Study on Chagas disease occurrence in the municipality of Monte Negro, State of Rondônia, Brazilian Amazon

INTRODUCTION: Studies on Chagas disease deal with the perspective of its occurrence in the Amazon region, which is directly correlated to the population growth and the spread of the bug biotope. The state of Rondônia has an immense source of vectors (Triatomine) and reservoirs of Trypanosoma cruzi. Environmental changes brought forth by the deforestation in the region may cause vector behavior changes and bring these vectors to a closer contact with humans, increasing the probability of vector infection. METHODS: This study was carried out to check the occurrence of Chagas disease in the municipality of Monte Negro, Rondônia, Brazil, based on a random sampling of the farms and people wherein blood collection from the population and capturing triatomines were done. The blood samples were submitted to serologic tests to detect antibodies of the IgG class against T. cruzi. The triatomines that were collected had their digestive tract checked for the presence of trypanosomatidae with morphology resembling that of the T. cruzi. RESULTS: The population examined was mostly from other states. From the 322 bugs examined on the microscope, 50% showed parasites with morphology compatible with T. cruzi. From the serology of 344 random samples of human blood, 1.2% was found positive, 6% showed inconclusive results, and 92.8% were negative. CONCLUSIONS: Monte Negro shows low prevalence of human infection by T. cruzi and none active vector transmission; however, preventive and surveying measures, which are not performed until now, shall be taken due to the abundance of vectors infected by trypanosomatidae.

Trabalhadores nos canteiros de obras da UHE Belo Monte-Altamira: condições de saúde e políticas públicas

A construção da Usina Hidroelétrica (UHE) de Belo Monte no rio Xingu na região de Altamira no Estado do Pará, na Amazônia, tem sido alvo de grandes polêmicas e debates em diversos espaços sociais, institucionais e na mídia, devido à complexidade dos impactos que a obra traz à sociedade, ao ambiente, aos povos indígenas, pescadores e ribeirinhos, resultando em diversas ações judiciais, mas também em greves e reivindicação dos trabalhadores por melhorias salariais, condições de trabalho e saúde. O estudo busca, por meio de uma abordagem qualitativa e descritiva, primeiro, analisar o quadro de adoecimento entre os operários contratados e, segundo, caracterizar as formas de atendimento à saúde na cidade de Altamira, exame que está enquadrado na incapacidade das políticas públicas de responder às demandas e produzir a adequação mínima ao aumento do fluxo migratório provocado pelo megaempreendimento. Durante o trabalho de campo, no período de 09 a 24 de julho de 2013, foram entrevistados 25 trabalhadores dos canteiros de obras da UHE, utilizando formulário com perguntas abertas e fechadas. O levantamento de fontes privilegiou pesquisa nos jornais e Instituições públicas e privadas acerca da problemática relacionada às condições de trabalho e saúde dos trabalhadores dos canteiros de obras da UHE Belo Monte, a fim de possibilitar um esquema interpretativo que ainda pudesse indicar proposições no sentido da prevenção de agravos no campo da saúde dos trabalhadores.

A novel association between Rhodnius neglectus and the Livistona australis palm tree in an urban center foreshadowing the risk of Chagas disease transmission by vectorial invasions in Monte Alto City, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Study on Chagas disease occurrence in the municipality of Monte Negro, State of Rondônia, Brazilian Amazon

Introduction: Studies on Chagas disease deal with the perspective of its occurrence in the Amazon region, which is directly correlated to the population growth and the spread of the bug biotope. The state of Rondônia has an immense source of vectors (Triatomine) and reservoirs of Trypanosoma cruzi. Environmental changes brought forth by the deforestation in the region may cause vector behavior changes and bring these vectors to a closer contact with humans, increasing the probability of vector infection. Methods: This study was carried out to check the occurrence of Chagas disease in the municipality of Monte Negro, Rondônia, Brazil, based on a random sampling of the farms and people wherein blood collection from the population and capturing triatomines were done. The blood samples were submitted to serologic tests to detect antibodies of the IgG class against T. cruzi. The triatomines that were collected had their digestive tract checked for the presence of trypanosomatidae with morphology resembling that of the T. cruzi. Results: The population examined was mostly from other states. From the 322 bugs examined on the microscope, 50% showed parasites with morphology compatible with T. cruzi. From the serology of 344 random samples of human blood, 1.2% was found positive, 6% showed inconclusive results, and 92.8% were negative. Conclusions: Monte Negro shows low prevalence of human infection by T. cruzi and none active vector transmission; however, preventive and surveying measures, which are not performed until now, shall be taken due to the abundance of vectors infected by trypanosomatidae.

On The Consistency Of Monte Carlo Track Structure Dna Damage Simulations.

Monte Carlo track structures (MCTS) simulations have been recognized as useful tools for radiobiological modeling. However, the authors noticed several issues regarding the consistency of reported data. Therefore, in this work, they analyze the impact of various user defined parameters on simulated direct DNA damage yields. In addition, they draw attention to discrepancies in published literature in DNA strand break (SB) yields and selected methodologies. The MCTS code Geant4-DNA was used to compare radial dose profiles in a nanometer-scale region of interest (ROI) for photon sources of varying sizes and energies. Then, electron tracks of 0.28 keV-220 keV were superimposed on a geometric DNA model composed of 2.7 × 10(6) nucleosomes, and SBs were simulated according to four definitions based on energy deposits or energy transfers in DNA strand targets compared to a threshold energy ETH. The SB frequencies and complexities in nucleosomes as a function of incident electron energies were obtained. SBs were classified into higher order clusters such as single and double strand breaks (SSBs and DSBs) based on inter-SB distances and on the number of affected strands. Comparisons of different nonuniform dose distributions lacking charged particle equilibrium may lead to erroneous conclusions regarding the effect of energy on relative biological effectiveness. The energy transfer-based SB definitions give similar SB yields as the one based on energy deposit when ETH ≈ 10.79 eV, but deviate significantly for higher ETH values. Between 30 and 40 nucleosomes/Gy show at least one SB in the ROI. The number of nucleosomes that present a complex damage pattern of more than 2 SBs and the degree of complexity of the damage in these nucleosomes diminish as the incident electron energy increases. DNA damage classification into SSB and DSB is highly dependent on the definitions of these higher order structures and their implementations. The authors' show that, for the four studied models, different yields are expected by up to 54% for SSBs and by up to 32% for DSBs, as a function of the incident electrons energy and of the models being compared. MCTS simulations allow to compare direct DNA damage types and complexities induced by ionizing radiation. However, simulation results depend to a large degree on user-defined parameters, definitions, and algorithms such as: DNA model, dose distribution, SB definition, and the DNA damage clustering algorithm. These interdependencies should be well controlled during the simulations and explicitly reported when comparing results to experiments or calculations.

Monte Carlo Simulation Of The Response Functions Of Cdte Detectors To Be Applied In X-ray Spectroscopy.

In this work, the energy response functions of a CdTe detector were obtained by Monte Carlo (MC) simulation in the energy range from 5 to 160keV, using the PENELOPE code. In the response calculations the carrier transport features and the detector resolution were included. The computed energy response function was validated through comparison with experimental results obtained with (241)Am and (152)Eu sources. In order to investigate the influence of the correction by the detector response at diagnostic energy range, x-ray spectra were measured using a CdTe detector (model XR-100T, Amptek), and then corrected by the energy response of the detector using the stripping procedure. Results showed that the CdTe exhibits good energy response at low energies (below 40keV), showing only small distortions on the measured spectra. For energies below about 80keV, the contribution of the escape of Cd- and Te-K x-rays produce significant distortions on the measured x-ray spectra. For higher energies, the most important correction is the detector efficiency and the carrier trapping effects. The results showed that, after correction by the energy response, the measured spectra are in good agreement with those provided by a theoretical model of the literature. Finally, our results showed that the detailed knowledge of the response function and a proper correction procedure are fundamental for achieving more accurate spectra from which quality parameters (i.e., half-value layer and homogeneity coefficient) can be determined.

Dental caries profile in Monte Negro, Amazonian state of Rondônia, Brazil, in 2008

OBJECTIVE: This epidemiological survey assessed the dental caries profile in Monte Negro, a small town in the Amazonian state of Rondônia, Brazil, and its relationship with the northern region, national and global goals for oral health in the years 2000 and 2020. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The groups randomly examined were composed of individuals aged 5, 12, 15 to 19, 35 to 44, 65 to 74 years, living in both rural and urban areas. RESULTS: The means dft (standard deviation) and DMFT (standard deviation) for the groups were, respectively, 3.15 (3.12), 3.41 (2.69), 5.96 (4.19), 16.00 (7.30) and 25.96 (9.82). Caries-free individuals were 34.42%, 14.81% and 8.16% in the preschoolchildren, schoolchildren and adolescent groups, respectively. The Significant Caries Index percentages applied to the two younger groups were 6.65 and 6.70, and they increased to 32.00 in the individuals aged 65 to 74 years. Care Index percentages for adolescents, adults and elderly groups were, respectively, 29.40, 25.00 and 1.41. The dental caries profile in Monte Negro in 2008 shows that, 8 years after the year 2000, no FDI/WHO goal for any age settled in 1982 has been achieved. Dental caries increased with age and the main dental problem of adult and elderly groups was tooth loss. CONCLUSION: Oral health promotion and prevention of oral disease policies are urgent needs. Setting of oral health goals and targets to people living in Monte Negro or Amazonia to be pursuit and achieved in a near future is an important action to do because of the culture, sanitary conditions and socioeconomic aspects of this particular population.

Estudo da fauna de triatomíneos e da ocorrência de doença de Chagas em Monte Negro, Rondônia, Brasil

A doença de Chagas tem como agente etiológico o Trypanossoma cruzi, um protozoário flagelado que pode ser encontrado numa grande variedade de mamíferos e triatomíneos. O Estado de Rondônia, localizado na Amazônia Ocidental, possui um meio ambiente constantemente modificado pelas ações transformadoras do ser humano, resultando em um desequilíbrio, que pode facilitar a transmissão de inúmeros patógenos. Uma grande variedade e quantidade de palmáceas, em especial o babaçu, bem como mamíferos e triatomíneos, podem ser encontrados neste complexo ecossistema. Nesta pesquisa, a fauna de triatomíneos foi identificada em 225 babaçus e por meio de capturas peri e intradomiciliares. Foi realizado, concomitantemente, estudo de soroprevalência para doença de Chagas e a identificação da presença de T.cruzi no trato digestivo dos triatomíneos. Positividade ao T. cruzi foi verificada em 23,7% dos 652 triatomíneos coletados nos babaçus. Estes triatomíneos pertenciam ao gênero Rhodnius e foram classificados em 4 espécies: R. robustus, R. prolixus, R. pictipes e R. milesi. Nas capturas intradomiciliares, dez espécimes do Rhodnius robustus e uma de Panstrongylus geniculattus foram encontrados, sendo que 3% da população foi positiva para doença de Chagas. Na área pesquisada, há potencial de transmissão da doença de Chagas na forma endêmica devido a grande quantidade de triatomíneos, bem como alta freqüência de infecção destes triatomíneos, porém no momento deste estudo não se evidenciou a ocorrência da transmissão.

Professor pesquisador: o caso Rosa

Este trabalho aborda o caso de uma professora de Biologia do Ensino Médio que teve, como foco de investigação, sua própria prática docente, e analisa as condições que permitiram o acoplamento da pesquisa com a docência. A prática da professora foi registrada com gravações audiovisuais e com a elaboração de um diário de bordo pessoal. As leituras dos registros, referenciadas nos princípios do contrato didático e nos pressupostos do diagnóstico pedagógico, revelam-nos algumas das ações e reações da professora e dos alunos em momentos de sua prática pedagógica. Os desenvolvimentos da pesquisa e da docência puderam avançar de maneira colaborativa graças ao esforço e à vontade persistente da pesquisadora em utilizar uma metodologia de pesquisa capaz de incorporar tanto aspectos objetivos quanto subjetivos referentes à prática docente.

Analyzing the n→π* Electronic Transition of Formaldehyde in Water. A Sequential Monte Carlo/Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory

The n→π* absorption transition of formaldehyde in water is analyzed using combined and sequential classical Monte Carlo (MC) simulations and quantum mechanics (QM) calculations. MC simulations generate the liquid solute-solvent structures for subsequent QM calculations. Using time-dependent density functional theory in a localized set of gaussian basis functions (TD-DFT/6-311++G(d,p)) calculations are made on statistically relevant configurations to obtain the average solvatochromic shift. All results presented here use the electrostatic embedding of the solvent. The statistically converged average result obtained of 2300 cm-1 is compared to previous theoretical results available. Analysis is made of the effective dipole moment of the hydrogen-bonded shell and how it could be held responsible for the polarization of the solvent molecules in the outer solvation shells.