Prevalence of human papillomavirus type 16 variants in the Federal District, Central Brazil

We report the prevalence of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) variants in women with cervical lesions from the Federal District, Central Brazil. We analyzed 34 HPV-16 samples, identifying the sequence variations of E6 and L1 genes and correlating variant frequency with disease status. The most prevalent HPV-16 variant was the European (50%), followed by Asian-American (41.2%), African-1 (5.9%), and African-2 (2.9%). European and non-European variants appeared in equal frequencies among the cytological types of lesions - atypical squamous or glandular cells of undetermined significance, cytological alterations suggesting HPV infection, cervical intraepithelial neoplasias, squamous cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma.

Antiretroviral resistance and genetic diversity of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 isolates from the Federal District, Central Brazil

In the context of universal access to antiretroviral therapy, the surveillance of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) genetic diversity and resistance becomes pivotal. In this work our purpose was to describe the genetic variability; prevalence of drug-resistance mutations; and genotypic resistance profiles in HIV-1 infected individuals under antiretroviral treatment, from the Federal District, Brasília, Central Brazil. The entire viral protease and codons 19 to 234 of the reverse transcriptase gene from 45 HIV-1 isolates were amplified and sequenced for subtyping and genotyping. By phylogenetic analysis, 96% of the samples clustered with subtype B and the remaining 4% with HIV-1 subtype F sequences. One major protease inhibitor resistance-associated mutation, I50V, was detected in 38% of the samples. Minor mutations were also found at the protease gene: L10I/V (7%), K20M (2%), M36I (11%), L63P (20%), A71T (2%), and V77I (7%). Many mutations associated with reduced susceptibility to nucleoside or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors were detected: M41L (11%), E44D (4%), D67N (11%), T69D (2%), K70R (11%), L74V (2%), L100I (4%), K103N (18%), V118I (9%), Y181C (11%), M184V (18%), G190A (4%), T215Y (4%), and K219E (4%). This study has shown that 84% of the studied population from the Federal District, showing evidences of therapy failure, presented viral genomic mutations associated with drug resistance. The main antiretrovirals to which this population showed resistance were the PI amprenavir (38%), the NNRTIs delavirdine, nevirapine (31%), and efavirenz (24%), and the NRTIs lamivudine (18%), abacavir, and zidovudine (13%).

Hepatitis C virus genotypes in blood donors from the Federal District, Central Brazil

The objective of this study was to characterize hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in blood donors from the Federal District, Central Brazil, and to compare HCV screening by serological assays and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Plasma samples from 57 individuals with reactive or indeterminate results in serological anti-HCV screening assays (ELISA or EIA) were tested for HCV RNA by RT-PCR. The results from a confirmatory LIA serological assay were also evaluated. The 5' non-coding region of the HCV genome was amplified from 41 PCR positive samples (71.9%), which were further characterized by nucleotide sequencing analysis. Of these, 60.9% were of HCV genotype 1 and 39.1% of genotype 3.

Screening of Amazonian plants from the Adolpho Ducke forest reserve, Manaus, state of Amazonas, Brazil, for antimicrobial activity

Tropical forests are species-rich reserves for the discovery and development of antimicrobial drugs. The aim of this work is to investigate the in vitro antimicrobial potential of Amazon plants found within the National Institute on Amazon Research's Adolpho Ducke forest reserve, located in Manaus, state of Amazonas, Brazil. 75 methanol, chloroform and water extracts representing 12 plant species were tested for antimicrobial activity towards strains of Mycobacterium smegmatis, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus oralis, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans using the gel-diffusion method. Active extracts were further evaluated to establish minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and antimicrobial profiles using bioautography on normal-phase thin-layer chromatography plates. Diclinanona calycina presented extracts with good antimicrobial activity and S. oralis and M. smegmatis were the most sensitive bacteria. D. calycina and Lacmellea gracilis presented extracts with the lowest MIC (48.8 µg/ml). D. calycina methanol and chloroform leaf extracts presented the best overall antimicrobial activity. All test organisms were sensitive to D. calycina branch chloroform extract in the bioautography assay. This is the first evaluation of the biological activity of these plant species and significant in vitro antimicrobial activity was detected in extracts and components from two species, D. calycina and L. gracilis.

Bovine tuberculosis in Doñana Biosphere Reserve: the role of wild ungulates as disease reservoirs in the last Iberian lynx strongholds.

Doñana National Park (DNP) in southern Spain is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve where commercial hunting and wildlife artificial feeding do not take place and traditional cattle husbandry still exists. Herein, we hypothesized that Mycobacterium bovis infection prevalence in wild ungulates will depend on host ecology and that variation in prevalence will reflect variation in the interaction between hosts and environmental risk factors. Cattle bTB reactor rates increased in DNP despite compulsory testing and culling of infected animals. In this study, 124 European wild boar, 95 red deer, and 97 fallow deer were sampled from April 2006 to April 2007 and analyzed for M. bovis infection. Modelling and GIS were used to identify risk factors and intra and inter-species relationships. Infection with M. bovis was confirmed in 65 (52.4%) wild boar, 26 (27.4%) red deer and 18 (18.5%) fallow deer. In the absence of cattle, wild boar M. bovis prevalence reached 92.3% in the northern third of DNP. Wild boar showed more than twice prevalence than that in deer (p<0.001). Modelling revealed that M. bovis prevalence decreased from North to South in wild boar (p<0.001) and red deer (p<0.01), whereas no spatial pattern was evidenced for fallow deer. Infection risk in wild boar was dependent on wild boar M. bovis prevalence in the buffer area containing interacting individuals (p<0.01). The prevalence recorded in this study is among the highest reported in wildlife. Remarkably, this high prevalence occurs in the absence of wildlife artificial feeding, suggesting that a feeding ban alone would have a limited effect on wildlife M. bovis prevalence. In DNP, M. bovis transmission may occur predominantly at the intra-species level due to ecological, behavioural and epidemiological factors. The results of this study allow inferring conclusions on epidemiological bTB risk factors in Mediterranean habitats that are not managed for hunting purposes. Our results support the need to consider wildlife species for the control of bTB in cattle and strongly suggest that bTB may affect animal welfare and conservation.

New classification of natural breeding habitats for Neotropical anophelines in the Yanomami Indian Reserve, Amazon Region, Brazil and a new larval sampling methodology

Here we present the first in a series of articles about the ecology of immature stages of anophelines in the Brazilian Yanomami area. We propose a new larval habitat classification and a new larval sampling methodology. We also report some preliminary results illustrating the applicability of the methodology based on data collected in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest in a longitudinal study of two remote Yanomami communities, Parafuri and Toototobi. In these areas, we mapped and classified 112 natural breeding habitats located in low-order river systems based on their association with river flood pulses, seasonality and exposure to sun. Our classification rendered seven types of larval habitats: lakes associated with the river, which are subdivided into oxbow lakes and nonoxbow lakes, flooded areas associated with the river, flooded areas not associated with the river, rainfall pools, small forest streams, medium forest streams and rivers. The methodology for larval sampling was based on the accurate quantification of the effective breeding area, taking into account the area of the perimeter and subtypes of microenvironments present per larval habitat type using a laser range finder and a small portable inflatable boat. The new classification and new sampling methodology proposed herein may be useful in vector control programs.

Análise do sistema eletrônico de compras do governo federal brasileiro sob a perspectiva da criação de valor público

O sistema de compras públicas do Governo Federal tem como um de seus objetivos a busca da eficiência. Esse conceito, contudo, amplia-se na medida em que são discutidos na Administração Pública aspectos complexos da criação de valor público, como expressão mais próxima do interesse do cidadão. Buscou-se na literatura identificar categorias que expressam o valor público para, então, analisar o sistema eletrônico de compras do Governo Federal brasileiro. As categorias encontradas foram: eficiência, transparência, accountability e interesse público. Na estratégia de pesquisa adotada, foram empregados os conceitos do pensamento sistêmico-complexo na elaboração de um instrumento de diagnóstico que permite a consideração de inter-relações entre categorias de análise, já aplicado no Ministério do Planejamento, Orçamento e Gestão (MPOG), órgão responsável pela gestão do sistema eletrônico de compras no Governo Federal brasileiro. Os resultados demonstraram que a categoria eficiência destaca-se das demais. Contudo, existem perspectivas para o desenvolvimento das demais categorias. O uso do instrumento de diagnóstico permitiu a percepção de novas possibilidades que podem contribuir para o sistema alcançar objetivos mais amplos no âmbito das compras do Governo Federal, dentre eles a criação de valor público.

Evolução da demanda ao Curso de Graduação em Enfermagem da Universidade Federal de São Carlos

O estudo analisa a evolução da procura pelo Curso de Graduação em Enfermagem da Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), desde o 1º vestibular em 1977 até 1996. Nessa análise serão utilizados comparativamente os dados dos Cursos da Universidade de São Paulo (USP) e da Escola Paulista de Medicina, atualmente denominada Uiversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). A crise econômica e do setor da saúde influíram significativamente na queda súbita da procura pelos Cursos na década de 80. Em 1990 o vestibular da UFSCar passou a ser realizado pela Fundação Universitária para o Vestibular (FUVEST). Nesse ano a relação candidato/ vaga atingiu seu nível mais baixo, desde 1977. A partir de 1991, a tendência de retomada do crescimento econômico, e a implantação do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) determinaram o crescimento da demanda. Dos três cursos da carreira da Enfermagem na FUVEST, o da UFSCar que é o único do interior do Estado, ainda é o mais procurado em 3ª opção, apesar da procura em 1ª opção ter passado de 2,0 em 1990 para 6,0 em 1995, caindo para 4,6 em 1996. A pouca procura em 1990; os critérios de corte e o procedimento de chamada dos candidatos classificados concorreram para que das 30 vagas oferecidas fossem repreenchidas apenas 15, mesmo com dois vestibulares.

Iowa Problem Indentification for Federal 402 State and Community Highway Safety Programs, Iowa Department of Public Safety, January, 2002

The major objective of this problem identification document is the determination of the relative severity of traffic safety problems in each of the 99 counties. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Iowa Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau are committed to the reduction of death and injury on the nation's roads. As part of its duty in administering federal traffic safety funds in the State of Iowa, the Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau conducts a comprehensive Problem Identification update each year.

Iowa Federal Family Education Loan Program Division, Iowa College Student Aid Commission, June 30, 2002

State Agency Audit Report

City of Earlham, Independent Auditor's Reports Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards, June 30, 2002

City Audit Report, Clean Water-State Revolving Fund Grant, Earlham Iowa,

Annual Report for the Iowa Highway Safety Program, Federal Fiscal Year 2003

Annual Highway Safety Evaluation Report for the Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau, Iowa Department of Public Safety