Co-infection and risk factors of tuberculosis in a Mexican HIV+ population

INTRODUCTION: The situation of tuberculosis (TB) is being modified by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which is increasing the occurrence of new cases and the generation of drug resistant strains, affecting not only the people infected with HIV, but also their close contacts and the general population, conforming a serious public health concern. However, the magnitudes of the factors associated to this co-infection differ considerably in relation to the population groups and geographical areas. METHODS: In order to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for the co-infection of tuberculosis (TB) in a population with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV+) in the Southeast of Mexico, we made the analysis of clinical and epidemiological variables and the diagnosis of tuberculosis by isolation of mycobacteria from respiratory samples. RESULTS: From the 147 HIV+ individuals analyzed, 12 were culture positive; this shows a prevalence of 8% for the co-infection. The only variable found with statistical significance for the co-infection was the number of CD4-T < 200 cells/mm³, OR 13 (95%, CI 2-106 vs 12-109). CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge this is the first report describing the factors associated with tuberculosis co -infection with HIV in a population from Southern Mexico. The low number of CD4 T-cells was the only variable associated with the TB co-infection and the rest of the variables provide scenarios that require specific and particular interventions for this population group.

Influência do cloro, sôbre a composição do caldo da cana de açúcar Co 290, aplicado no solo, na forma de cloreto de sódio

Considering the economic importance of the sugar industry among ourselves, the authors carried out a field experiment (Latin square) with Co 290 sugar cane, on a white sandy soil of Piracicaba, State of São Paulo, Brazil, applying NaCl in increasing rates (from 6.8 to 54.5 grams per plant), in order to study the effects of chlorides, on productivity and on the composition of juice. No toxic or stimulating effect was found, and there was no change in yield, in degree of purity of the juice, in general aspect of plants or in colour of leaves and culms. No difference was observed between potassium sulphate or chloride, as source of potash for sugar cane culture. Data collected and the literature cited suggest: (a) that the use of the variety Co 290 is indicated for soils rich in chlorine, such as the saline soils of the North-east and Atlantic Coast of Brazil; (b) that it is necessary to extend studies in Research Institutes and Agricultural Experiment Stations of the country to verify the behaviour of other varieties of sugar cane in the types of soils mentioned, especially with respect their yielding capacity. The authors are already planning such investigations.

A absorção de nitrogênio, fósforo, potássio, cálcio, magnésio, enxôfre e silício pela cana de açúcar, Co 419, e o seu crescimento em função da idade

This paper describes the data obtained for the growth of sugar cane, Variety Co 419, and the amount and rate of absorption of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, and silicon, according to the age of the plant, in the soil and climate conditions of the state of S. Paulo, Brazil. An experiment was installed in the Estação Experimental de Cana de Açúcar "Dr. José Vizioli", at Piracicaba, state of S. Paulo, Brazil, and the soil "tèrra-roxa misturada" presented the following composition: Sand (more than 0,2 mm)........................................................................ 8.40 % Fine sand (from 0,2 to less than 0,02 mm)................................................. 24.90 % Silt (from 0,02 to less than 0,002 mm)...................................................... 16.40 % Clay (form 0,002 mm and less)................................................................ 50.20 % pH 10 g of soil and 25 ml of distilled water)..................................................... 5.20 %C (g of carbon per 100 g of soil)................................................................. 1.00 %N (g of nitrogen per 100 g of soil)............................................................... 0.15 P0(4)-³ (me. per 100 g of soil, soluble in 0,05 normal H2SO4) ............................... 0.06 K+ (exchangeable, me. per 100 g of soil)....... 0.18 Ca+² (exchangeable, me. per 100 g of soil)...... 2.00 Mg+² (exchangeable, me. per 100 g of soil)...... 0.66 The monthly rainfall and mean temperature from January 1956 to August 1957 are presented in Table 1, in Portuguese. The experiment consisted of 3 replications of the treatments: without fertilizer and with fertilizer (40 Kg of N, from ammonium sulfate; 100 Kg of P(2)0(5) from superphosphate and 40 Kg K2 O, from potassium chloride). Four complete stools (stalks and leaves) were harvested from each treatment, and the plants separated in stalks and leaves, weighed, dried and analysed every month from 6 up to 15 months of age. The data obtained for fresh and dry matter production are presented in table 2, and in figure land 2, in Portuguese. The curves for fresh and dry matter production showed that fertilized and no fertilized sugar cane with 6 months of age presents only 5% of its total weight at 15 months of age. The most intense period of growth in this experiment is located, between 8 and 12 months of age, that is between December 1956 and April 1957. The dry matter production of sugar cane with 8 and 12 months of age was, respectively, 12,5% and 87,5% of the total weight at 15 months of age. The growth of sugar cane in relation to its age follows a sigmoid curve, according to the figures 1, 2 and 3. The increase of dry matter production promoted by using fertilizer was 62,5% when sugar cane was 15 months of age. The concentration of the elements (tables 4 and 5 in Portuguese) present a general trend of decreasing as the cane grows older. In the stalks this is true for all elements studied in this experiment. But in the leaves, somme elements, like sulfur and silicon, appears to increase with the increasing of age. Others, like calcium and magnesium do not show large variations, and finally a third group, formed by nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium seems to decrease at the beginning and later presents a light increasing. The concentration of the elements was higher in the leaves than in the stalks from 6 up to 15 months of age. There were some exceptions. Potassium, magnesium and sulfur were higher in the stalks than in the leaves from 6 up to 8 or 9 months of age. After 9 months, the leaves presented more potassium, magnesium and sulfur than the stalks. The percentage of nitrogen in the leaves was lower in the plants that received fertilizer than in the plants without fertilizer with 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 13 months of age. This can be explained by "dilution effect". The uptake of elements by 4 stools (stalks and leaves) of sugar cane according to the plant age is showed in table 6, in Portuguese. The absorption of all studied elements, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur and silicon, was higher in plants that received fertilizer. The trend of uptake of nitrogen and potassium is similar to the trend of production of dry matter, that is, the maximum absorption of those two nutrients occurs between 9 and 13 months of age. Finaly, the maxima amounts of elements absorbed by 4 stools (stalks and leaves) of sugar cane plants that received fertilizer are condensed in the following table: Element Maximum absorption in grams Age of the plants in months Nitrogen (N) 81.0 14 Phosphorus (P) 6.8 15 Potassium (K) 81.5 15 Calcium (Ca) 19.2 15 Magnesium (Mg) 13.9 13 Sulfur (S) 9.3 15 Silicon (Si) 61.8 15 It is very interesting to note the low absorption of phosphorus even with 100 kg of P2O5 per hectare, aplied as superphosphate. The uptake of phosphorus was lower than calcium, magnesium and sulfur. Also, it is noteworthy the large amount of silicon absorbed by sugar cane.

Clinical presentation and survival of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients of a University General Hospital in a developing country

From January 1995 to August 1997 we evaluated prospectively the clinical presentation, laboratory findings and short-term survival of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients who sought care at our hospital. After providing informed, written consent, the patients were interviewed and laboratory tests were performed. Information about survivorship and death was collected through September 1998. Eighty-six smear-positive pulmonary TB patients were enrolled; 26.7% were HIV-seropositive. Seventeen HIV-seronegative pulmonary TB patients (19.8%) presented chronic diseases in addition to TB. In the multiple logistic regression analysis a CD4+ cell count <= 200 cell/mm³ was independently associated with HIV seropositivity. In the Cox regression model, fitted to all patients, HIV seropositivity and age > or = 50 years were independently associated with decreased survival. Among HIV-seronegative persons, the presence of an additional disease increased the risk of death of almost six-fold. Use of antiretroviral drugs was associated with a lower risk of death among HIV-seropositive smear-positive pulmonary TB patients (RH = 0.32, 95% CI 0.10-0.92). In our study smear-positive pulmonary TB patients had a low short-term survival rate that was strongly associated with HIV infection, age and co-morbidities. Therapy with antiretroviral drugs reduced the short-term risk of death among HIV-seropositive patients after TB diagnosis.

The physico-chemical properties of 2-methoxyphenoxyacetates of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II)

The complexes of 2-methoxyhenoxyacetates of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II)with the general formula: M(C9H9O4)3·4H2O, where M(II) = Mn, Co, Ni and Cu have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, magnetic and thermogravimetric studies and also X-ray diffraction measurements. The complexes have colours typical for M(II) ions (Mn(II) - a pale pink, Co(II) - pink, Ni(II) - green, and Cu(II) - blue). The carboxylate group binds as monodentate and bidentate ligands. On heating to 1273K in air the complexes decompose in the same way. At first, they dehydrate in one step to anhydrous salts, that next decompose to the oxides of respective metals with the intermediate formation of the oxycarbonates. Their solubility in water at 293K is of the order of 10-5 mol·dm-3. The magnetic moments of analysed complexes were determined in the range of 76-303K. The results reveal them to be high-spin complexes of weak ligand fields.

Bound state solutions of schrödinger equation for a more general exponential screened coulomb potential via Nikiforov-Uvarov method

The arbitrary angular momentum solutions of the Schrödinger equation for a diatomic molecule with the general exponential screened coulomb potential of the form V(r) = (- a / r){1+ (1+ b )e-2b } has been presented. The energy eigenvalues and the corresponding eigenfunctions are calculated analytically by the use of Nikiforov-Uvarov (NU) method which is related to the solutions in terms of Jacobi polynomials. The bounded state eigenvalues are calculated numerically for the 1s state of N2 CO and NO

Clustering of psychiatric and somatic illnesses in the general population: multimorbidity and socioeconomic correlates

The distribution of psychiatric disorders and of chronic medical illnesses was studied in a population-based sample to determine whether these conditions co-occur in the same individual. A representative sample (N = 1464) of adults living in households was assessed by the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, version 1.1, as part of the São Paulo Epidemiological Catchment Area Study. The association of sociodemographic variables and psychological symptoms regarding medical illness multimorbidity (8 lifetime somatic conditions) and psychiatric multimorbidity (15 lifetime psychiatric disorders) was determined by negative binomial regression. A total of 1785 chronic medical conditions and 1163 psychiatric conditions were detected in the population concentrated in 34.1 and 20% of respondents, respectively. Subjects reporting more psychiatric disorders had more medical illnesses. Characteristics such as age range (35-59 years, risk ratio (RR) = 1.3, and more than 60 years, RR = 1.7), being separated (RR = 1.2), being a student (protective effect, RR = 0.7), being of low educational level (RR = 1.2) and being psychologically distressed (RR = 1.1) were determinants of medical conditions. Age (35-59 years, RR = 1.2, and more than 60 years, RR = 0.5), being retired (RR = 2.5), and being psychologically distressed (females, RR = 1.5, and males, RR = 1.4) were determinants of psychiatric disorders. In conclusion, psychological distress and some sociodemographic features such as age, marital status, occupational status, educational level, and gender are associated with psychiatric and medical multimorbidity. The distribution of both types of morbidity suggests the need of integrating mental health into general clinical settings.

O treinamento da operação osteoplástica usando o seio frontal do cão

O acesso ao seio frontal usando a técnica do retalho osteoplástico está indicada em lesões que não podem ser abordadas pela via endonasal. O aprendizado da técnica pode ser realizado em cães, mas a delimitação do seio do cão, de forma como se faz no homem, não é facilmente realizável. OBJETIVO: Apresentar um método de localização e delimitação do seio frontal do cão que permita reproduzir a técnica osteoplástica. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Técnica cirúrgica em animal. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Em cães traçaram-se duas linhas retas, uma delas ao longo da linha média da região frontal, outra passando pela pupila, inclinada 45º em direção à linha anterior. No ponto de intersecção, mede-se um ou um centímetro e meio para frente e um centímetro para trás. A partir destas medidas desenha-se um retângulo incompleto que delineia os limites aproximados do seio frontal. RESULTADOS: O procedimento foi realizado 12 vezes com a participação de médicos residentes. O seio frontal foi aberto facilmente em todos os animais, reproduzindo a técnica osteoplástica sem erros de localização do seio. CONCLUSÃO: O método de localização e de limitação do seio frontal do cão mostrou-se útil no ensino da técnica osteoplástica de acesso por ser reproduzível de forma realística.

União Européia, reformas institucionais e déficit democrático: uma análise a partir do mecanismo de co-decisão

O artigo discute o processo decisório europeu a partir de um mapeamento do sistema de co-decisão adotado pelo triângulo institucional da União Européia (UE). Na primeira parte, há uma explicação acerca do funcionamento do sistema decisório europeu, privilegiando as instituições que definem as regras do jogo e a forma como a tomada de decisão é praticada; na segunda parte, são expostos os dados coletados sobre a aplicabilidade da co-decisão durante os anos de 1999 a 2006, cruzando os principais temas e a sua freqüência por fase de decisão.

Forty Years of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3379 (XXX) on Zionism and Racism: the Brazilian Vote as an instance of United States - Brazil Relations

Abstract In 1975, Brazil voted in favor of the United Nations General Assembly resolution 3379 (XXX), equating Zionism with a form of racism. Focusing on the decision-making process of president Ernesto Geisel's (1974-1979) foreign policy, "responsible pragmatism", this article discusses how the ultimate decision to vote in favor of resolution was taken taking into account mainly US-Brazil relationship.

Co-inoculation of Rhizobium tropici and Azospirillum brasilense in common beans grown under two irrigation depths

ABSTRACT The alternative technique of co-inoculation or mixed inoculation with symbiotic and non-symbiotic bacteria has been studied in leguminous plants. However, there are few field studies with common beans and under the influence of the amount of irrigated water. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of inoculation and co-inoculation of common beans with Rhizobium tropici and Azospirillum brasilense under two irrigation depths. The experiment was carried out in the winter of 2012 and 2013, in Selvíria, state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The experimental design was composed of randomized blocks in split-plot scheme with two irrigation depths in the plots (recommended for common beans and 75% of the recommended) and five forms of nitrogen (N) supply in the split-plots (control non-inoculated with 40 kg ha- 1 of N in topdressing, 80 kg ha- 1 of N in topdressing, A. brasilense inoculation with 40 kg ha-1 of N in topdressing, R. tropici inoculation with 40 kg ha-1 of N in topdressing, and co-inoculation of A. brasilense and R. tropici with 40 kg ha- 1 of N in topdressing) with four repetitions. Co-inoculation increased nodulation in the second year of cultivation. None of the evaluated treatments increased the grain yield in relation to non-inoculated control with 40 kg ha-1 of nitrogen in topdressing, which presented average yield of 2,200 kg ha-1. The use of 75% of the recommended irrigation depth provides similar grain yield to the recommended irrigation depth in common beans cropped in winter.

Accountability and co-production of information and control: social observatories and their relationship with government agencies

Abstract:Through the development of a proposal to categorize accountability into four stages - classical, cross-sectional, systemic, and diffused -, this article aims to identify characteristics of co-production of information and socio-political control of public administration in the work of Brazilian social observatories in relationship with government control agencies. The study analyses data from 20 social observatories and, particularly, three experiences of co-production of information and control, based on a systemic perspective on accountability and a model with four categories: Political and cultural; valuing; systemic-organizational, and production. The conclusions summarize characteristics of these practices, specific phases in the accountability processes, as well as the potentialities and challenges of co-production of information and control, which not only influences, but it is also influenced by the accountability system.