injuries, as well as the necessity of monitoring locally all these data.

Urban and suburban malaria in Rondônia (Brazilian Western Amazon) II. Perennial transmissions with high anopheline densities are associated with human environmental changes

Longitudinal entomological surveys were performed in Vila Candelária and adjacent rural locality of Bate Estaca concomitantly with a clinical epidemiologic malaria survey. Vila Candelária is a riverside periurban neighborhood of Porto Velho, capital of the state of Rondônia in the Brazilian Amazon. High anopheline densities were found accompanying the peak of rainfall, as reported in rural areas of the region. Moreover, several minor peaks of anophelines were recorded between the end of the dry season and the beginning of the next rainy season. These secondary peaks were related to permanent anopheline breeding sites resulting from human activities. Malaria transmission is, therefore, observed all over the year. In Vila Candelária, the risk of malaria infection both indoors and outdoors was calculated as being 2 and 10/infecting bites per year per inhabitant respectively. Urban malaria in riverside areas was associated with two factors: (1) high prevalence of asymptomatic carriers in a stable human population and (2) high anopheline densities related to human environmental changes. This association is probably found in other Amazonian urban and suburban communities. The implementation of control measures should include environmental sanitation and better characterization of the role of asymptomatic carriers in malaria transmission.

Molar incisor hypomineralisation: Possible aetiological factors in children from urban and rural areas

Aim: To analyse factors potentially associated with molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) development. METHODS: A population-based study was carried out with 903 children aged from 6-12 years old, born and residing in rural and urban areas of the town of Botelhos, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Their mothers completed a structured medical history questionnaire, from pregnancy to the child's 3rd year of life. Two examiners evaluated children for MIH according to criteria suggested by the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry. Descriptive analyses of the data and odds ratios (OR) with 95% test-based confidence intervals (CI) were estimated. Chisquare test was used to evaluate the differences between groups. RESULTS: The prevalence of MIH in children from rural area (RA) was significantly higher than those from the urban area (UA) (24.9% versus 17.8%, p= 0.01). In urban children, neither significant associations with MIH nor medical problems were found. In rural children, however, MIH was significantly more common among those whose mothers had experienced medical problems during pregnancy (OR=2.11; 1.01-4.37 CI 95%; p=0.04), who had throat infections (OR=2.93; 1.47-5.87 CI 95%; p=0.01), who had high fever (OR=1.91; 1.07-3.39 CI 95%; p=0.02), and who had used amoxicillin associated with other antibiotics (OR=1.92; 1.02-3.62 CI 95%; p=0.04) during the first 3 years of life. CONCLUSION: This study suggests a link between MIH and health problems during pregnancy, as well as environmental factors.

Frequência de ocorrência de cavidade anoftálmica na região centro-oeste paulista e características dos portadores

Purpose: To observe the frequency of the occurrence of the anophthalmic socket in the Middle West region of the state of São Paulo and to describe the demographic profile of the carriers in a population-based data. Methods: A cross-sectional study involve a random sampling carried out in twelve cities of the Middle West region of the state of São Paulo, for which the reference center is the city of Botucatu was done. The participators were chosen by assortment which considered the houses of these people. It was established a sampling with 11,453 people. All the exams were realized using a Mobile Ophthalmologic Unit. The research protocol included the demographic data and the complete ophthalmologic exam (anamnesis, ocular and systemic antecedents, familiar antecedents, visual acuity with and without correction, tonometry, biomicroscopy, fundoscopy, and refraction exam). All the data were transferred to an Excel spreadsheet and submitted to a descriptive analysis and were presented by the frequency of the occurrence. Results: Ophthalmic socket frequency in the Middle West region of the state of São Paulo was 0.96%. We found 11 cases of anophthalmic socket, with involvement of 0.7 % in females and 1.3 %, male. The most common causes of anophthalmic socket were glaucoma (blind painful eye), microphthalmia, trauma, and endophthalmitis. The majority of the people were 40 years old or more, and we found just one person younger than 19 years old. Conclusion: The anophthalmic socket occurred in 0.96% of the habitants of the Middle West region of São Paulo State, occurring mainly in male and with large variety of the affected ages.

Influência das variações pluviais nos teores de flúor em águas de poços

Introduction: The fluoridation surveillance in the public water supply came up with the need to develop mechanisms that would help society in the control of water quality. To perform reliable analysis, variables such as depth of the wells and pluvial variations should be subject of research and study. Objectives: To analyze the fluoride levels of deep wells in periods of rain and drought, corresponding to four brazilian cities and compare the results. Methodology: It was made the mapping of the water supply network and the identification of the sampling points according to the number of deep wells in each locality, selecting those who had the natural fluoride level. Three points were defined for each source of water supply, and the addresses were randomly selected. The samples were analyzed in duplicate at the laboratory of the Center for Research in Public Health of the Dentistry School of Araçatuba – UNESP, during 8 months, in periods of rain and drought (total absence of rain). Results: 174 analysis were conducted, the mean fluoride levels for rain and drought times were, respectively: 0,71 and 0,73. It was used the Student’s t test (p <0.05). Conclusion: There wasn’t statistically significant differences for the periods of rain and drought in any of the cities, at the year of 2010. This study highlights the importance of health surveillance, because beyond of ensuring social control, there is also the search for investigating variables that may have directly and / or indirectly influence on the results of the analysis.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis population structure shift in a 5-year molecular epidemiology surveillance follow-up study in a low endemic agro-industrial setting in São Paulo, Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Population dynamics of DENV-1 genotype V in Brazil is characterized by co-circulation and strain/lineage replacement

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Brazilian network for the surveillance of maternal potentially life threatening morbidity and maternal near-miss and a multidimensional evaluation of their long term consequences

Background. It has been suggested that the study of women who survive life-threatening complications related to pregnancy (maternal near-miss cases) may represent a practical alternative to surveillance of maternal morbidity/mortality since the number of cases is higher and the woman herself is able to provide information on the difficulties she faced and the long-term repercussions of the event. These repercussions, which may include sexual dysfunction, postpartum depression and posttraumatic stress disorder, may persist for prolonged periods of time, affecting women's quality of life and resulting in adverse effects to them and their babies. Objective. The aims of the present study are to create a nationwide network of scientific cooperation to carry out surveillance and estimate the frequency of maternal near-miss cases, to perform a multicenter investigation into the quality of care for women with severe complications of pregnancy, and to carry out a multidimensional evaluation of these women up to six months. Methods/Design. This project has two components: a multicenter, cross-sectional study to be implemented in 27 referral obstetric units in different geographical regions of Brazil, and a concurrent cohort study of multidimensional analysis. Over 12 months, investigators will perform prospective surveillance to identify all maternal complications. The population of the cross-sectional component will consist of all women surviving potentially life-threatening conditions (severe maternal complications) or life-threatening conditions (the maternal near miss criteria) and maternal deaths according to the new WHO definition and criteria. Data analysis will be performed in case subgroups according to the moment of occurrence and determining cause. Frequencies of near-miss and other severe maternal morbidity and the association between organ dysfunction and maternal death will be estimated. A proportion of cases identified in the cross-sectional study will comprise the cohort of women for the multidimensional analysis. Various aspects of the lives of women surviving severe maternal complications will be evaluated 3 and 6 months after the event and compared to a group of women who suffered no severe complications in pregnancy. Previously validated questionnaires will be used in the interviews to assess reproductive function, posttraumatic stress, functional capacity, quality of life, sexual function, postpartum depression and infant development. © 2009 Cecatti et al.

Simulating Population Genetics of Pathogen Vectors in Changing Landscapes: Guidelines and Application with Triatoma brasiliensis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)